Afraid of our GPs.

[Bennett1943]

I'd noticed a few times how some FM sufferers want to ask their GP to refer them to a Rheumatologist or Pain Clinic so that they can discuss their pain more fully and to get the best treatment they can. I'm one such person and I wonder what it is that I'm afraid of. Isn't our GP there to help us ? Way do other FM sufferers think ?

[Hidden]

Hi I seem to be afraid of every body I find myself buying things online rather than from the shop around the corner just to avoid the confrontation.

With my gp she is very nice and easy to talk to but I find I get anxious when I see her and forget half of what I was going to ask her. So in a nutshell I think with me it is anxiety.

In the end I took my wife with me and kind of pushed her a bit to refer me.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I think you are right Rich- I don't go outdoors much now, don't go shopping because I cant carry it home, so yes I think many of us feel a little intimidated with the world outside..

[Hidden]

I am fortunate enough to have a good rapour with 3 g.p,s in my practice and I usually get referred if I want to, I usually ask when g.p cannot go any further with treatments/meds, there is a limit to what a g.p can prescribe and a consultant can instruct to use something else.. in my case I am using hydrothrapy which I pay a small fee for and waiting to see rheumo nurses for some acupuncture.. I found my rheumo doc referred me to pain clinic for help. You have a right to ask for a referral and if one doc wont then go to another in the practice.

[Bennett1943 in reply to Hidden]

A lot of what you say is true. The bottom line really is being made aware of what is available and then at least we would accept it and get on with our lives !

[bluebell99]

I find having my husband with me boosts my confidence to ask anything I need.

[Bennett1943 in reply to bluebell99]

Can I ask what the doctors reaction was ? Did he become more defensive or do you feel it helped at all ?

[Hidden]

Well, my Rheumatologist wrote to my G.P to refer me to the Pain Clinic. I went to see G.P about making this appointment and he said NO he would look after/manage my pain. I came away with Brutan patches and Lyrica tabs which turned me into a Zombie according to my hubby ! So after seeing Rheumy team I weaned myself off the Lyrica then started to reduce the batches until I was on none. I can think straight now thank goodness BUT I would have preferred to see what other non meds treatment would have been offered by pain clinic.

[Bennett1943 in reply to Hidden]

The set up is just too hit and miss and I can sympathize with so many people on this website. I wonder sometimes if it is because a Medical Practice is trying to stay within its budget. I'm going to follow the advice I was given and change to another surgery altogether. It would be helpful if there was some kind of guideline available to the public as to what our rights are and what we can reasonably expect from our GPs.

[TheAuthor]

Hi Bennett1943

I think that you are spot on my friend! When you see a GP you simply never know which way they swing with Fibro and it can put you on edge? Then, when you ask for something like a referral or medication many of them go on the defensive? I walk into appointments expecting confrontation half the time! I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Bennett1943 in reply to TheAuthor]

Thank you for your kind reply.

[Jan810]

Hi, I think for me, it makes my anxiety bad. After going back and forth for 4 years and getting no answers, offered no advice, no medication I think I lost trust. I spent a year in bed where I could barely walk but yet never visited my g.p as they were no help before. I had never heard of a rheumatologist before. Until after 4 years I went to a different g.p again and he suggested I see one. It knocks your confidence and makes you feel like you are losing your mind. They always blamed it on my mental health. I'm so happy to finally have an official diagnosis but will still avoid my g.p at all costs. X

[Bennett1943 in reply to Jan810]

GPs lack of feeling

[Jan810 in reply to Bennett1943]

Definitely. I think the majority of them are overworked. It must be an extremely stressful job. There are still some lovely caring doctors out there who genuinely care though, finding them is a problem.

[Superc4t]

I wonder if anyone can clarify where a rheumatologist fits it? I attend a pain clinic for fibromyalgia and see a pain psychologist and a pain consultant - all liaise with my GP but my pain never improves. I also have osteoarthritis and circulatory problems in my feet which cause me serious mobility problems which seems to be ignored when ever I bring it up. Could referral to a rheumatologist help with this?

Thanks

[Jan810 in reply to Superc4t]

Hi. I really don't know, but I don't see why it wouldn't be of help to you. It sounds like your g.p is disregarding your symptoms. I saw the rheumatologist to confirm whether I had fibro, he asked questions About other symptom so that they could rule out things like lupus. He referred me to a physiotherapist too. I hope that someone can help with your mobility problems, it must be a real struggle. X

[Bennett1943 in reply to Jan810]

Thank you

[Bennett1943]

I've had that happen to me when GPs don't listen to me because of my having anxiety/depression. They don't or can't listen with an open mind because most times they don't expect a backlash. Depression is described as anger turned inward so maybe we have nothing to lose by giving them a broadside and getting our feelings off our chest !