Just thought I'd update on the nightmare that I'm having with my gp practice.
I had an awful conversation yesterday with my gp (following eight months of feeling ill) she accused me of fixating on my symptoms and refused to do anything this week as she wanted to await my CT report of my chest next week to lessen my contact with the surgery (the chest ct was done as I'd been having shortness of breath since December which has eased off this last month thankfully, touchwood, but it showed nodules so routine ct was requested). I told my gp that she was out of order to say these things to me as I've been living in my bedroom and not been out of the town for weeks, sleeping all the time, just feeling horrendous. I'd asked her three weeks ago if I could have an uss of my neck as I've experienced severe aching to my right neck and upper chest since December, she kept refusing but eventually requested a ct bizarrely. Radiology phoned me and said that the radiographer recommended an uss (which is what I'd initially asked for), anyway, today I plucked up the courage to ring the surgery and ask if this had been requested (I didn't get this answered by my gp yesterday) of course it hadn't, I said to the receptionist that I'd worried about asking because of what my gp had said to me, she was appalled. The receptionist said she'll get a different gp to ring me, she was very kind.
A senior gp phoned me and listened to my long list of symptoms and said he's going to refer me to Endocrinology (what I'd asked my gp yesterday but got refused because I can't keep getting referred on all the time!!) and if that's all clear he thinks I have depression and to try an ssri, I said I am absolutely not depressed, I'm getting tearful because I've been eight months being unwell and nothing improving, I've seen two counsellors and had cbt to tick the boxes, all of whom do not know why I was there, because I do not have depression.
I just pray the I have a helpful Endocrinologist, I can't believe I've finally been referred to an appropriate specialism...
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Bunny12345678
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I'm so sorry to hear this. The default position with doctors now is to assume mental illness rather than try to get to the bottom of a patient's problems. You are entitled to expect better, and to have unresolved problems properly investigated. Given your situation, a formal complaint would be in order.
At the moment, there is also the issue of all available resources having been directed towards dealing with Covid. It is like drawing blood from a stone to get appropriate care in these circumstances. I'm having difficulty myself, and I know this is a countrywide problem.
I can't confidently say that I've ruled out PA as I did a Blue Horizon capillary B12 which was 280, I had a venous Active B12 last week which was 123 (25.1-165.0). Folate 4.4 (>2.9).
I've changed gp practice already this year as I had to move in with my parents and the previous surgery were determined to label me with 'anxiety'. I had sudden onset palpitations and shortness of breath in December which I escalated in me being unable to stand for feeling faint for about three weeks over Christmas, I ended up in a&e twice as I felt horrendous, shaky, heady ghastly. I developed irregular bowels, Raynauds, severe aching to right side of my neck and upper right chest, severe aching to mid-posterior rib area, and my legs permanently feel like jelly. My head just feels so heavy and I have tinnitus. When I reel it all off to my gp's, I can see what they're thinking because I think it sounds ridiculous but as I said to them, I'm not making it up, I feel dreadful most of the day.
Thankyou, yes, I'll see what happens the next time I have to speak to the dr that's been a real problem, I was definitely considering taking it further. I just really hope that the Endo gets to the root of it all, there are so many gp's that I would happily tell them what's been found.. even the paramedics that took me to hospital at Christmas were awful, as soon as they saw that I'd been started on an anti-depressant they said "have you not read the side-effects, we're just doing a tick-box exercise here, have you read it???" I replied "yes, I have read it , and I'm a staff nurse" complete change of attitude "why didn't you say that before?" I replied " i shouldn't need to do, it isn't important"...
Marvellous isn’t it. I have an ovarian scan one year as I have PCOS. Dr rang 3 days before Christmas, do you think you have ovarian cancer. Must have been the only one to lose weight that Christmas! Thankfully I didn’t have it and Consultant at hospital went ballistic. As he said what difference would waiting a few days make!
Its dreadful isn't it?? Why the heck are they being so flippant?? I'm actually a nurse and I learnt a long time ago to listen to my patients if they say they don't feel right...the drs that are fobbing us off clearly have never had their fingers burnt...ive had many patients over the years with perfect numbers but I've had a feeling or they just don't look right and I've been right it turned out to voice my concerns...more fool a dr that ignores this philosophy.
Don't let them get you down or fob you off, I went back to my surgery for over 2 years with symptoms which they told me was the menopause. I had "delusional" written on my records because I kept bothering them and I was offered counseling and anti-depressants because it was all in my head. I actually had undiagnosed hyperthyroid and a suppressed TSH of 0.002 and after 2 years of no treatment I looked like the walking dead with thin hair, nails that had lifted off their beds or dropped off and I was a size 8.
its awful isn't it? I've packed weight on and not through troughing day and night either, my hair is thinning and falling out too. I can't believe what my gp said to me yesterday...i reckon they've documented something on my notes about me because of how they're sticking to the same lines.
It is hard to be strong thinking person when you are feeling like this and being treated like this. I am in the US and we have access to our records notes and all labs etc. I think it may be the same for you in your country. Documenting is hard at first then becomes second nature. You may have to fill out some paperwork in the beginning authorizing your consent then it will become a habit & you have your medical history with you wherever you seek help. Get a copy of your records, very helpful to know how you are perceived. Also for proof of their bias in the future if any when you are finally diagnosed correctly. Best of luck & strength for you.
The problem is Thyroid illness is not taken seriously enough and GPs don’t know enough about it. Does anybody on here think it will ever be any different? Not in my life time I don’t think unfortunately.
Thankyou for your support, I agree with you. What I'm hoping to do is once I have hopefully been diagnosed, that I'll write a letter detailing all my experiences with the surgery to the practice manager, because even with Covid happening, this could make me give up on life if I let, trust me I have started to edge towards that...but I also imagine I'm not the only person being made to feel this worthlessness?
I think it's because they've clearly all stuck together and I've been labelled that I may not be taken seriously. That's why I think writing in, may be more carry more weight if I get diagnosed finally..what you're saying is right though..i don't want to be booted out of the practice altogether though.
I applied for my notes in May, i had a phonecall last week saying it'll be hopefully completed by the end of this week!! They blamed Covid for the delay, odd though as they weren't seeing patients during Covid!!
Yes, you're right. I'm also anxious that if Endo can't find a problem, then my gp (the new one) said I must have depression! I vehemently refuted this.
Yes, its unreal...I've had every dr I have seen this year try to pin 'anxiety ' on me as the cause of my ill health...this is across two different gp practices too...its made me feel very low because of their insistence and disregarding my symptoms, not because of a mental health issue that I don't have.
Oh no, I’m so sorry. I guess I have to say to be prepared for an Endo who may not know it all either. I’ve had dismissive Endo and GPs too. I’m in the US. One GP was kind but clueless and referred me to a million other doctors for my symptoms, one GP more recently has been utterly dismissive and rude and rolled her eyes when I told her I’ve been on thyroid meds- and that I feel much better. Guess my experience is of no interest to her. I’ve thought a lot about writing to complain about her. I found an Endo who prescribed a low dose of T4 (little help) in response to my demands, and when I started to tell him that, he began to suggest I talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist. I shut that down immediately (and thanks to reading a lot on here and elsewhere, I know how common that trope is). So yep, that’s the answer. It must all be in our heads.
There is tons of good info on here, and some interesting info on optimal ranges for T3, T4, so I hope you are able to find an Endo who will listen. GL.
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