How do you get the NHS to take you seriously?

[LuckySalem]

I'm having real trouble getting the NHS to realise just how horrible having all these problems and no answer to them.

Has anyone successfully got the NHS to listen and actually attempt to do something?

[teadrinker]

Persistance, determination, gritted teeth....

I got discharged once by a doctor who implied I was making it all up. I eventually found someone who took it seriously. Early on in my pain journey I got brushed aside by a doctor who put my physical problems down to a previous history of depression, even though that was all long gone and nothing to do with my pain. It took repeated visits to this doctor to get what i felt I needed, but it also meant having to try some medication that I didn't think would help just to prove it wouldn't help.

It was 6 years before I got an explanation for my pain - it was nobody's fault, it's just how it is sometimes. But it doesn't lessen the frustration.

I used to keep a diary so that I could go to appointments clear in my mind about what was happening. I also used to write down what i wanted to say at the appointment - they seemed to take a lot more interest if I took some notes in, and it made me feel more confident, rather than waffling on a bit vaguely.

Maybe you are doing this already? There was also something called the Expert Patient Programme a few years ago (I didn't do it but heard about it) where they teach people with long-term health problems how to be more assertive with their doctors and how to manage themselves better. I don't know if it's still running - you might find it on the internet.

Good luck.

[Hidden]

As teadrinker says a well planned case is better, it show the dr you arecpaying attention to whats happening. A diary is an excellent way, as it gives specifics, shows patterns. A good diary will document pain against an activity, how long it lasts, and what you did to ease the pain and how effective it was.

Once you have some info to work with you can research it further just by searching each symptom. Then you get an idea of how difficult it is for Drs to come to a conclusion quickly as they too will have to wade through all that as well.

Reasearch medication for your symptoms, and ask the Dr why some are used more than others, which have the best outcome etc. Which would be best for you.

Taking ownership of your sypmtoms and then your diagnosis will get better results from Drs. Its the way they work nowadays. With you rather than at you.

If all that seems too much work, get yourself along to a sports physio. They work all they time with damaged bodies of varying degrees, understand pain and will often be able to give you a diagnosis. They work without the use of medication, unless its absolutely necessary. Then you go back to your Dr if you still need their input.

Drs are not really trained in long term pain, they tend to focus on acute pain, and as we all know, pain killers are designed for acute pain and rarely work on chronic pain.

Patient choice means we have the choice to look outside the conventionsl NHS for ways to treat ourselves, and theres al the alternative therapies to try. They are very good at releaving some symptoms. They are also very aware of how the body behaves under stress, and often recognise signs. Sometimes if some symptoms are dealt with in this way, its easier to cope with with the ones that can't be treated.

Drs will want to confirm/eliminate anything you may have found through these methods, cos thats what they do. So take ownership, do a diary, see a sports physio, try some alternative therapies, get as much info as you can, and the more info you have the easier it is for you to be specific about things.

[Hidden]

When I first become disabled due to a very unusual medical problem the way that we handled it was to go to a private consultation, this gives a second opinion and new eyes that can see your complaint.

That for me was 25 years ago, also I had extensive private chiropractic treatment that had to be covered by a private HSL insurace that I was very lucky too have from my last place of work. I feel the odd private appontment can prove a godsend when this happens, I realise that this can be expensive and many people would find it expensive.

The other ways are

1) See another doctor in practice.

2) Ask outrite too see a specialist in hospital environment.

3) Change your health practicioner.

4) Train yourself to be able to talk to your doctor. There is a NHS course on his that is extra to pain clinic.

5) Be firm ask for the second opinion in a hospital environment.

6) Next is start again from above, the aforementioned course is generally given to known

patients that has their condition confirmed.

Finally, I know you must be going through the mill but keep a hold and wellcome to this world that many patients have too go through. Once sorted you will find how good the NHS is, good luck

[Welshexile]

Hi LuckySalem

Just adding to Teadrinker's comment - the expert patients program is still running, in fact it's expanding across the country all the time. I found their Self Management Course really helpful and would definitely recommend it.. I had a look at your profile to see if there were courses in your area and it looks like you;'re in Wrexham area so you can go the EPP Cymru site for more info wales.nhs.uk/sites3/home.cf....

[Welshexile in reply to Welshexile]

wales.nhs.uk/sites3/home.cf...

this is correct link, I think.....alternatively just google EPP Cymru!