Nickel

3)  Artériopathie chronique et évolutive ( y compris coronarienne) avec manifestations cliniques ischémiques Chronic progressive Peripheral Artery Disease  ( including coronary artery disease) with clinical evidence of ischaemia Ischaemia is "the absolute or relative loss of blood supply to a tissue" *As this is a common disease process there are several categories but to claim any exemption it would be necessary to show clinical evidence of ischaemia 1) Chronic PAD of lower limbs - usually due to atheroma ( plaque or thrombus) in the femoral artery at the top of the leg this can cause intermittent pain (claudication) - constant pain -and may result in tissue damage - ulceration. 2) Coronary Artery Disease  Unstable angina with or without risk factors (smoking/obesity/ raised cholesterol etc) with clinical evidence of ischaemia ( angiography etc) 3) Symptomatic aortic aneurysms. 4) Pulmonary Artery Hypertension 4) Bilharziose compliquée Bilharziasis -Schistosomiasis   Parasitic disease caused by a flatworm. *The primary infection is now readily treated and is excluded from exemption - only the complications allow any exemption but this is unlikely to be of concern on this forum.

1)  Accident Vasculaire Cérébral Invalidant 1) Cerebral Ischemic accidents from whatever cause 2) Cerebral Thrombosis /Embolism- i.e blood clot - STROKE 3) Cerebral Haemorrhage i.e bleed into brain - STROKE Resulting in a serious prolonged neurological disorder. *However, in less serious cases following prolonged "re-education " the exemption may be withdrawn, but it may still be possible to claim exemption if there is an another  underlying  ALD cause e.g Diabetes. 2) Aplasie Médullaire Bone Marrow Aplasia 1) Acquired   - Primary           ( unknown cause)                         Secondary e.g     infection 2) Genetic        e.g   Fanconi's anaemia *Acquired aplasias when treated can regress and then exemption will no longer be granted. *others due, for example to cancer, will be included under ALD "Tumeurs malignes" and will be exempt.   I would be happy to carry on with the other 28 ALDs  if people are interested? or is it too detailed ?

Although doctors are notoriously bad at diagnosing dental problems they can certainly see if there is an abscess. If there is swelling developing and the tooth is painful with pressure then this would seem the likely cause  and you will require antibiotics - so if it is easier I would suggest seeing your GP - if you have one locally ? Take analgesia as stated on the package - the cloves would help with inflammation and decay but not with infection. Good Luck!!!

[quote user="J.R."] Possibly the check up is in England? [/quote] Good point - I hadn't thought of that!! However, if in France, I would still suggest trying to see your dentist even if others have not managed to see theirs, it doesn't mean that you wont be seen - especially if you attend the surgery in person.

If as you say, you have a dentist then you should phone him/her up and ask if you could be seen as an emergency - they always keep time for such occurences - no point in being in a lot of pain for a "week or so "

Does anyone have any experience of flying with Air Austral ? preferably along the lines of - "absolutely wonderful" - rather than what my neighbours have just told me - very uncomfortable seating! They fly fairly new Boeing 777s  

"Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way-" Isn't that what a lot of us have been doing lately?    

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7182951.stm   Oh dear!! Pound at record low !

[quote user="pistebeast"] Oh well I suppose you can always stick bits of cake, shaped like bricks, around the edge of the roof - lol   [/quote] Well if you can make a Skoda from bits of cake a roof should be a doddle

I agree entirely - what I am saying is, yes the patient should have a copy of their own test results but at the same time a copy should be sent independently to their doctor ( the person who requested the test- for whatever reason), which does not appear to be the case for some of the posters. Nobody can be 100% on top of their job and of course you should check your own results and "be in charge of them" but I would hope that  in general  a doctor is more likely to be able to interpret the complexities of some results than somebody who has not received that training. Regarding your ferritin test - this is not a routine test and is undertaken in response to another finding (eg anaemia) or to monitor iron or total iron in the body and one would have hoped as the test is specifically requested your GP would have at least checked the result.It provides a  good example of interpreting the results - as the normal range is from 12 - 300 mcg/L. so for someone with a level of 13 or someone with a level of 299 (markedly at opposite extremes of "normal")  you have to take into account all the other related tests and clinical history. Sorry I am getting carried away - but I can imagine a situation where you have a test - maybe not fully understand the results or indeed not even study them ( as I am certain happens) and feel no urgency to see your GP or make a follow-up appointment  and if you are the only one with the results something could be overlooked. I am happier knowing the GP will have seen the results and could if necessary call you back to his surgery. Sort of belt and braces but I think safer.      

I find that very strange as it is the doctor who orders the tests and as far as I know also receives the results. One cannot expect the patient to be aware of each and every anomalie that may occur,or to understand fully the results of complex blood tests, scans etc which may - or may not - need further investigation. Maybe it was something that happened before the médecin traitant became the norm? even so the idea of sending a patient for a test and not knowing if or when you (the doctor)  might get the result is quite frightening. Lisleoise - I am not doubting your experience it's just as a doctor I find it bizarre.

