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[Nefersmum]

I have had THE most frustrating day. 

I mentioned a few days back that I was awaiting an appointment because my GP thought I may have suffered a mini-stroke or something.   Today was that appointment and it was the biggest waste of time ever.   We saw a registrar who spent 98% if the consultation time staring at his PC and grunting.  He took no history whatsoever - heaven forbid he would actually ask the patient questions!   He asked me absolutely nothing.   Worst of it was that he either had a terrible cold or an allergy to something because the entire consultation was punctuated by huge wet sneezes into his hands.   It was quite the most nauseating experience.   I was relieved that he didn't actually lay hands on me at all although I wouldn't want to be whoever had to use the keyboard after him.   He sent us off for a scan and I felt sure that on our return he would have acquired something by way of a hanky, but no.   

The good news is that it wasn't a ministroke at all and there is nothing wrong with my heart or it's function.   That is a huge relief I can tell you.   The trouble is as none of the medical professionals have bothered to take any real history from me we are never going to get to the bottom of what's causing the problem.   He is going to instruct my GP to refer me hither, thither and yon, he told me, but I doubt any of the recommendations he is going to make will take us a single step forward.   Each time I've seen someone I have asked them if the menopause is possibly to blame for my difficulties and mentioned the humoungous amount of stress I've been having for some months now but it's like they go deaf.   It makes you wonder why they seem to be keen to push me towards something exotic rather than considering the change as a possible cause for the symptoms.   

It was the most unpleasant consultation but I'm reluctant to make a complaint - I work in the same hospital albeit in a completely different department and sphere.   If I put in a complaint about the unpleasant consultation it's likely to make my work life a bit fragile.   

[Briony]

I really feel for you - sounds hideous. I went through a similar situation trying to get to the bottom of my weird symptoms and experienced similar nonchalance from some of the consultants I saw. In fact, one was texting as we were talking! Hope you get to the cause soon as the wait is horrible. I had brain scans, MRIs, nerve studies and endless blood tests only to finally be told it was my hormones. Whilst I hate how they (hormones) make me feel, it was a relief to know it was nothing more sinister.

-  Hope you get some helpful answers too. Hang in there and do push your GP for the follow up suggested x

Ps a number of people tried to urge me to complain. I was tempted, but eventually decided that life is too short. Instead I put my energy into learning more about my hormones and how to help myself.

[BrightLight]

Really good news that your heart is fine, the appointment sounds frustrating and stressful, as does not knowing why you are suffering these symptoms.

I hope that writing about it has helped you feel a bit better, I would agree that an official complaint might result in more stress and no resolution, although it's understandable that you would want to make one x

It is so hard to get answers as to what is a hormonal issue or something else - I have various odd symptoms that resemble vertigo for a minute or so, going completely weak and difficulty focussing.  I have been told it is nothing to worry about but when pushed, my GP would not say it is hormones.  In fact they have not attributed any of my odd symptoms to hormones.  I have had an episode of really dry, red, swollen peeling lips and was told it was angioedema - it never happened again, burning red skin on my face, never happened again.

I guess I am relating to your feeling that getting to an understanding of whether things are hormonally related or not is so very hard.  If everything else is ruled out, I guess you can make the assumption it is.

I do hope your GP comes up with some other ideas for you, so that you might be reassured and relieved of these episodes x

[CLKD]

If you work in the same Hospital why not visit with the Secretary who works with this person?  Did you have a Nurse or Secretary present ……… it is essential that someone in the Medical Profession tries to engage with patients  having your GP's letter as reference isn't enough. 

As for the Consultant texting during an appt., I, being me, would have removed the phone from his hands and made my point before putting in a complaint.  Rude in the first instance and less than helpful ………

[Nefersmum]

I'm relieved my heart isn't the cause  although I never really thought it was but it's amazing how you start to panic when someone suggests it.   I have made another appointment to see a different GP at the practice.  Not for a couple of weeks unfortunately but this gent I've seen many a time and oft and he's not inclined to dash off at a tangent in a mad rush like the one I saw the other day.   I'm sure he was trying to do the right thing but I don't intend to be referred here and there until someone has actually listened to what the actual problem is.   What worried me too was an off hand comment he made about a colonoscopy which I had in 2009.   He declared that it was normal although following the test I was told I had coeliac disease and since then have been stuck eating rubbish food and not being able to join friends and family on nights out because my ridiculously strict gluten free diet cannot be catered for.   I'm sure he got it wrong but there will be hell to pay if it turns out that the colonscopy did not show Coeliac. 

Thank you all, though, for your reassurance.   I've decided against making a complaint although I was infuriated by his indifferent behaviour.   It will just make too much trouble and, I suspect, have little impact on his treatment of other patients.   Frustrating. 

[honeybun]

Have you had the blood test for coellics. It's the most reliable way of finding out if your gluten intolerant. I would ask for the test to make sure although you would have to go back to a normal diet before the test.


Honeybun
X

[CLKD]

Have a look at the various support web-sites for advice?  They may suggest specific tests to rule out the various intolerances that people can suffer with.

Complaining drains one of energy, believe me: been there, done that, got no-where except to the edge of a Cliff  .  I would be mentioning his attitude to my GP though ……. because it is un-professional.

You could again discuss your possible gut problems too, by asking for the GP to go back in your records and 'remind me what exactly the result of ? test was as time has gone by and …… ' - best not go in all guns blazing but have an adult discussion. 

[Nefersmum]

I'm due in to see my GP in a week or two and I thought it might be worth mentioning it to him.  The registrar at the hospital insisted that my weight had also ballooned - it hadn't - but he was thoroughly insistent that it had.   I couldn't understand what that was all about this morning when I remembered that during one of the several appointments I had with the dietitian following my diagnosis of Coeliac disease she also insisted my weight had ballooned as evidenced by the weigh in I'd had just prior to seeing her.  She agreed to weight me again at that point and it transpired that someone had written the wrong figures in my notes.  I thought at the time she'd removed them but I'm wondering now if she did and for some reason he was looking at that entry.   Goodness knows.   Mind you, the same reg asked me if I slept well and I said my sleep wasn't great but before I could explain that it was due to the pain of arthritis and fibromyalgia waking me, he had decided that I was such a heffalump that clearly I must be suffering respiratory distress during the night which was waking me up and insisted I should be referred for a sleep study.     

It wasn't a positive experience.   LOL

[CLKD]

If only medics would listen  …….. I've worked with Doctors like that.

Let us know how you get on at the appt.; make a list to take?  May be go the week prior to the appt and get weighed or ask at a Pharmacy?  I know if my weight alters 'cos my jeans gets tighter 

[CJ-sleepless]

I understand your hesitance, I also work at a hospital, and have recently met a consultant who was downright rude.  I did put in a complaint, but did it anonymously - if I save one other patient going through the same I can rest easy!  It shouldn't happen, but we all know it does sadly