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Lovely surprise watching Doc Martin when Ruth gets Poly/GC

Posted , 11 users are following.

artfingers
artfingers

This was just a fun surprise.  In the states we love to watch Doc Martin and are at the mercy of public television as to what episodes they show or repeat. This past week Doc Martin's diagnoses his aunt Ruth with Poly/GC and I found it very refreshing to see in a TV show!  A previous episode had a waiter who had it but this time Doc even did a biopsy on her neck artery! I LOVE that show.  Then I saw that the PMR charity had done a writeup praising the episode.  I don't know if you all already discussed this or if I can post the link but I found it very interesting:

http://www.pmrgca.co.uk/content/press_giant_cell_arteritis

Always nice to get publicity on this rotten disease!

0 likes, 18 replies

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  • gillian_25383
    gillian_25383 artfingers

    Posted

    Yes this storyline was in the last series in the U.K. and it was well done as they did not trivialize the condition
  • EileenH
    EileenH artfingers

    Posted

    Not so sure Gillian whether it was trivialised or not. A lot of the charity people felt it had been a bit - and when they said he'd done the biopsy in the surgery I assumed this was period drama! Not so - it is supposedly modern-day. You wouldn't/couldn't do the biopsy like that!

    Hope it wasn't really on a NECK artery! I haven't seen it as I don't live in the UK ...

    • gillian_25383
      gillian_25383 EileenH

      Posted

      True but as it was what they term "light entertainment "they did quite well and a least it was not portrayed as "all in your mind"
    • constance.de
      constance.de EileenH

      Posted

      I assume it WAS done on a neck artery.  You must understand!😄   Doc Martin was a famous London Surgeon, but he suddenly became unable to stand the sight of blood (not exactly conducive to being a surgeon).  He became a locum in a Cornish Seaside resort - the like of which had never been seen!!  (The locum mean)!

      Great programme!  Thanks to you I HAVE seen it - 'filmon'.  However, there are very few programmes that are worth watching.  The old comedy ones are best.

    • EileenH
      EileenH constance.de

      Posted

      I know he had been a famous London surgeon - but nevertheless, I'd rather have my temporal artery biopsied! He can leave my carotids and friends alone unless he has me in a proper theatre with ICU support down the corridor. 
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga EileenH

      Posted

      From my recollection, having seen the episode in Canada a few months ago, the biopsy was done on Ruth's temple, but it was so quick you really couldn't tell what he was doing.  

       

    • constance.de
      constance.de EileenH

      Posted

      Eileen, I believe you have said you now have GCA, how long had you had PMR before GCA was diagnosed?
    • EileenH
      EileenH constance.de

      Posted

      Not diagnosed, no. The rheumatologist here felt the symptoms originally suggested there is an element of GCA and I saw him because of double vision. I have some symptoms now that don't really fit "just" PMR - but have yet to see the big cheese at the hospital to find out what he thinks - and it could always be something else. The question is where PMR finishes and GCA begins - and whether you do the imaging that could show the difference. Many of us could have a vasculitis that affects the larger arteries but only really causes the main symptoms of PMR that we see/feel. if GCA isn't affecting the cranial arteries (and it often doesn't) then the headache and visual symptoms may not appear.
  • Susanne_M_UK
    Susanne_M_UK artfingers

    Posted

    That episode was the reason I got into watching Doc Martin!

    As a GCA sufferer, I have to say though that it irritates me enormously when I see the aunt with GCA marching around with vigour and energy, dismissing her symptoms as "nothing".

    • EileenH
      EileenH Susanne_M_UK

      Posted

      "As a GCA sufferer, I have to say though that it irritates me enormously when I see the aunt with GCA marching around with vigour and energy, dismissing her symptoms as "nothing"."

      which was the gist of the complaints really! It is a serious illness and while I don't expect that they'll go into all the gory details it infuriates me when "medical" programmes gloss over things. It gives the relatives of people with the real versions totally the wrong idea about what is going on.

      My biggest grump is with CPR in stuff like "Casualty" and ER. I'm sorry, but if you needed CPR you are very unlikely to be sitting up eating dinner 20 minutes later. But that's what many relatives think really does happen - much to the distress of paramedics.

    • molly1957
      molly1957 EileenH

      Posted

      I agree totally with you on that Eileen relatives do get the wrong impression when they see people going about there day to day business and only saying they have a pain in the neck !! I know they can't list every symptom but I don't think it gave a good enough picture of what this condition is really like , and no doubt now the Aunt is on her steroids and back to normal , if only ha ha .
    • LayneTX
      LayneTX gillian_25383

      Posted

      I believe he did the biopsy on her temple area, above right eyebrow.

      But yes, last night they showed her carrying a larger box supposedly with a big cake in it! NO WAY! And she hasn't complained of brain fog. She did drink some whiskey!!! Hee, Hee.  I do love all those characters. So silly, crazy, fun, entertaining,... I mean, he wears a suit to go to the beach! Ha, ha, ha. 

      I'm sure if I was in medical business I'd probably not like it.

      My husband always ruins shows for me, he says, that can't happen! Ugh, I must remind him...its story telling.

    • angelcake61
      angelcake61 EileenH

      Posted

      A few weeks ago on Casualty a lady had been admitted and mentioned her   leg pain due to PMR.  This wasn't the reason for admission, I was pleased they had chosen to bring it into the storyline and it hadn't been in a trivial way.

      anyone else see it ?

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