Read what Mumsnetters have to say about their health concerns and how they seek advice

[JustineBMumsnet]

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We want to know what your main health (both physical and mental) concerns are - both for yourself and your family and how you seek help for these. Do you visit your GP? Carry out online searches? Use health apps (particularly for weight loss, exercise and nutrition)? Rely on advice from friends and family?

What challenges do you face when you look for advice or seek help for a health issue (lack of GP appointments, unable to take time off work, lack of follow up support etc)?

Whatever your thoughts and feelings are about health issues and how you seek to resolve them, please share them on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher of their choice (from a list).

This thread will be closing on Monday 3rd June at midday.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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I'm very bad at getting help for myself. I have a tendency to dismiss my own health concerns, and sometimes end up worse off as a result. I could do with a better sense of proportion to know when to get medical advice or help for myself.

Do you visit your GP? Carry out online searches?

I rarely visit my GP for myself, I know I should (smear test etc) I keep meaning to book, I have visited my GP (after pleading for an appointment) when my DS2 had a ear infection. I will also visit my pharmacy for advise and to take a look at eczema and dry scalp on my DS1 and 2,

Use health apps (particularly for weight loss, exercise and nutrition)? Rely on advice from friends and family?

I have a fitness app on my phone, but rarely use it, I eat healthily and walk a lot, I would use the internet on recipes if I am stuck for a new healthy recipe - we are trying some vegan days.

I don't think I suffer with mental health issues - or perhaps I am to busy to notice, I sometimes think I need to stop and take a step back and look at me - how do I feel, how does my husband feel, do I feel and look forward, I would speak to my GP or Health visitor if I felt empty inside and cannot cope with the days ahead of me.

Finally I would not used Dr Google for health issues, I tried it once for symptoms my DS1 had and I got a totally wrong diagnosis.

The GP - luckily our surgery is great and we have mostly always been lucky with appointments. I have asked a pharmacist for advice before as well - but only for minor issues. It’s been a long time since we used 101. I am a googler though - but very much with a pinch of salt and always see the GP about any worries.

I use common sense and/or the internet and a pharmacist for minor issues.
For other issues like asthma or potential infections then I will go to the GP but getting a GP appointment is getting much harder.
The treatment varies depending on which GP you see so if possible I would wait a few weeks to see a good one.
I have used minor injuries clinic before to avoid wasting a&e time and been told I should have gone to a&e which added several hours to getting the issue resolved.
I have had some issues needing hospital treatment lately and the treatment I received was good in parts and not in others.

I feel extremely guilty when I need to access GP services (so much so that I’ve needed to take the DC to OOH services twice as they’ve got worse over a weekend when I should have got them seen on a Friday, and I’ve not followed up on pretty important physical and MH care for myself).

When I get to see my own GP she’s great and really caring, but they are so busy that you can’t get a non urgent appointment for a month.

I don’t want to be seen as someone who visits a GP with every minor illness, so it really does have to be pretty serious for me to approach them. In fact, the last time I called for advice I was told to go to A&E, but a receptionist called me back - I couldn’t even get to speak to the Dr on call, they were simply too busy.

But it’s hardly surprising; the RCGP have been saying for years that the situation is untenable and that with retirement, retention difficulties and fewer Drs going into Primary Care the conditions are there for a perfect storm. But no one listens, and pretty soon it’ll be too late because it’s going to collapse.

Most minor things we ride out ourselves but if we have concerns it’s the GP. We are lucky to have access to a good surgery.
I think it’s really important that people take responsibility for their own health by exercising and not too much eating rubbish..we try!

My first port of call is the internet. I know everyone says don't, but there is good information out there if you stick to quality, trustworthy sites- I'm an information scientist so i know how to evaluate information carefully. The internet is great because you have instant access to a wealth of information and it's anonymous.
Also, I use the internet after diagnosis because they never tell you enough at the appointment. Usually a sentence or two but i really want to find out more, and read around it.

I also borrow LOTS of books and read online women's magazines from the public library - which can be helpful for more general advice on things like menopause and nutrition, self-help type books too occasionally, and info for other family members' issues - depression, anxiety. And I talk to family or friends, depending on the issue.

Money can be a barrier- you read about supplements being recommended- eg menopause or I have joint problems, but just can't afford them.
I had a shoulder problem and ended up paying to see a private physiotherapist because I knew i would have to wait months via NHS. I paid twice- once to get a diagnosis- once I had that information I could look up online for specific exercises- YouTube has brilliant videos which show you what to do. Plus one follow up appointment to check things were improving. It's fixed now- i'd still be waiting on the NHS- but I did it with a combination of private physio and finding info for myself on the internet.

It can be difficult to get a doctors appoint ment - and the idea of seeing the same GP twice in a row appears to be very outdated. i'm getting used to the impersonality- long gone are the days of your Family GP... I rarely see a doctor though- usually just the practice nurse for contraception or smear test.

Sometimes, I ask the local pharmacist for advice. They will always tell you if they think you need to see a doctor, or if there's something you can try at home first. This usually relates to my children...

Ive had great success using MyFitnessPal to calorie count and lose 3 stone . I think it should be up for lots of awards for the role it plays in nutritional information, motivation and accountability in helping weight loss- all free, too.

Mental health, the internet is not so helpful. Yes there's information there, but nothing beats SPEAKING TO A HUMAN when help is required.

I do start with online searches and while I know that’s a bit hit and miss, I have found that for some stuff (e.g. around recurrent miscarriage), discussion of research online, and word of mouth info on forums about medical trials, was streets ahead of anything I was getting via the NHS.

More than once, my DH has had the experience of being at the GP describing symptoms, then the GP googling and looking at the exact same health/medical sites DH had already found!

I use Google which often brings up NHS website. It was great and spot on for a recent ailment of our sons that I'd never experienced before.

It is getting harder and harder to get a GP appointment. I wish it was easier.

Friends and family give us good advice.

I hope when Brexit is finalised our beloved NHS will get the funding and support it needs.

Oh dear...