Call from GP and some clues

[Lupiknits]

I've finally had a telephone call from my current GP - fortunately the one I know best. The call came just as I was thinking I might get out of bed, and it took some frantic fumbling to do the slide across on my iphone to be able to answer, but fortunately I've had a few days to think about what I needed to say and ask.

I wanted to know just what is going on between rheumy and osteo and why I seem to have been discharged without reason. To sum up, GP says I have general wear and tear osteo in my hands and hips, greater trochanteric pain syndrome (just googled that) Raynaud's and "some kind of auto immune thingy" going on. I love the phrase "some kind of auto -immune thingy" because it's exactly what I say to others who ask me!

He asked me what I thought, out of the meds I take, what helped best, and what I thought was wrong . In my experience, asking the patient is generally to tease out whether they have some potentially irrational fears about a medical problem. I just said I had no particular idea what was wrong, I hadn't been informed, and I have no medical training, but that what he had told me was helpful.

As to the meds, the butrans patches and occasional co-codamol help take the edge off the worst of the pain, and I'm trying to do some if the physio exercises. Guidance from Pain Management Services helps, and - confession time -I took a break from hydroxy to see what happened, and have started taking it again because, yes, that helps. No meds I can take for Raynaud's because of my low blood pressure.

GP asked if I would see him this morning and I declined because I just can't get myself there in a rush. Then I had to say that he had been very kind and helpful, but I've registered with another practice, after over twenty years at that one because it has become much too difficult to get an appointment there - no appts available on line, the phone is constantly engaged, and if you get past that, it's an emergency appt only, inevitably with a locum. I feel bad because when I can get to see him, he's great, but I'll send a card ...

Off now, to get myself going and try to plan out a course of action to self manage my strategies.

[Barnclown]

I think you're fantastic & amazing, lupiknits! Many thanks for this vvv entertaining & informative update. I especially ❤ your:

"He asked me what I thought...was wrong. In my experience, asking the patient is generally to tease out whether they have some potentially irrational fears about a medical problem. I just said I had no particular idea what was wrong, I hadn't been informed, and I have no medical training, but that what he had told me was helpful."

👏👏👏👏

Take care

🍀😘🍀😘🍀😘 coco

[PMRpro in reply to Barnclown]

Just to add my tuppence-worth - I'd have loved to be a fly on the surgery wall!

Well done you - though I'd have struggled in just to find out what secrets he might want to impart before I left...

[Lupiknits in reply to PMRpro]

Hey, Pro! I honestly think GPNice has imparted what I need to know, and will leave it in his hands to send off one of his vitriolic letters to those the GPs commision ( which he has copied to me in the past). I wouldn't mind being there for any internal shouting match, but it's fun to imagine. I'm composing a general letter to the practice to give my impressions of being a patient there for a quarter if a century, and why, with reluctance, I'm deregistering after considering it for some time ( and requesting no reply, thanks)

[Lupiknits]

Thanks coco! 💐