When did going to the GP

[Oakey]

Become such a frustrating experience?

A few years ago I lost a lot of weight, had some stomach issues, got fingered a couple of times by various Doctors, had an ultrasound followed by a sigmoidocsopy only to then be told they didn't know what was wrong and have them discharge me.

I simply buried my head in the sand and ignored the issue after that. Last week it seemed to be worse along with nausea and some other things so I made an appointment with 'my GP'.

I use that term loosely as I haven't actually seen 'my GP' for a number of years except in passing at the surgery.

Today I saw an Asian woman. I don't have problems with Asians, I really don't. But I couldn't understand this one for love nor money and given how many times she kept repeating questions back to me despite having already answered them I'm guessing she couldn't really understand me either.

That combined with this approach of asking patients what it is they want that comes across as patronising;

Her "You've already had these tests, what more do you want?"

Me "Well, the last doctor said if those tests didn't show anything we'd have to look at having a scan..."

Her "Okay, then we'll do that"

which then makes you feel like you're diagnosing and treating yourself makes for an utterly mind numbing experience. Is this how things are done now? Asking patients what it is they want and just agreeing to it? I want reasoned, informed medical advice, not an approach that seems to cater for hypochondriacs.

We have a history of cancer in our family so I'm terrified I'm next, it doesn't particularly help when they dismiss these fears because "you're only 31". What, cancer discriminates by age does it? Maybe I eat the insides of smoke alarms? How the fk do you know it's not cancer? Of course, had I continued to ignore the problem you can guarantee at some point in the future the same people would be saying "oh dear oh dear, this is really serious.. you should have come in sooner"

Then, to further frustrate the matter she seemed to completely ignore the part where I said in addition to the above I've also had some chest pains lately.

Finally, to cap it all off, whilst I was there I figured I'd mention the painful cyst in my knee that keeps causing it to lock up only to be told "Oh, I can't discuss two problems at once". Of course, how fking stupid of me. Whatever was I thinking? It makes so much more sense to make a separate fking appointment for every problem that might crop up.

Could you imagine if your dentist only looked at one tooth per appointment?

Rant over.

[KennyWF]

I hate how they can make you feel like you're being a hypochondriac and wasting their time. Are you supposed to make a double appointment if you have more than one thing to discuss? A triple appointment?
My GP has just retired but he was good, he was around a lot and knew my history but that's really rare nowadays, there's no consistency. I've heard too many examples recently of people not being listened to then finding out that they actually have got something serious.
Not saying that to worry you, it's just frustrating and I can see why people get a second opinion.

[kev b]

This is PH surely you should be going Private!

Seriously though it's such a hassle to arrange an appointment with a GP especially if you work unsociable hours that I haven't seen mine in years.

I either grin and bear it or go to A&E if it's serious. Going by the news I suspect I am not alone in this.

Edited by kev b on Thursday 16th May 15:30

[Oakey]

Exactly! I've not been to my GP in four years (the other stuff three years ago was at the hospital after originally seeing my GP in 2009) yet when you do go you feel as though they think you're a hypochondriac, wasting their time for sts and giggles.

And you're right, there is no consistency. I had the same GP from being born up until about the age of 24. Ever since then, on the rare occasions I have been I've never seen the same GP twice. Despite seeing my original GP milling around the surgery or my father telling me he still gets to see him.

I don't care what colour their skin is, all I want is that they speak clear and fluent English. I don't want to sit there concentrating on trying to decipher what it is they're saying instead of explaining what the problems are.

The part when she said "you've had some tests, what more do you want?" came across as extremely patronising because to those of us whom English is our native language, that is a rather aggressive way to phrase the question when instead she was quite literally asking me what I wanted to happen next.

She told me to make an appointment for a blood test at reception. The receptionist said "Is it a fasting one?", I told her I had no idea. She asked who I'd seen. Again, I told her I had no idea and I never bothered to learn her name because what's the point? I'll probably never see her again anyway.

As for not discussing two problems at once, I can only assume they're being paid on a per appointment basis. Gotta cash those cheques, right?!

The amusing thing is, my grandfather has had these same complaints for years and we simply dismissed him as "lol old and racist" but no, I totally get it now.

Edited by Oakey on Thursday 16th May 13:17

[mu0n]

Yep, I hate going to the doctors. I've had a sinus issue for ages that I'm yet to go to the docs about as I don't think anything would be done so it would be a waste of my day booking an appt during work time.

[igiveup]

I too hate going to the doctors and have put up with similar symptoms you have described myself.

2 years later I am finally having a full blood test next week for what I think the problem could be (Also worried about the cancer thing)

I have a few of the following symptoms, which I put to the Doctor, I have 5 of the following symptoms

diarrhoea, excessive wind, and/or constipation
persistent or unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting
recurrent stomach pain, cramping or bloating
any combination of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency
tiredness and/or headaches
weight loss (but not in all cases)
mouth ulcers
hair loss (alopecia)
skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis (DH))
tooth enamel problems
osteoporosis
depression
infertility
repeated miscarriages
joint and/or bone pain
neurological (nerve) problems such as ataxia (poor muscle co-ordination) and neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet).

