UK Users - Specialist Examination
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:34 am
I am a UK user of Invicorp (aviptadil/phentolamine mesilate) prescribed under the NHS since June of this year.
I was originally prescribed Alprostadil (Caverject / Viridal) in January but found the pain was too much, and was referred by my Specialist Nurse to a Consultant who prescribed Invicorp.
A few weeks ago I had an NHS Urology appointment to follow up on Invicorp.
I was expecting to see the original Consultant, but unfortunately the Registrar that I saw was probably less well-informed than I am about Inter-Cavernosal injections (for the benefit of non UK members, a Registrar in the UK is an NHS Doctor who is who is receiving advanced training in a specialist field of medicine in order to eventually become a Consultant).
When I started injections, I was examined by my Specialist Nurse, and she said that I would have another examination after 6 months, to check for fibrosis / scarring etc.
When I spoke to the Registrar about this follow-up examination, he said that that was not routinely done, and therefore he was not going to examine me. Based on what he said, it sounds like I am responsible for checking myself for any signs of plaque, or scarring.
After he confirmed that the injections were working, he said that I would not need to visit Urology again, and if I had any further problems, I should go to my GP.
Unfortunately, I no longer have access to the original Specialist Nurse, so I can't go back to her.
My question is to other members in the UK who have started to use injections (not specifically Invicorp).
Based on what the Registrar said, it sound like I am responsible for checking myself for any signs of plaque, or scarring.
I would like to know whether the Registrar's answer was wrong in the light of other users' experiences.
I would also like to know what I should be looking for if I am going to be self-checking.
I am a frequent user, but I am scrupulous about rotating through 20 different injection sites.
I was originally prescribed Alprostadil (Caverject / Viridal) in January but found the pain was too much, and was referred by my Specialist Nurse to a Consultant who prescribed Invicorp.
A few weeks ago I had an NHS Urology appointment to follow up on Invicorp.
I was expecting to see the original Consultant, but unfortunately the Registrar that I saw was probably less well-informed than I am about Inter-Cavernosal injections (for the benefit of non UK members, a Registrar in the UK is an NHS Doctor who is who is receiving advanced training in a specialist field of medicine in order to eventually become a Consultant).
When I started injections, I was examined by my Specialist Nurse, and she said that I would have another examination after 6 months, to check for fibrosis / scarring etc.
When I spoke to the Registrar about this follow-up examination, he said that that was not routinely done, and therefore he was not going to examine me. Based on what he said, it sounds like I am responsible for checking myself for any signs of plaque, or scarring.
After he confirmed that the injections were working, he said that I would not need to visit Urology again, and if I had any further problems, I should go to my GP.
Unfortunately, I no longer have access to the original Specialist Nurse, so I can't go back to her.
My question is to other members in the UK who have started to use injections (not specifically Invicorp).
- 1) Were you given an initial examination before you started injections?
2) Did you have any kind of follow-up examination? If so, by who and at what frequency?
Based on what the Registrar said, it sound like I am responsible for checking myself for any signs of plaque, or scarring.
I would like to know whether the Registrar's answer was wrong in the light of other users' experiences.
I would also like to know what I should be looking for if I am going to be self-checking.
I am a frequent user, but I am scrupulous about rotating through 20 different injection sites.