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NHS Doctor Told Me to Stop Taking Finasteride, Denied I had Hair Loss
- Thread starter Kirby
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- finasteride nhs nhs gp
Kirby
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A Google search reveals plenty of places that do offer those blood tests privately without requiring a GP referral, much to my surprise. At the moment, I'm narrowing it down to a.) affordable and b.) (relatively) local providers, as far as I can see. I don't have a great range to choose from, I admit, not being in a major city.
The problem is that the dermatologist said I need a "liver function test", yet there seems to be no clarity over what that specific test is, where I can find it, etc. There are some places offering comprehension liver screening, but that is £400 and upwards, way outside my budget.
And yes, I'm sick of this of the NHS being utterly useless. I get that finasteride (as a hair loss treatment) is a non-NHS medication, but I'm perfectly prepared to pay for it out of pocket.
The problem is that the dermatologist said I need a "liver function test", yet there seems to be no clarity over what that specific test is, where I can find it, etc. There are some places offering comprehension liver screening, but that is £400 and upwards, way outside my budget.
And yes, I'm sick of this of the NHS being utterly useless. I get that finasteride (as a hair loss treatment) is a non-NHS medication, but I'm perfectly prepared to pay for it out of pocket.
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You'll want a "hepatic panel" ... or simply search for ALT and AST test. These are the standard liver function tests.
Another trick we use here in the USA is go to something called an urgent care. There are privately owned doctors offices that allow walk ins. They are popping up all over cities like Phoenix, in large volumes. You just drive there, park in front, walk in, get seen by a doctor, and get whatever you need done.
Many times you need to work the system by making up nonsense, but since the medical community is an utter joke, consumers have to do this if they wish to have certain tests run. For example, someone recently died of lung cancer in the UK because the doctor never bothered to run a simple chest X ray for her. She could have hopped over to an urgent care and told them she was having troubles breathing, and would like a chest X ray. And she would likely have gotten one. Even though she had no troubles breathing at the time.
Unfortunately working the system is the only way to get even basic quality health care today. The culture of the medical community is reactive, not proactive, and utterly discourages people who are assertive about their own health, labeling them as hypochondriacs. Then when one of those hypochondriacs dies because a Doctor wouldnt order an X ray ... all you hear is "oops" from them. Not sure if Uk has urgent cares but you may wish to search for "walk in clinics" or "urgent care" or some other term you feel is more "UK sounding" for the same type of service. When you find some, feel free to simply work the system and get the tests you want. Its pathetic we have to do this, but this is the one time I advocate dishonesty. My car gets more attention than my body does.
Admin
Another trick we use here in the USA is go to something called an urgent care. There are privately owned doctors offices that allow walk ins. They are popping up all over cities like Phoenix, in large volumes. You just drive there, park in front, walk in, get seen by a doctor, and get whatever you need done.
Many times you need to work the system by making up nonsense, but since the medical community is an utter joke, consumers have to do this if they wish to have certain tests run. For example, someone recently died of lung cancer in the UK because the doctor never bothered to run a simple chest X ray for her. She could have hopped over to an urgent care and told them she was having troubles breathing, and would like a chest X ray. And she would likely have gotten one. Even though she had no troubles breathing at the time.
Unfortunately working the system is the only way to get even basic quality health care today. The culture of the medical community is reactive, not proactive, and utterly discourages people who are assertive about their own health, labeling them as hypochondriacs. Then when one of those hypochondriacs dies because a Doctor wouldnt order an X ray ... all you hear is "oops" from them. Not sure if Uk has urgent cares but you may wish to search for "walk in clinics" or "urgent care" or some other term you feel is more "UK sounding" for the same type of service. When you find some, feel free to simply work the system and get the tests you want. Its pathetic we have to do this, but this is the one time I advocate dishonesty. My car gets more attention than my body does.
Admin
Hi guys, great informative thread by the way, I am arranging a blood test for looking to go on dutasteride after having negative results on finasteride, before hand I need to point out what I want checked, could anyone here tell me what I need checked and if there is anything else I should have checked in the test!!! Thanks anyone if you can provide any help. Adam
DHT and Testosterone I think?
Kirby
Established Member
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- 38
The GP is bald (Nw4), yes.
Admin, thanks for that information and advice, but it is not applicable to the UK as our health system doesn't work like that, i mean we don't have walk in clinics, etc. if I could walk in somewhere and get the tests, I'd have done it months ago.
I'm reaching 16 months on finasteride now BTW, doubt it's working as there has not been a strand of regrowth.
Admin, thanks for that information and advice, but it is not applicable to the UK as our health system doesn't work like that, i mean we don't have walk in clinics, etc. if I could walk in somewhere and get the tests, I'd have done it months ago.
I'm reaching 16 months on finasteride now BTW, doubt it's working as there has not been a strand of regrowth.
Quantum Cat
Senior Member
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, i mean we don't have walk in clinics, etc. if I could walk in somewhere and get the tests, I'd have done it months ago.
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that's not true, as you well know - I even linked to an NHS walk-in clinic that does free discreet blood tests, but for some reason you keep choosing ignore solutions and/or put obstacles up where none exist.
Kirby
Established Member
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- 38
Those AREN'T walk in clinics like they have in the States and the Republic of Ireland!! In those countries, walk-in clinics are free charitable clinics for people without health insurance, who would otherwise get no basic healthcare. The clinics you mean in the UK are run by the NHS, and are something between a GP surgery and wherever they stick people in hospitals that aren't critical enough for the A&E department. As they are NHS run they WOULD NOT EVER provide blood tests for or finasteride for hair loss, even if you waved money in their faces! Find me ONE example of an individual IN THE UK who has attended a walk in clinic and gotten finasteride for hair loss AND the relevant blood tests to monitor progress, and I will PayPal you fifty quid.
Secondly, I don't have any of those NHS clinics in my area as I don't live in London or a big city.
Secondly, I don't have any of those NHS clinics in my area as I don't live in London or a big city.
Kirby
Established Member
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The GP won't give me blood tests, I've already told you that. I've asked a total of 5 times, 3 times since February when I announced the finasteride. I want to have proper medical supervision. I don't want to self medicate in a non legit way with medicines, but it looks like I'll have to pay privately for a blood test with no follow up medical support. I have to see a GP regularly for serious health problems anyway, I know how it works, the whole point of the NHS is that you can't get what you want when you want.
I have to see a GP regularly for serious health problems anyway, I know how it works, the whole point of the NHS is that you can't get what you want when you want.
Quantum Cat
Senior Member
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Walk-in clinics are free. There's one in the high street in my town. Most people use them for sex related things such as STI tests and emergency contraception,
but I know for a fact that at least some of them (and possibly all) do a range of other health services including blood tests because I linked to one in this thread months ago:
http://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/interac...ith-NHS-GPs-and-hair-loss-treatments/page3#28
which specifically stated they will do free discreet blood tests. That was just the first example I came across when doing some cursory research. At the very least it's worth contacting a clinic and asking them.
There'll be a walk-in clinic in your nearest town or hospital, so unless you live in Antarctica, it can't be that hard to get to one using public transport - especially as having this blood test is so important to you.
Otherwise just go to a private clinic - I can't believe a simple LFT will cost £400- that's absurd. It will cost a fraction of that
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I was referring to urgent cares. you do have to pay for the office visit as any other doctor visit. The benefit is anonymity (nobody there knows you at least), and you can hop around to other urgent cares around town if Doctor 1 doesnt do what you want.