Which could possibly be the following (link below) , but I had to almost force the doctor to go down the Blood test route and was also categorically told its not that. How would you know with out testing for it.

http://www.coeliac.org.uk/coeliac-disease/what-is-...

[Victor McDade]

If you genuinely feel that your GP's language and comprehension skills are so bad that it is putting patients lives at risk then you should report her to the GMC.

http://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/making_a_complaint/...

[N Dentressangle]

Victor McDade said:

If you genuinely feel that your GP's language and comprehension skills are so bad that it is putting patients lives at risk then you should report her to the GMC.

http://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/making_a_complaint/...

or to go a bit less nuclear, you could write to the practice manager and / or to the PCT.

You have every right to raise the issue if you felt there were problems of understanding, so don't worry about being labelled as 'racist'. For some doctors, language skills are a genuine problem, and an awkward one to address, as you can imagine. It might be that your letter enables colleagues or managers to raise an issue which they know is there.

You can also change your GP - choose to see a different doctor or register at a different practice. GP's are businesses, and to some extent are subject to the laws of consumer choice as other businesses are. If more patients voted with their feet, weaker GP's would be in more trouble.

[Oakey]

igiveup said:

diarrhoea, excessive wind, and/or constipation - check
persistent or unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting - check
recurrent stomach pain, cramping or bloating - check
tiredness and/or headaches - check
weight loss (but not in all cases) -check
mouth ulcers - check
depression - check (although I put this down to worrying myself to death I might be next in line for cancer)
joint and/or bone pain - check

On top of that, I informed her that it feels like there's a blockage inside my bowel. Like, literally, it feels like there's something inside there and when there's a bowel movement it's extremely painful as the waste passes through this point. Once it's passed the pain subsides. I even said that if I'm struggling to have a movement I can apply pressure to this spot and it's like opening a floodgate as wind and poop suddenly move.

I don't know how I can make it any more clearer or more detailed. Yet despite this they look at you like you're fking mental.

Too young for cancer? We're bombarded with cancer awareness adverts day in, day out. You can't turn on the TV or read the newspaper without having it rammed down your throat or hearing how someone has been diagnosed with or died of cancer. Even in the waiting room at the GP the couple sat behind me were talking about it. Yet mention your concerns and it's just hand waved away. After the comment about my knee I decided not to mention the recurring pain in my right bk because of the bizarre requirement to get back in the queue like it's a ride at Alton Towers.

Coincidentally my mother also suggested I may have coeliac disease. I stopped eating pizza because within 5-6 hours of eating it I blow up like a balloon, get painful cramps and usually require an urgent trip to the toilet.

Edited by Oakey on Thursday 16th May 15:16

[turbolucie]

Oakey said:

As for not discussing two problems at once, I can only assume they're being paid on a per appointment basis. Gotta cash those cheques, right?!

Edited by Oakey on Thursday 16th May 13:17

Sounds like you're having a frustrating time, sorry to hear
Just to pick up on this point - no they're not paid per appointment. It's just that the appointments are so short that if they discussed all of everyone's problems in their 10 minute appointments then it would take far too long and wouldn't be fair on other patients. Next time ask for a double appointment - this is so that you can then have more time to discuss more than one problem.

[igiveup]

Oakey said:

On top of that, I informed her that it feels like there's a blockage inside my bowel. Like, literally, it feels like there's something inside there and when there's a bowel movement it's extremely painful as the waste passes through this point. Once it's passed the pain subsides. I even said that if I'm struggling to have a movement I can apply pressure to this spot and it's like opening a floodgate as wind and poop suddenly move.

Too young for cancer? We're bombarded with cancer awareness adverts day in, day out. You can't turn on the TV or read the newspaper without having it rammed down your throat or hearing how someone has been diagnosed with or died of cancer. Even in the waiting room at the GP the couple sat behind me were talking about it. Yet mention your concerns and it's just hand waved away. After the comment about my knee I decided not to mention the recurring pain in my right bk because of the bizarre requirement to get back in the queue like it's a ride at Alton Towers.

Coincidentally my mother also suggested I may have coeliac disease. I stopped eating pizza because within 5-6 hours of eating it I blow up like a balloon, get painful cramps and usually require an urgent trip to the toilet.

Sounds familiar to me, but lucky for me I don't have it that bad at all. So I would say I possibly have it on the mild side. I'm 37 for the record and cancer can strike at any age.
I also have a cancer gene BRCA2 which makes me even more paranoid!

[Oakey]

turbolucie said:

Sounds like you're having a frustrating time, sorry to hear
Just to pick up on this point - no they're not paid per appointment. It's just that the appointments are so short that if they discussed all of everyone's problems in their 10 minute appointments then it would take far too long and wouldn't be fair on other patients. Next time ask for a double appointment - this is so that you can then have more time to discuss more than one problem.

As someone who doesn't go the GP that often, I wasn't even aware that was a thing.

