Why won't my GP listen to me!

[lara1953]

Hi everyone hope you are all managing to have a good day despite the pain. Phoned doctor's surgery on Friday and asked if my GP could phone me so I could discuss my options regarding how I was going to be able to have an MRI scan as my new pain and swollen legs, ankles and feet would make it impossible for me to get on the scanning bed. He rang me and said he wanted to visit and exam me to find out what might be causing this new pain. Examined me and everytime he pressed my stomach it was very painful. Said he thought I'd got diverticulitis and wanted to admit me to hospital. Told him I had no pain unless my stomach was pressed and I had no temperature and that my blood pressure was fine. My sister had diverticulitis and she was very poorly and in excruciating pain. Ambulance arrived at 4pm and then I was dumped in A&E. There must have been about 100 people in the waiting room so resigned myself to a long wait. Nurse took my bloods and then I was put in another waiting room. Saw the doctor and she said I had a UTI. I wasn't given a urine test and I've never heard of a UTI showing on a blood test. Said I would need antibiotics and put me in another waiting room. Was then put in another waiting room to wait for hospital transport to take me home. Got home at 1.45 am. All I wanted was my doctor to refer me for an upright scan. While I was waiting in A&E I came across a really funny song that a lot of you might relate to, I certainly do. It's called Sitting in the Waiting Room and it's on YouTube, I promise it will make you laugh.

[Mary-intussuception]

I )

I doubt there's anything your GP can do to request the upright scan. But - you could write him a short letter asking him to contact the department & try. Wouldn't it be up to the Consultant who refered you for the MRI? Phone their Secretary? ?

2)

When you attend for the MRI appointment you must voice your needs, pains, disabilities. Your being unable to get on to the scanner. Or ideally, phone the number on the MRI appointment letter , well beforehand, and explain. It is then for them to arrange things. Either, get you onto the scanner or rearrange the scan at another location.

3)

You could also mention in letter to GP that it wasn't Diverticulitis and that you are concerned to have been given a diagnosis of UTI without being asked for a sample to test to confirm this. You could take a sample in to GP.

4) Don't expect common sense to rule in the NHS .

In my opinion the NHS needs a massive injection of common sense. Plus education in communication skills.

Did GP think your bowels were full ? Is there a previous diagnosis of Diverticular disease? If there is any constipation, this could have an effect on pain. Pressure on blood vessels, spine, joints etc. I couldn't walk, bend or sit down once. My bowels were full and there was trapped wind. The nurse in A&E didn't have a clue and couldn't have cared less. Thankfully, they are not all like that.

A&E just isn't accessible to chronically sick & disabled people.

If my GP says 'if . . . . then go to A&E " I answer, " but we cannot access A&E ". The response is either - nothing, no reply or a repeat of ' go to A&E '.

ps

Have I asked you before if you've ever had blood tests for Thyroid Antibodies TPO and TgAb? Any Thyroid Function Tests?

You have so many symptoms of Hypothyroidism or undermedicated Hypothyroidism. If you have Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroiditis, would explain a lot.

[lara1953 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Thank you for your quick reply. I have phoned the spine consultant's secretary 4 times and it goes to voicemail. I have left 4 messages over the last 2 weeks and she hasn't bothered phoning back. I emailed my GP to let him know what happened at the hospital and to ask if he could get in touch with the spine consultant. He hasn't bothered replying. Luckily I haven't got constipation. I did have and it's taken over a year to get it under control. I rang the imaging department and before I even get to the scanning bed they said that I would have to leave my wheelchair in reception and walk to the scanning room which is impossible since I've had this new pain. I woke up this morning with another new pain in my right side under the bottom of my ribs. When I move it feels as though something is catching on my ribs. Have got an appointment with the Urologist on Monday regarding my kidney problem. I hope that he will be able to give me a diagnosis regarding my swollen feet, legs and ankles. The swelling is going up my legs. GP and the hospital didn't seem bothered about it. Would not a routine blood test show up any thyroid problems and what are the symptoms please?

[Mary-intussuception in reply to lara1953]

You would need to ask for Thyroid Antibodies TPO and TgAb to be tested. Also FreeT3, FreeT4 Total T4 and TSH. With Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroiditis (the cause of Hypothyroidism in most cases ) the regular Thyroid Function blood tests results can fluctuate and fall within the normal ranges. Many people are told their Thyroid's OK, when maybe it isn't. Late diagnosis causes lots of damage. There are many symptoms because Thyroxine is needed by every cell in the body. Without adequate Thyroxine, no organ or body part can function as it should. Metabolism is slowed.

If you look on the Thyroid UK website and search for 'symptoms of Underactive Thyroid ' on there. There are lots and you don't need to have them all. There is also a Thyroid forum on here, with many knowledgeable Thyroid patients who are very helpful.

I find the comments about having to leave your wheelchair in Reception ridiculous. They could help you on to the scanner table then remove your chair from the room & bring it back in after scan is finished.

I would be asking to speak to the head of the department or even the Outpatients Manager.

Is there another hospital with a Scanner that you stand in the room for. How long could you stand for though, using only wooden walking sticks ?

Nothing is simple in the NHS it's as if they go out of their way to make things complicated.

Hospitals that don't cater for chronically sick and disabled people - you've got to be fit, well and fully mobile to access them . How ironic is that.

ps

Don't you think that maybe emails can soon get forgotten about if not replied to straightaway? However, a letter doesn't go away? ( Well maybe, seeing that they scan in hospital letters then destroy the original via confidential waste).

[lara1953 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

The emails go to the reception email box and are then passed on. I phoned the surgery the day after I sent the email. The receptionist confirmed that they had received it and that it was with the doctor. Regarding the new pain, I don't want to contact the doctor again he'd probably say I've got Rabies! Haha! I think I'd probably get treated better by a Vet! I am going to discuss your comments with the Urologist. Although he's not a specialist in thyroid problems, he might make some suggestions. I am going to also phone the Rheumatology nurse and pass your comments on. They seem to be more empathetic than the rest of them. I am trying not to let all this get me down, but it's very hard. I can't have a shower and have to use no rinse body wash which takes over 2 hours altogether as I have to do it bit by bit throughout the day. I just don't feel clean!! I am such an independent person and all these so called experts are stopping me from doing this. Sorry about the rant, I just feel so frustrated!

[Mary-intussuception in reply to lara1953]

Have you ever phoned the Scope Helpline?

[lara1953 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

No, what is scope?

[Mary-intussuception in reply to lara1953]

A Disability Charity in the UK

Freephone Helpline :

0808 800 3333

Open 8am to 8pm Mon - Fri & 10am - 6pm Sat & Sunday and some Bank Holidays.

You could Google search " Scope Helpline" and look through their website if you wish or / and give them a call.

[cyberbarn]

I am sorry to hear how you are struggling to get your voice heard.

Just checking that you know why you can go into the scan room with a wheelchair? This video is a fun one to watch. It is from a university that did some experiments with their scanner before it was switched off.

youtube.com/watch?v=6BBx8Bw...(Not working as expected?)

They have to 'quench' a scanner before it is switched off, and they have a video of that too!

So it is impossible for anyone to use a standard wheelchair near a scanner, which is why if you can walk at all they like you to walk at the final stage. But remember they do scan very unwell people so they do have ways of getting even unconscious people into a scanner. So when it is your time to go to the appointment, if you just show up they will have to help you in.