Kinda of upset : I’ve been going to the same... - Thyroid UK

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Kinda of upset

Louiseb17 profile image
24 Replies

I’ve been going to the same doctors surgery for 25/28 years and I rarely see the same doctor twice, so when I was diagnosed with hashis.. I asked some questions (probably too many) and clearly irritated the doctor on duty as it was written on my file “——- will not see this patient again!!!!!”

I’m a bit emotional today (my T4 is sky high) so it really really upset me, and so on my way home.. I sent them an email saying that I had seen the message and was very upset and that they could send me my file or destroy it but I will be finding a new doctor... which I will do :( I’m just sad that because I clearly took up too much of his time or asked questions, he blacklisted me.

I’m tired of doctors..

*sorry rant over*

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Louiseb17
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24 Replies
Judithdalston profile image
Judithdalston

I can sympathise with you, very unprofessional, I hope the practice manager saw your email, and responds. Years ago I had a Gp who wrote v. large and ostentatiously on card cover of my file ‘ daughter of physician’...as was asking for more tests to find out why I was so ill ( with hindsight think it was first hypothyroidism after birth) as only tested for very few things! But it does dint your faith in GPs and their ‘caring’!

Louiseb17 profile image
Louiseb17 in reply to Judithdalston

Thanks.. I think it’s unprofessional, I understand notes but on a patients file when the patient can see it. And it was upsetting as at the time I was very ill

Hopefully my new doctor will be a bit more sympathetic

tinkerbell22 profile image
tinkerbell22

I am So very sorry your doctor was like this. I totally sympathise. It's not as bad but I've seen similar things in my medical history too. Terrible isn't it. I guess they expect 9 times out of 10 it won't be seen by the patient.

This doctor doesn't deserve your time or energy <3 I hope you find someone better xx

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply to tinkerbell22

Am so sorry to hear what happened. I would complain to the practise manager- the GPs totally out of order and it needs addressing!! Can completely understand you want to change practises. Hope you find a much better practise soon.

Marymary7 profile image
Marymary7

Keep your pecker up. I imagine this happens a lot but most don't read their notes.

When I wheeled my brother into the doctors in a wheelchair the doc said nothing or cared. My brother had previously been able to walk but he had has M.S and I suspected B12 deficiency (I was correct).

He didn't agree but ran bloods and gave the first jab of b12 there when I pointed out that b12 healed the myelin ( which is damaged and lost in Multiple sclerosis)

He was really nasty to my poor brother who was suffering so much. My brother later read on his notes that gp had said ' THIS HAS BEEN A MOST EXASPERATING CONSULTATION' ......his capitals!!

So incredibly unsympathetic......no empathy at all, that doc has retired since.

Cariad123 profile image
Cariad123 in reply to Marymary7

It really does make you think that the majority of gp’s need to reread their oath when they became doctors

endomad profile image
endomad in reply to Marymary7

What a shame we don't get to write notes on the Dr's!

Britomartis29 profile image
Britomartis29 in reply to endomad

In the US we *do* comment on our experiences with doctors and warn others away from the bad ones. (I was so surprised this is not done in the UK when I lived there---why protect the wrongdoers and incompetent ones? why not praise the share the good ones? Docs seem to have unwarranted special privileges.) There are online patient comment pages, doctor ratings pages, and practice/hospital/clinic ratings pages, and we use them! I think some doctors do respond, but not all; it is widely understood to be the right thing to do to raise one's concerns with the doctor first, and then if no satisfaction, write them up online. I left a GP doctor's practice about 5 years ago because I had been telling him of increasing stomach pain for months, and he just wanted to put me on antidepressants, saying I must be "stressed"! Turned out it was a bleeding ulcer from untreated H Pylori, that nearly broke though the stomach wall, greatly worsened because of the long delay due to that doctor. I brought in thefull-color endoscopy images of the horrifically bleeding interior of my stomach, from the gastroenterologist I had gone to in desperation, told that GP I was very unhappy that his neglignce had caused me a serious, dangerous problem; he did not even react, did not apologize, or anything, until I said "I ought to sue you for malpractice" and left, whereupon he tried to stop me (hah--"too late: talk to my lawyers," I said, over my shoulder).

Reader, I did not sue him (wish I had) but I did write up a detailed online report on him, and when I went to pick up the final records, the receptionist told me that everyone in the practice saw my online review and that the Doc was not happy. I said, "Well, he should be a better doctor and he wouldn't get reviews like that. Other patients deserved to know and be protected from him." She kind of nodded, surreptitiously, and gave me a quick hug on the way out. Hmm, when even the receptionists know...

dinglebell profile image
dinglebell

How arrogant. And passive aggressive to let you see it. He was most likely unnerved by your questions, they don’t like you to know more than them. I have been asked ‘Why do you want to know?’ when I simply asked what my BP was. After which it was somewhat raised.....

Lovecake profile image
Lovecake

I’d actually like to read all my notes. Mainly because I’m nosey, but also would like to know which doctors dismissed my symptoms.

It would have been better for me to know they were not doing anything about how I was feeling, then maybe I’d have changed GP or got home tests done sooner.

I also know I may me annoyed and upset by some of the notes, so maybe it’s best if I don’t look.

Maybe they should just be honest and say “I can’t treat you, and I don’t want to, so see another GP in future”.

I actually avoid certain doctors and am sure many people everywhere do the same.