[Driller]

Oakey said:

Coincidentally my mother also suggested I may have coeliac disease. I stopped eating pizza because within 5-6 hours of eating it I blow up like a balloon, get painful cramps and usually require an urgent trip to the toilet.

Not coeliac otherwise you'd be seriously ill but gluten intolerance/allergy absolutely. Try not eating anything with wheat in it for a week.

There are more and more people who are discovering they have this problem (myself included) which is why when someone on here gives the sudden bloating/cramps symptoms I always suggest laying off wheat (and dairy although that's a lactose thing) to see what happens. Can't do any harm can it?

Generally this suggestion is met with derision or mostly silence as if it's some kind of radical new-age thing

[egor110]

I haven't visited my doctor in years, was told i had to see the asthma nurse this year before they'd give me my inhaler, so did weeks worth of peak flow readings.

Turn up get asked if i'm ok using a inhaler, if anythings changed and that was that, total waste of time.

[Flibble]

Driller said:

Generally this suggestion is met with derision or mostly silence as if it's some kind of radical new-age thing

No, you're being too logical is the problem. If you dressed it up in new age mumbo-jumbo you'd have people converting by the score!

Try telling them their aura is unbalanced and has too much of the wheaty humour so they need to lay off for a week to regain balance.

[Oakey]

Driller said:

Not coeliac otherwise you'd be seriously ill but gluten intolerance/allergy absolutely. Try not eating anything with wheat in it for a week.

There are more and more people who are discovering they have this problem (myself included) which is why when someone on here gives the sudden bloating/cramps symptoms I always suggest laying off wheat (and dairy although that's a lactose thing) to see what happens. Can't do any harm can it?

Generally this suggestion is met with derision or mostly silence as if it's some kind of radical new-age thing

Already stopped drinking milk and don't eat much bread. It's alleviated it some but there's still the uncomfortable feeling of discomfort in my stomach which has been persistent for some years now. Incidentally my mum has recently started having the same symptoms and they're checking it's not bowel cancer due to her having breast cancer last year.

[Driller]

@Flibble

Oakey if you're that worried about it (and I understand completely!) can you not just ask to have a proper coloscopy to put your mind at rest?

I can't remember how it works in the UK but when I started getting my weird cramps/bloating etc a few years ago here (France), I took an appointment with a gastrologue and he booked me in to have a coloscopy and endoscopy (via the mouth) which I has in the following weeks.

From what I understand, a sigmoidoscopy examins just that and nothing higher up.

[Oakey]

It's alright, I might have found a solution:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-USB-Video-Inspec...



Seriously though, I don't know, can I just ask them to do that? I guess so given the ease she agreed to a scan yesterday. To be honest, I've always been used to the Doctors making such decisions, I can't quite get used to telling a Doctor what it is I think is wrong with me and then telling them what I want to do about it but I guess that's the world we live in now when people are diagnosing themselves over the internet before visiting their GP.

[BlackVanDyke]

Oakey, this GP sounds really st. If I had one like that I'd either make sure to see a different one the next time, or move practices completely. They're not all like that and what you described is very very not OK.

[Gaffer]

Oakey said:

On top of that, I informed her that it feels like there's a blockage inside my bowel. Like, literally, it feels like there's something inside there and when there's a bowel movement it's extremely painful as the waste passes through this point. Once it's passed the pain subsides. I even said that if I'm struggling to have a movement I can apply pressure to this spot and it's like opening a floodgate as wind and poop suddenly move.

I don't know how I can make it any more clearer or more detailed. Yet despite this they look at you like you're fking mental.

Too young for cancer? We're bombarded with cancer awareness adverts day in, day out. You can't turn on the TV or read the newspaper without having it rammed down your throat or hearing how someone has been diagnosed with or died of cancer. Even in the waiting room at the GP the couple sat behind me were talking about it. Yet mention your concerns and it's just hand waved away. After the comment about my knee I decided not to mention the recurring pain in my right bk because of the bizarre requirement to get back in the queue like it's a ride at Alton Towers.

Coincidentally my mother also suggested I may have coeliac disease. I stopped eating pizza because within 5-6 hours of eating it I blow up like a balloon, get painful cramps and usually require an urgent trip to the toilet.

Edited by Oakey on Thursday 16th May 15:16

Welcome to my world since aged 9. I have Crohns and last time I had a flare up was because of intestinal obstructions that were close to perforating the intestinal wall. That was fun.

Over the years I have learnt what works and what doesn't. Done the elemental diet (no solid food at all), the leave a food group out diet (that just made me hell to live with) and all the others in-between.

Now many, many, many years later I have found the best cure is to not worry and stress over foods as that makes the symptoms worse.

A quick day at the hospital for a barium meal and enema revealed the full extent and it wasn't pretty and as a 14 year old being told that I needed a full colostomy really didn't do wonders (the female doctor was Asian as well and just said it straight out when I was on my own, even the nurses were taken aback). Since that time I have managed it myself and only sought the hospital when my cleaner found me unconscious on my bedroom floor, I had passed out from the pain of the obstruction.

Just my 2p worth

Claire