New to me GP gives me hope

[2pence]

Following annual blood tests my assigned GP phoned me to discuss. I declined to discuss over the phone as we were out and I don't hear well over the phone so he agreed to a face to face appointment.

The system at our surgery is to message from their website in the morning for an appointment that day so I tried yesterday having nothing that couldn't be interrupted in my day. My GP wasn't available so I was given another.

When he called me from the waiting room I realised that he had a strong clear voice so a good start and I wouldn't need to use my phone's microphone into my hearing aids. I said I'd been asked to come in because of my test results that I assumed it was the TSH result and handed him a spreadsheet of all of my results since diagnosis. He replied that my results were in the reference range so I wasn't overmedicated and checked my pulse so was happy with everything. I can't remember when anyone last checked my pulse manually.

He asked if I was expecting a problem and I told him that I hoped not to have but had heard of people having problems. He asked who put me onto Liothyronine and when I told him the Consultant he knew her.

I've asked if I can see him again as he was so easy to hear and communicate with but I'm hoping that I don't have to as I'm feeling well.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I’m so pleased you had a good experience 2pence; there are lots of very approachable, hardworking medics out there who don’t often get a shout out!

I always give feedback at my surgery when I’ve had a positive appointment. some surgeries do it via online surveys, others still have manual cards & a postbox.

[HandS]

So pleased all went well. I have hearing loss and often struggle with phone calls too; I’m not sure this is appreciated very well in the scheme of things.

I’ve even had a hearing clinic try to call me with an emergency appt when I was having a severe problem …..and had advised them I could not hear a thing !!

[2pence in reply to HandS]

The audiologist I saw at MK hospital wrote a letter to the surgery with a paragraph in it telling them that I may have additional communication needs. That it is important to as me how I wish to communicate and telling them that hearing aids do not bring back normal hearing so it is important to consider background noise and ensure that I can see their face. He said that this should be added to my health records and available to all health professionals who see me and gave a link of rnid.org.uk/support-for-hea... (not sure why its not gone blue).

As there appear to be no letters on my record, I copied that one as well when I was asked if I had a copy of the Consultant's letter putting me on Liothyronine. When the GP that I am assigned to phoned me I said that I couldn't manage a consultation over the phone and needed a face to face appointment and he agreed to that. The GP that I saw was a different one but obviously my hearing problems are now on my notes. It's bed when audiology do it though.

[HandS in reply to 2pence]

thank you so much for that information: the ‘blue’ is a direct link to the RNID information -and very helpful indeed.

Here’s one of my funniest experiences at a hearing clinic .

Dr is softly spoken, and asking me questions while facing his laptop . One question I heard as “have your bowels been affected?”. I answered ‘’no” but was puzzled and a minute or so later, I asked him how my bowels could be affected by my ears ?

He looks puzzled . ‘About 3 questions back’ I said . He looked at his laptop.

“Has your BALANCE been affected?” he enunciated .

😂. Nurse, doctor and I could hardly continue for laughing .

Well, I said, this IS a hearing clinic : suggest you face your patients and speak up ! It was very funny . Don’t know if he took that advice …

[Charlie-Farley]

Brilliant 2pence! So pleased for you. There really are some good ones out there - ones who still check vitals and recognise symptoms are still important and don’t rely entirely on lab work and most importantly understand limitations of these tests and perhaps their own?? 😉.

We have the whole spectrum at our surgery and I have had constructive conversations with a few, but also locking horns with another. Rules of engagement change, depending on who I am dealing with, but my only aim is to stay well - so I will push if needed. 🤔😊👍

[HowNowWhatNow]

hooray!!