David Sent you a pm  

Hello; The examination shows a bulky /enlarged lymph gland situated in front of the left Parotid Salivary Gland measuring 14mm diametre. The Parotid and Sub-Mandibular Salivary glands are not involved. There are also atheromatous plaques in the carotid Artery ( not uncommon!) Conclusion - an enlarged sub mandibular lymph gland.    

[quote user="cooperlola"] (BTW, Nickel - how come my dog is in your avatar?) [/quote]   I was wondering where she gets to in the mornings!! sort of Dog Share?

Mark, The "morphine" patches do not in fact contain morphine but usually either Buprenorphine marketed as Transtec or Fentanyl marketed as Durogesic D Trans( though I am sure there are other names) They are opiates like morphine but far more potent ( fentanyl 100x). It may well depend on which type your FIL is using and at which strength as they may need replacing from every 72 hours up to weekly. This may dictate how frequently he would need a repeat prescription. He would really need a GP here who would be  aware of the exact prescription he uses ( they are not necessarily interchangeable) so if for any reason he could not return to UK he was not faced with being without the patches - and being strong narcotics - the associated withdrawal symptoms, as well as the pain. How this would be funded -and they are expensive - well that's another question, not sure the EHICs would cover. I am afraid it is the very potency of these drugs that makes prescribing them more problematic.  

As Tony says you really need to be talking with your GP. However, depending on your own history and the type of headaches you suffer then I think you are as likely to get oxygen therapy here as in the UK. It is a well established treatment for the condition - along of course with many others. It is one of those conditions that being difficult to treat has attracted many different cures! I wish you well, it is an extremely painful and debilitating disease so make sure you have the best advice - Whether it counts as an affection de longue durée I do not know, again something to ask your GP         

let us hope they do not see these results then - Not very encouraging for the French education system. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/04/nedu504.xml

Nespresso - wonderful machines and you can make cups very quickly one after the other - plus a cafetière - job done!

Yes of course that is right - but - there is a possibilty, indeed likelihood that the benefits agency in UK will send them a claim form for a "reassessment" and probably request a medical interview/examination.  This may occur regardless of their time frame of setting up a business and for the doctor.. well he /she will be only assessing the claimants "ability" to work. If at this time they are considered "able" to work then the benefit will be lost,.Then they can continue with their business plans ( and good luck to them) but they could also be assessed as still  "incapable" of work - continue receiving the benefit but then would have to shelve the business plans ????

I am just a little confused and maybe Tony can help - if you are both in receipt of long term sickness benefit and you envisage coming to France, setting up a business during which time you continue to receive IB. Once  the business is registered and you are working you  then have to discontinue the benefit ? That seems OK but Incapacity Benefit is given (unless one is severely disabled) after a medical examination of your physical and mental health using a points scoring system. So, how can you assume you will be able to work once the business is set up ? if you are medically assessed here and found not to be capable of working - or indeed the reverse you may be pronounced capable of working before the business is up and running ?        

Ian That is quite understandable but one of the crazy things about this whole health care nightmare is that there will be people who will put off visiting their doctor with certain signs and symptoms for this very reason. Even in the UK where this isn't a concern, some  people still wait for far too long, hoping that "the cough will go away" the lump will go " "I'll be fine in a week or two" etc etc.In a perverse way what is happening here now  almost ligitimizes their waiting!  You say "tests cost little but finding something could be bankrupting"  but finding something could be life saving too!!  Rocks and hard places spring to mind.

Patf you are absolutely correct regarding a genetic component and a family  history where it is known does form  part of the Risk Assessment for Cardiovascular disease ( as well as many others)

I don't think my link works without logging in to the site  Sorry! I'll try and send it another way

http://besttreatments.bmj.com/btuk/conditions/29580.html This explains a bit about the test - if you need one - why etc.  I agree with the above replies  - if you are going to have a blood test for the cholesterol I expect your doctor will more than likely want to check a few other measurements at the same time. A couple of people mentioned prostate screening it depends on your age - for the PSA ( prostate specific antigen) I believe in France it is routinely carried out from the  age 50. However there is so much controversy surrounding this test nowadays and a wealth of literature !! might well need another thread!

this is such an enormous topic and I entirely agree with the holistic approach you mention. The problem is that the information is out there - we know we shouldn't smoke, only drink in moderation,eat a healthy balanced diet and exercise - however,this message does not seem to get across as seen by  the rates of obesity which are rising alarmingly and it is these people who are prone to Cardiovascular disease which of course kills more men and women in UK than any other disease. Although I have alluded to the the fact that statins are probably losing their 'wonder' drug epithet  it is a drug that has probably saved many lives. So I have to say it has a major role to play in established coronary heart disease and those with a high risk factor of any cardiovascular disease. Generic statins are available and they should be prescribed under NICE guidlines rather than what any pharmaceutical company might suggest ( or wish!) There is also far too much marketing of unhealthy foods targeting children - I think something like 80% of all adverts targeting children is for foods high in fat salt and sugar! OK I'll stop now .....