New GP

[Stickgal316]

Recently moved and saw a new GP yesterday. He was bewildered that I had been having headaches, blurred and double vision for months before and following my pmr diagnosis and no one thought a biopsy was urgently needed. Referred me to a surgeon to rule out GCA. Also referred to a new rheumy, so feeling a lot better about my health care. He said it sounds like you were left blowing in the wind to take care of yourself. Hopefully he will stay engaged with me during this journey. Time will tell.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Glad to hear someone’s on the ball…

[SheffieldJane]

Whew!

[Longtimer]

Good news, love his polite "blowing in the wind!" ....hope things improve for you ...

[Stickgal316]

Thanks all!

[123-go]

Sounds as though he’s a rare gem! Hope the new rheumy is up to par as well.

[Hidden]

Hurrah, what’s the telephone number there 😉😀

[Stickgal316 in reply to Hidden]

Lol. South Alabama. Ya nearby?

[Hidden in reply to Stickgal316]

Hmmmm. Cambridgeshire UK 😀

[cycli in reply to Hidden]

close then not

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sounds an improvement on your previous lot. Sounds like an educational goodbye letter is in order!

[2013mayo]

Hi,

My GP’s totally ignored my headaches for a long time, in desperation one time I asked for a blood test but the only thing he checked was my hb. It was only after many months of being very ill, losing a lot of weight, blurred vision and eventually ? Chest infection that I took myself to A/E eye hospital because my vision was worse that I was diagnosed with GCA .

You sound like you have a very good doctor who takes an interest in your care, keep hold of him as they are few and far between.

Take care

[Stickgal316 in reply to 2013mayo]

That’s pretty despicable. In 2019 I had a GP who wouldn’t give me an appt even though I was diagnosed with diverticulitis and was very ill. Kept going to ER and finally on 6th trip I tried a different hospital. I was admitted and had surgery next day. Lost a foot of my colon. I went to one more visit to confront him and he told me I had 30 seconds “to complain”. I asked him what would have happened if I had waited the six weeks they wanted for an appt. He shrugged and said, “Oh you would’ve died.” I couldn’t even speak. I just got up and left. He had a student doctor with him.

[2013mayo in reply to Stickgal316]

Hi, That’s horrendous, how dare he treat you like that, just goes to show some doctors really don’t care enough, they expect praise but only a few dedicated to their profession give the time to see a patient who really needs extra time to see them.

I’ve never got my full sight back, it’s ok ish but nothing like it was before GCA, I suppose it’s my fault, I thought it was my age, I thought I needed reading glasses and put it off, it was just the headaches that got worse.

Take care.

[cycli in reply to 2013mayo]

It's not your fault, it may not be anybody's fault but the specialists if they weren't so up themselves should and could have a better track record of correct diagnosis if they listened more to the patient. It is truly difficult sometimes to differentiate between effect and likely cause, we all know that, but there are very sure indicators in certain locations that give a clear enough signal to at least play safe while doing the checking and confirmation. If you had seen the physical transformation of flesh, body and mental state I saw watching my father deteriorate for 25 years from when I was 7 to 32 and the medications and operations he tolerated without once questioning them or what they would and were doing to him you can understand why the medical profession has a horror of the effect of corticosteroids. I think there were a large number of law suits against what they had put people through. They simply didn't know enough about it then 40 years ago. They don't have that excuse now and should adjust accordingly.

[2013mayo in reply to cycli]

Interesting 🤔

[cycli in reply to 2013mayo]

A pity really. I never understood him and he died before we could really communicate. I understand so much more now and wish I had been more understanding but an angry frustrated and confused boy whose father is in permanent chronic pain and with a body yearly deteriorating from what he knew as a pilot flying wellingtons and a superb athlete do not make good communicators. We live and learn. That's why I question everything especially so called experts.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Stickgal316]

That is utterly disgusting - and what an example to show to a student. I'd have taken that further ...

[Longtimer in reply to Stickgal316]

Oh no, he wouldn"t have got away with that with me....especially in front of a student....how arrogant and ....well words fail me!....and that's very rare!....shocking...

[cycli in reply to Stickgal316]

I agree with PMRpro, that is not only disgusting behavior, it is reprehensible and actionable. It is worse than unprofessional in that it shows a completely uncaring outlook for your life and health. TheGMC would take action if it were bought before them here. What an attitude.

[Stickgal316 in reply to 2013mayo]

So glad you got help before you lost eyesight!!

[cycli]

echo all the above. Happy foryou. Hope it improves situation