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[Clovie]

Hello.
I've been posting lately as I've been suffering bad PMS type symptoms which have made me a avoid going out of the house and very anxious, affecting my life in a negative way.

I've been avoiding going to the doctor for almost a year because I have a phobia of visiting doctors, but last week finally admitted I needed to see someone as my symptoms have got worse over last few months. Threw in the towel so to speak. The thought of going to the doctors makes me nauseous and I truly dread it but I know I need to do something....

Anyway, today my hubby phoned up the surgery.
He accepted an appointment with a doctor for a week's time (Thursday evening)
Despite him explaining (he says) to the receptionist that it has taken him a lot of encouragement to book an appointment as I have a fear of visiting the doctor, for menopause issues and quite bad anxiety, and could I be booked in with a sympathetic doctor because of this, they booked me in with  a 'new' male part-time GP. 

He phoned me to tell me. I burst into tears.

I asked him then to see if they could change it to a lady GP. He did, but that was over a fortnight away. I explained to my hubby I can't possibly wait that long!!!!!!!!!! 

So I asked him to re book the one for a weeks time with the male doctor   

My husband said it wasn't an emergency so didn't need a same day appointment (which we have no trouble getting at this surgery , a small surgery dealing with a quiet suburb of a town)

I just know I'm going to work myself up into a real state over the next week. 

Am I being unreasonable being upset having to wait until next Thursday?
I don't know any more 

Sorry for this post if it doesn't make sense, I have no-one else to talk to about this x

[coldethyl]

I think if you are bursting into tears because you have to wait for an appointment, then you would fall under needing an emergency one in my book. I understand how difficult it is to go to the doctors and I think you are feeling pretty rubbish and in need of help now rather than later. I know it may seem impossible, but it might be good idea for you to phone and explain how bad you are feeling- do you think you could ask for a phone back by a doctor today maybe just so someone actually knows how desperate you feel?
It is so hard when you feel overwhelmed by anxiety but try and take few calm breaths. X

[Trufflecat]

This male doc may be a real expert. Give him a go. A friend of mine has had a rotton experience with her lady GP who told her to man up and put up with the hot flushes. A male locum was hugely sympathetic when she went back in desperation.

Make a really good list of your problems.

[CLKD]

If you want to see a GP soon then take the appt. offered.  What's the fear based upon?  I know how badly my phobia ruled my Life, 24/7, I would have nightmares  ……. maybe if the appt. is for later in the day you won't have to wait in a full waiting room!  Staff are unlikely to realise how badly your fear controls you Life so don't rely on them being understanding. 

Maybe the GP could phone you at home prior to the appt.? 

[Clovie]

Thank you both so much for replying.
I am trying to calm down.

I looked at this guy's details on our surgery's website and it says newly qualified, with no specialisms.
Yet other GPs on the website had their specialisms on there, including a lady GP who specialises in Womens Health. Apparently when my hubby asked for an apt with her he wasn't offered one at all as she is on 2 weeks leave (fair enough) but was offered an apt with another lady GP but for a fortnights time. (surely she would be back by then? Even if her annual leave had coincidentally began today)

I just don't want to get myself all worked up in the week waiting to see this guy who might not be any good for my particular problems  And will then have to wait to see ANOTHER doctor!!!! 

I m sorry but I yelled at mu hubby saying he had no idea how much courage this has taken to admit I want some help and agree to set foot over the doctor's threshold given my silly phobia. I know I really need to pull my big girl panties up and get over it but I just can't.

I've already written a 2 page A4 sheet over the last few days ready for seeing the GP. I know for a fact I'll cry or have a panic attack (feel dizzy, drunk and swimmy headed, and kind of 'space out' ) 

Thanks for reading x

[Clovie]

sorry didn't see your reply until I posted - CLKD , my fear is based on many things, mainly not being listened to, and being sent for a barrage of tests I didn't need (admitted to me after it)
MY reasons in full would be a long long story I won't bore you with, but resulted in my not trusting the medical profession. 

[CLKD]

I think that you should have a call-back from a GP or Practice Nurse.  You may be prescribed Valium prior to going to the Surgery which will relax you a little.  I know how phobias can be controlling  ………. not silly at all! logic flies out the window.

