Has anyone been on an NHS Expert Patient Programme Course?

tillytop

Has anyone attended one of the NHS "Choosing Self-Management for Life" courses, aimed at helping people to cope better with chronic health conditions? If so, did you find it helpful?

There is one running in my local area and I am wondering about signing up. I am really not coping well at the moment and thought this might be something positive I could do to help myself.

Thanks,

Tilly xxx

dreamdaisy

If they are running one then sign up: I really want to do one but my authority cannot afford them at the moment (that has been the story now for about five years). Get thee on it woman - it may not be a complete revelation but you never know what you might be able to find out/learn/discover. I hope things pick up for you soon - we fight long battles, yes? It's no wonder we buckle under the strain sometimes. DD

julie47

Hi tilly

No I haven't been on or heard of this course.
Is it something you have found yourself or do you have to be referred?
Is it something you could go to one week and if you didn't think it was for you , you could stop? If so I would give it a try
Good luck
Juliepf x

stickywicket

I used to ride with a very brave young woman who'd done one of these courses & ended up as a volunteer helper on one. She wasn't brave for doing it! Just that she was a professional ice skater until she was in a very bad car accident & is now held together with pins, splints etc. It really helped her which is why she now volunteers for it.

If you Google 'Expert Patient' you can finsd out about them and where they are.

caterina57

Hi Tilly,
I wouldn't mind going one of those courses - Physio this morning said they can't offer any treatment for me but have to "self manage" sounds like I need the course. What area do you live in?I have never heard of them but will ask my Dr.

Cath

tillytop

Thanks peeps for your replies.

In answer to some of the questions you asked: I just saw a notice about it in the GP surgery yesterday. You don't have to be referred by your GP, you can just call the number on the poster to register. There is no cost and it runs once a week for 7 weeks, 3 hours each time. I live in Oxfordshire and I think it is a new thing, maybe this area is a "pilot" but I'm not sure. As suggested, I will try googling for more info. If I decide to give it a go I will report back.

Thanks all.

Tilly xxx

Starburst

Hiya,

I actually saw a poster for this at the rheumatology clinic today. If you haven't already, take a peek at these sites:
http://www.expertpatients.co.uk/
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Expert-patients-programme-/Pages/Introduction.aspx
(Hope it's ok to post these!)

It's looks interesting and definitley something to look into. IMO, it definitley can't hurt.

xx

ichabod6

I went on a course about four years ago ans can honestly
say it is the best single things I have come across to help me
combat my ra. I was so impressed that I took training and am
now a volunteer tutor. I learn something from every course I
deliver. Dont hang about Get on it.

hileena111

Hi
About 5 years ago my OT suggested I go on this...it was close to me.....Chronic illness of all kinds...heart attacks etc not just arthritis and i went....I really enjoyed it....it did me a lot of good.
Arthritis Care have much the same course...challenging arthritis...the only difference is its specifically for arthritis.....I've done that one as well and am now on my way to being a trainer for this course.....the only thing that has held it up has been Christmas and all the hols and I havent met with the trainer to finalise all the paperwork.....Its our local branch meeting on Monday and i just got an e.mail from her today checking if I was coming and saying that we would finalise the paperwork then...I would say go for the Expert patients course....go to the front page of arthritis care and check your area and see if there is a course in your area if not put your name down....it usually takes a while becase of lack of funding.
Let us know what happens
Love
Hileena

tillytop

Thanks for your replies.

Hileena, I think I would really like to attend a "challenging arthritis" so I will do as you say and see if there is one near to me. Thanks for that.

Tillyxxx

hileena111

Hi Tilly, If youhave the chance of doing the expert patient course do that as well.....like i say it could take a while to get onto an arthritis one...I enjoyed both of them
Love
Hileena

stickywicket

Just bumped this one up as someone mentioned it.

okidoki

hi everyone, kinda new here but i have been looking in for around a year now.

i have been on the rivers coarse, threw the pain clinic. very nice people.
i have OA, IA, and good old fibro.
i was tryed on a few meds, gabapentin. that put me in hospital. amatriptiline. made the restless legs worse. then nortriptiline that done the same.
but that was just me, thay give it to you as is no messing.
it lasted for six weeks. if you do get the chance go for it.

hileena111

Hi
Thats a new one on me Rivers Course?

Hileena

okidoki

hi Hileena

should have said i live in scotland, it's a branch of from the pain clinic.
there are two physio's and a pharmicist who take over from your doctor for six weeks. the good part is thay listen to what your saying, and thay all suffer from arther to. so thay can pick out the ones who are trying to work the system.

hileena111

It sounds good.

Hileena