Hi all just really needed a good rant to people who understand! Anyone else experienced the frustration of trying to get past the receptionist who Actually questions your doctor! Last time I saw my gp I had already been diagnosed hypo he had put me on a lousy 25mg dose for 28 days TSH was 6.5, month later went back TSH was 4.1 still symptomatic so he put me on 50mg, was told to book another bloods in 6-8 weeks, called today only to be informed by the receptionist she doesn't know why my doctor said that as my previous result (4.1) was normal! There was nothing on my record for another test....my gp has slipped on this before an only needs reminding, tried I don't know why explaining to her as I'm already diagnosed an still symptomatic im currently going thru process of up meds then bloods 6-8 weeks later an that 4.1 is not normal a TSH level should be targeted to around 1.0mu/L....."no your levels normal" 😠😠😠 ok love get off the line an just let me speak to the doctor 😧 anyone else have a self certified thyroid expert receptionist!?
Just need a rant over receptionists playing doc... - Thyroid UK
Just need a rant over receptionists playing doctors!!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr
Did have, with one endo I saw. He would say to me 'ring me when you get your results' (I live in France so get my results before the endo does!) So, I would ring, only to be told by the receptionist that that my labs were normal, and the doctor was too busy to talk to me. And, I'd say 'but he told me to ring!' And she'd laugh and say 'oh, he always says that!' And she'd send me my normal prescription and a form for more labs. Sigh. Until, one day, she told me she wasn't going to send me any more prescriptions until I'd been to see the endo. I told her to... and went and found another endo - one without a receptionist!
Yup, sounds familiar. My endo is great, but her receptionists/nurses are airheads. They screen all emails to the Dr. and relay incorrect info to her. Also, they pretend to be at lunch most of the day and they cannot do basic math to save their lives. (2 incorrect NDT Rxs in 2 days...pharmacist just laughed) No labs ordered after dose change. Upcoming 6 month visit in Feb. Do I remind them or just leave it be? Because I cannot communicate with my endo between visits, I have done my own experimenting...I would have asked permission, but I couldn't, ha, ha...
One thing I did learn though, is that if you call after hours and get the answering service (here in the US) they will patch you through to the endo on call if it is deemed an emergency. Just ask them when your endo is on call and you can talk personally. I almost availed myself of this when my rx was running out and the bimbos in the office couldn't/wouldn't get it together. I refrained from bothering her, but I will mention it in Feb.
So, yes, some of us totally understand your rant 
It's lovely I suppose in a selfish way to hear others feel the struggle! Greygoose I really enjoyed your last bit made me chuckle and Scotbnk manipulating the system seems the best way forward 😂
Isn't it useful having somewhere to rant!
Many years ago (about 40) I had a frozen shoulder and an unhappy baby in tow so I tried to see the local doctor. Receptionist wouldn't let me see him. I went out to the phone box to ring my father (retired doctor) who said to go back and insist on staying in that waiting room until I was seen. There I sat trying to keep the baby relatively happy until the end of surgery when I saw the doctor and got my diagnosis and referral to the cottage hospital.
The problem of protective receptionists isn't new, but these days we have google and forums like this so that we are more knowledgeable.
I have the reverse situation: when phoning for blood results not so long back, the receptionist refused to tell me what they were as she "wasn't medically qualified" 😂. Through gritted teeth I pointed out that I was only asking for her to read out the numbers on the screen in front of her, not give me a diagnosis ....
I just want to add that ours are lovely. You can just walk in and ask for a print out of your blood test and they will do it there and then (provided it’s marked as having been seen by the gp). In our previous town they were a nightmare! I’m never moving!
One of my practice nurses is just as bad. I’ve got Graves, and normally have tests every six weeks, but there have been some occasions when they’ve been done more frequently. Last time, she said that my previous results had been normal, so the lab wouldn’t perform another test within six weeks, and definitely wouldn’t test FT3. She did take the test, and send it off using the form/envelope provided by my endo - and of course, it went through without any problems. I mentioned this to my GP next time I saw her, and now always ask for the nice friendly nurse (who is also much better at taking blood tests !)
Round my area that is true. They will not repeat any blood test within six week, or even three months. I have had blood test results back with a remark at the bottom that it was not done because it had been done three months ago.
I am sure that most of us have "been there, done that" and I have little to add to other comments just wanted to give you a (((hug))) and hope you feel better after your rant. xx
Back in the seventies, before I'd left home and at a time when I was embarking on my odyssey of ill-health, the local GP practice had a receptionist who insisted on patients telling her the details of their medical problems, in front of a crowded waiting room, before she would allow them to wait for the doctor (there being no appointment system). You can imagine how mortifying this was, and the giggles you could hear behind you from other people waiting.
When, in the early nineties, I moved to the rural area where I live now, I was confronted with receptionists who were throwbacks to the dark age of medicine. I remember my GP, who was head of the practice, nervously asking one notorious woman if I could possibly have a double appointment, because my condition warranted a longer discussion. She did it with a very bad grace. Other receptionists were openly rude to me, while being conspicuously friendly to other patients, just because I was an 'incomer' from another area.
I could go on!
Hi I think u would get more replies if your post was locked
I had something similar - I called for an appointment about 4 years ago, the receptionist insisted I tell them, even when I explained I was at work, it was embarrassing, and I really didn't want to say it where people would overhear, but I could assure the (male) receptionist it was necessary to see the doctor. He still insisted, but the joke was on him ultimately, as it was "female problems" and he was so flustered and embarrassed when I eventually told him.
One of our new batch of receptionists is a total pain. She’s like a Rottweiler and takes it upon herself to decide who can and who can’t see a doctor. I’ve even seen her sidekick turn round and look at her in amazement when she in full flow. I usually get my husband to go down in person and make me an appointment, that seems to work.
I've also had a Rottweiler for a receptionist - it's amusing that we've used the same term though not funny IYSWIM.
She also would ask why you wanted to see a GP then query whether you were ill enough. One day last year she put my back up so much that I came home and wrote an email complaining about her to the practice manager. Never got an acknowledgement let alone an apology. When the surgery subsequently had a reshuffle they got new receptionists and she has not been seen since.
Bet you didn’t get a respoonse because she was monitoring the managers emails too 😉
I hadn't thought of that, Fruity! But since she will have read what I thought of her unprofessional attitude, it doesn't matter.
Nothing to do with thyroid. Many years ago I had a miscarriage still have to go for the 6 week check up and the receptionist calls across the waiting room " I don't have a birth date for your baby " 😱 I was quit
I too have had similar experience tho not as brutal and blunt as yours, after a miscarriage i surprisingly conceived again 4months after, health visitor came me at home whilst pregnant an said you look small to say your due very soon! I looked puzzled an she said your due im Aug? I replied no that was my due date for the baby I lost...she was more than apologetic bless her, I hope your receptionist had the good grace to be mortified!
Oops! Quite smug with my reply informing her in no uncertain terms that I didn't have one !!!! 😊
Oh dont start me on my rant about gp receptionists, i wish they just would keep out of important medical stuff and keep drinking coffee instead!😊
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