One doesn't need to be a specialist in order to be a good listener and if the GP is freshly qualified, he may well have ideas that have by-passed the current GPs.  Your Husband wasn't offered an appt. with the GP on holiday because the Surgery were probably trying to fit you in ASAP.  Also, the GPs are booked up well ahead, I can book on-line to enable me to get the GP I want to see as well as a suitable time. [not too early].

If you take a list you can work through it with the GP.  Tell him that you are tearful which means that you don't communicate well, could he help by prioritising your symptoms.  Make sure that you keep the symptoms to 1 page!

How long you have suffered
Worst symptoms first
Treatment already suggested
How well that treatment worked/not

[babyjane]

newly qualified GPs can be great even though they can look younger than your own son or daughter.  They are more thorough because they have not yet the experience to totally trust their judgement.  I have seen a couple at the out of hours service and have been pleasantly surprised at how thorough they are.  A newly qualified GP saved my son's life when he had appendicitis as he wasn't sure of the severity of the symptoms and referred him to the hospital where he was operated on as emergency when the appendix burst on examination.  A more established GP might have told us to come back the next day if he wasn't better and we would have ended up calling the ambulance in the night when it burst.

In my experience a newly qualified GP registrar can be a breath of fresh air.  Good luck Clovie 

[Witches Cat]

I'm with Babyjane, Clovie, a "new" doctor is going to be equipped with all the newest ideas and treatments available, and as for being a bloke.. well, the best doctor I had was a bloke, he was so on top of meno probs, sadly he retired last year and what we have left is a bunch of women and if you lumped them all together I don't think they'd be as good as this chap was. It was a running joke in our surgery that if you had an appointment to see him, you'd best take sarnies and a flask, because he took as long with you as was  needed, and always over ran his surgery/appointment times buy up to an hour sometimes. I have a terrible fear of doctors too, a fear of what chain you might set in motion by going I guess, but that chap was marvelous. You go, with a list, tell him you are fearful, and question what he tells you so you take it in...  and I hope you will soon feel better..   

[Clovie]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. xx
 
You've made me feel more optimistic about the appointment.  I realise now I was wrong to pre-judge.

[Ju Ju]

I hated going to the doctors for years, mainly as I felt I wasn't being listened to even with things like asthma. But recently I have seen some newly qualified doctors at my local surgery, who have been very kind and thorough. Have they actually been teaching people skills during training?

[CLKD]

I've been thinking about this ………..if you really can't cope with going to the Surgery - ask for the GP to ring you at home to consider whether he will do a house call? initially to put your mind at rest.  He can then judge how much the phobia controls you're going out and about!  That should lead to an appt. at a quieter time of day so that you don't have to wait in a busy waiting room.

When I was housebound my GP arranged for a psychiatrist to visit me at home.  She turned up with a student which I was angry about, had she rung I would have said 'no'.  She had him on the doorstep with her, I was told that he could wait in her car but it was a freezing night  .  Not good tactics from a Psychiatrist  as I was too ill to make a snap decision.  Also what I was discussing was really personal to me ……….

However, she did sort out my medication and gave good advice. 

[Clovie]

thank you CLKD, you're so thoughtful    Hubby mentioned phone consultations and apparently they don't go in for all that, unfortunately

Hubby has said if I'm still as anxious/stressed on Monday morning as I have been today and of late then he will phone surgery again and ask for a same day appointment, as he appreciates I'll only get worse on the run up to the Thursday evening appointment - or I'll chicken out altogether and cancel the appointment 


Good to hear good things about these young GPs too 

[CLKD]

So ask for a house call?  Bet that would bring them to the 'phone!  Do you take any anxiety relieving drug, i.e. Valium?

[Clovie]

No, I have nothing like Valium, or anything else, and am guessing slugging back a few Jack Daniels before seeing the doc wouldn't be helping 
Joking aside, I might just do some deep breathing exercises to see if those help, as I would feel bad asking for a home visit (if it was even possible)   
Thanks for your suggestions, I do appreciate your help.