But I’ve also known some really lovely doctors and wish they would come out of retirement just for me 😂

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to Lovecake

I thought the same as you for a long time - that I didn't want to see what was written about me. But I did eventually buy a copy of my notes in 2014 (this was when people had to pay £50 - it's free now). I wished I'd bought them years earlier once I saw them because they were very helpful to me. I should point out that I was deliberately non-committal about what I wanted them for. I didn't want to give them any clues about what I was looking for in case they removed it.

The summary information about me that doctors see when they look at my records had loads of things missing about my medical history. And unfortunately, doctors assume that the summary they see is straight from the mouth of God - it can never be wrong because it was written by doctors or their staff. So if I mentioned anything about my past history to doctors they assumed that I was either lying or exaggerating.

Having bought my records I then wrote a letter to my GP asking politely for the summary information to be added to and updated with the information I found in letters from surgeons and doctors that backed-up the things I'd been saying for years.

Another point...

Doctors are legally allowed to remove any information from the copy they give you that has upsetting things written on it, on the basis that it could damage your mental health. It's a big cop out of course, but there is nothing you can do about it.

Final point...

Copies of any hand-written medical records from before the days of computers were, in my case, 100% completely unreadable because of the bad handwriting. I wonder if the readable pages were left out.

I accept that your records may be upsetting. But keeping yourself ignorant won't help you in any way (in my opinion).

Since I wrote the letter with the details that they had missing from my summary, and included copies of the letters as proof I've found that the doctors in my surgery are much more pleasant to see. Unfortunately, this doesn't extend to hospitals, but I'll take what I can get!

Lovecake profile image
Lovecake in reply to humanbean

Hi humanbean, I have my records online. It gives me some info and test results back to about 2011.

I’d like to go back further. At present I’m in the process of moving house. So I will look into getting my full notes once I register with a new GP. There is a chance I will be back with a Gp surgery I was with for 20 years (and my favourite docs), so am sure I can get more from them.

I agree with getting as much info as possible. I don’t think that many GPs request the correct blood tests to be done most of the time. (But at least I know now).

And I’m sure some of the docs I saw must have written “she must be making her symptoms up” but hey ho I don’t care what they think.

Thanks to this forum (plus a couple of thyroid groups), and thyroid uk I am miles better. I would not be trying to move if I felt like I did the last few years. 🤗

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to Lovecake

The earliest record I got was from the early/mid 1970s. From the things I've read about other people's experiences I think I was lucky to get that much.

I have no access to my records online. My surgery doesn't allow it. I haven't pushed for access, but perhaps one day I will. After all, doctors are legally obliged to allow it, I think.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to humanbean

I have recently got FULL access to records online, including blood test results

There seems to be extremely limited notes regarding consultations (virtually nothing) online

But blood test results.....are very useful

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to SlowDragon

Yes, it would be lovely to have access. But I tend to avoid doctors altogether these days if I can possibly help it. If I have a clear brain day one day I might pursue this further.

vocalEK profile image
vocalEK in reply to Lovecake

Next time a medical person asks you "Why do you want to know?" get a really shocked expression on your face and then respond with a question: "Is there some reason you want to keep it secret?"

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to vocalEK

I like that idea. I wonder if I could pull it off with the right expression...

purple64 profile image
purple64

He probably reacted that way because he can't answer your questions as they have no idea how it makes us feel. It was inexcusable to put that on your notes. I thought it was supposed to be a caring profession hope you get a reply from the practice manager.

Goforitmum profile image
Goforitmum in reply to purple64

I agree. I think that not knowing the answers has bruised his ego. It’s all about him and not a reflection of Louiseb17.

Batty1 profile image
Batty1

No such thing as too many questions when it comes to your health and not seeing the same doctor twice is not continuity of care and this is the reason your health issues never get resolved.

I feel for you I have same issues with Endos different one constantly which makes getting consistent care hard and Its the very reason after 2.5yrs after thyroidectomy I still have issues and in my experience doctors are mostly too lazy to brush up on your problems so it's a rinse and repeat medical care.

I wouldn't get too upset it sounds like you wouldnt want to see him again either. They do not like you asking questions that expose their very little knowledge. It is probably better to come here with questions re thyroid. You could ask for is comment to be removed but not sure of they will allow. I have had the phrase 'mum became angry' written on my notes several times by one doctor because I politely disagreed with her and her suggestions for my child. It does make you cross. They are bullys. What are particulary hate is when the eyes glaze over as they dismiss what you are saying as nonsence. I would love to stick a pin in the leg of doctors who do this, just to see if it improves their listening skills. My mum gave me a pin to take to primary school when I was being bullied once. It worked wonders.

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

That is so wrong and unfair! He can't hand pick who he wants to see! He might get away with suggesting you see an other doctor with better knowledge than he but there again they never admit they haven't a clue!

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

In the subject of notes, I was sent to a physio who had asked to be sent a précis of my bits that could be relevant. I was given the list but on reading I had been on HRT before I had my three children! Thankfully they agreed to change my notes and on my next visit made a point of telling me it had been done!

Elizabeth14 profile image
Elizabeth14

You have my sympathy, I got a copy of my notes a few years ago and saw that the neurologist had written on one letter, "that getting information out of this patient is like getting blood from a stone". What he had actually asked me was what happens when you are unconscious? The answer had been, "I don't know, I was unconscious".

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