How do you go about a second opinion?

[missunderstood1]

Hi all! Hoping someone can shed some light on this one. I've been to see the same gp today as I have on my last four visits and he doesn't appear to be listening to me properly and seems hell bent on prescribing ad's! I'm pretty sure he thinks my pain and symptoms are all in my head. Was just wondering how I could go about getting a second opinion without his knowledge?

[Hidden]

Hi love really feel for you I'm same had it for twelve years and my doc as never sent me to see a specialist or owt my spine getting worse but all they say it's fibro I'm going to change docs maybe you should love hugs xx

[missunderstood1 in reply to Hidden]

My doctor won't even acknowledge fibromyalgia even though my mum has it and she's hypo too! Have been at the same surgery for over twenty years and to be truthful can't be doing with the hassles of changing but I guess if I have to I will. I asked him today for some more naproxen as I've been using it for my pain and he asked me what I wanted it for!!

[rosewine]

Is he the only GP at the surgery or could you go and see someone else at the same practice? You can refer yourself to a specailist but of course that would be at your cost but of course they prefer you to come via a GP as they get to know all your past history. My last doctor was very sympathetic and I had had the same one for over 30 years. My new doctor and I are only just starting to get used to one another after a year and I don;t feel the empathy I had with the old one but realise in the doctor/patient terms it is probably early days. Quite a few people seem to have had some success with a low dose of anti depressants not that they have ever been offered to me so I think it is quite a standard treatment, supposedly they can help with you getting more restful sleep so perhaps could be worth a trial run. I do hope that you get something that helps you.x

[TheAuthor]

Hi misunderstood1

I am so sorry to read that you are being left in such an untenable situation, and I genuinely hope that you can find some resolution and relief to this issue. As Rosewine says, it may help to book an appointment with a different GP at your surgery?

I want to wish you all the best of luck with this.

Ken

[teddybear7]

This was with a specialist at a hospital not sure if GPS follow the same process. But one wanted me to have radiation (for a none fibro issue I may add) I didn't want it or feel it necessary. I asked him direct for a second opinion. I had heard that on the NHS you are entitled to do this and when asked they have to act on it. He referred me to someone at another hospital and they agreed with me and I didn't have the radiotherapy. I continued my treatment with the original specialist and he was still nice and great with me. Apparently it's part of the process. So take a deep breath & just ask the question. Good luck. X

[Scouser58]

Hello misunderstood31, there seems to be good gp's who listen and do as much as they can, then there are the cannot be bothered/don't listen/won't investigate ones, and these make people feel worse.

I would not want to stay with a gp who does not listen, because without putting them into severe pain, they dont/wont to know the depth of what you feel. Could be speaking with another gp at the practise, or the senior partner, and guage the response if they would look after you in a better way.

Then it could be the other option of changing to another practise, this would then give a fresh start, and when they reviewed the data discs from your current gps, they my see a pattern and deal with things in the order of priority. Please have courage and let us know how things go, ttfn