Getting a doctors face to face appointment

[woodypup59]

My son (30s, live away from us) has tried to get a doctors appointment for a physical exam. He has the symptoms of a grumbling appendix or some other gastro trouble for a while now.
His has had a couple of phone consultations with the doctor, who has concluded "its probably nothing".
An MRI or CT scan would be great to allay our worries but he can't get the doctor to make that happen.
How does he push it further ?

[Nicetobenice]

Either go private (GP or walk in A&E) or go to the NHS A&E if he feels genuinely ill.

A scan on the NHS will have a delay and even a private MRI needs a referral so they know what to scan.

[xx99xx]

Speak/write to the practice manager. Ask for a diagnosis and treatment/advice. 'probably nothing' isn't a suitable diagnosis.

If he's in pain, try 111 and they'll probably recommend going to urgent care centre. He'll be there all day waiting but at least he'll get seen by someone.

[sherman]

Apoendix unless he is doubled over in pain and its the size of a grapefruit tbe NHS will do nothing.

[OIC]

Simple abdo ultrasound scan is good for looking for inflammation of the appendix and can be ordered by a GP.

If they won't do that (and they should) then A&E will do it if you turn up and tell them it's flaired up.

Bear in mind that, if the USS is normal, then more 'invasive' tests may be offered depending on the history and result of examination.

CT / MRI is not the first line investigation for this type of symptom.

[Peanut Gallery]

I am not a doctor, I am not anything medical, this is not medical advice...

I had really bad stomach issues, turns out that a dose of anti-biotics (with a vomiting bug in the middle) has made me allergic to sulphur dioxide and other things - a common preservative for food. Cut these out, and am feeling much better.

Docs found nothing before I worked this out, despite many trips.

[Yahonza]

It will probably get worse but I would suggest they go to A&E to get a proper assessment / physical examination and not a virtual one.

[Jonmx]

I got fobbed off by my GP for a while. Went to A&E (I was mid thirties, 43 now) and explained the issue (recurring chest pains but not heart attack type) to the consultant. They ordered X-rays, and some basic monitoring. Off the back of that I got a diagnosis of Sarcoidosis. Walk in Centre or A&E seem to be much better for getting a diagnosis, while GPs now seem to deal with ongoing management of conditions.

[Furbo]

woodypup59 said:

My son (30s, live away from us) has tried to get a doctors appointment for a physical exam. He has the symptoms of a grumbling appendix or some other gastro trouble for a while now.
His has had a couple of phone consultations with the doctor, who has concluded "its probably nothing".
An MRI or CT scan would be great to allay our worries but he can't get the doctor to make that happen.
How does he push it further ?

Here's a thing: Meningitis and appendicitis can present similar symptoms. One of my sons copped for one or the other two weeks into uni. Non-blanching rash, severe abdominal pain, fever, stiff neck.

He was admitted as an emergency to hospital, who decided it was nothing serious and they gave him some intravenous antibiotics and sent him on his way. He was shortly afterwards taken rapidly into another hospital where they confidently told him his appendix was necrotic. They whipped it out to find that it was actually fine.

In the whole unpleasant adventure we established from one of the medics that meningitis and appendicitis have latterly appeared quite similar in some cases, and they treat both in a similar way.

We will probably never know the truth of it all.