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[Clovie]

Hi

Further to my other recent posts about being sent for a scan after my recent review with a NP with no discussion at all about it etc beforehand and being anxious (to say the least , about it).  Some you you really helped me and might know I was/ still am , in a proper state about it all.

Can I ask if you think this is fair?
In brief, I wrote to my practice manager to express dissatisfaction about the way I've been treated generally regarding having late menopause, not being believed about having periods, how it has affected me ever since my interaction with the GP 2 years ago where I was more or less told I had womb cancer (I had a scan after that which showed I WAS having periods), I also told them I didn't want to be scanned until the end of a period.
Because of the state I was in I asked for any new anti-depressant to help me through and because these take weeks to work if they are going to, they never have for me, I asked because |I was in such a state if there was anything I could have on a temporary basis to help me through this period when my anxiety took over until anti-Ds took effect.

We handed letter in on Tuesday, Practice Manager got back to us Friday saying to come in for a full review on a date 2 full weeks after we handed the letter in.
No mention of my request for medication. No mention of the planned scan. (I'd asked if I could trial the 200mg for 6 months before a scan instead due to the fact that my periods are getting progressively lighter as it is).

Do you think that is a fair response?
To only see me 2 WEEKS after I wrote in, and ignoring of my quite urgent request for something to help me through? They know already that I have quite bad health anxiety as it is. I'm not currently taking anxiety medication of any kind, no anti-depressants or anything as they've never worked for me hence asking of they could prescribe anything new etc.

I'm so wrapped up in this that I can't really gauge if I'm being treated fairly or not. I'd just like some outside opinions.
Thank you for reading... 

[bombsh3ll]

I think this is being handled as a complaint rather than a clinical request and it is reasonable to be offered a meeting in 2 weeks.

However if you feel you need acute medication this doesn't preclude you from making an urgent face to face or telephone appointment with a doctor.

It is sad though that you are potentially looking at medicating yourself due to the failure of the system.

Regarding your scan, the GP has little jurisdiction over this but you can absolutely phone the radiology department and reschedule the appointment to the time in your cycle that you would like to be scanned.

[Jules]

I agree. If the letter went to the practice manager he/she has processed it as a complaint. If you need medication, can you make a doctor appointment? And as above I would phone the radiology department. I have done in the past.

[Clovie]

Thank you both for your replies.

Yes, I was very MUCH in need of something to help back when we sent the letter in, since then I'm afraid I  have been self medicating with alcohol.
I'm not normally much of a drinker.
It is helping, but yes, I should not have been left ignored, it was a clear call for help.

It will be brought up when we go for the review as an extra complaint.
I personally think it is a terrible way to treat a patient with known quite severe health anxiety who is in obvious distress, but what do I know, a mere piece of flesh

Thanks again x

[sheila99]

If you're in need of medical attention you should make an appointment with a doctor. If you leave it til you see the practice manager there will be a further delay getting an appointment.

[Clovie]

If you're in need of medical attention you should make an appointment with a doctor. If you leave it til you see the practice manager there will be a further delay getting an appointment.

I'm fine, really Sheila, I think.
Sometimes I feel like I'm just making a fuss. I feel so weak and pathetic about this, wish I was stronger.
When I say using alcohol I mean I'm not getting rolling drunk or anything, I hate being drunk - just odd glass of neat wine (I usually have it half and half with lemonade) when I get waves of feeling panicky about it all.

I'm going to get my husband to reschedule or postpone scan until I've spoken to the practice manager and the doctor about my idea for 6 month trial on increased progesterone (I presume a doctor will be there as husband was told full medical review)  because you said it best in a post on another thread - going on continuous when still having periods is ALWAYS going to create 'unexpected' bleeding. I don't know why they even did that.

[DottyD68]

Hi Clovie,

Sorry to hear you are not getting the immediate help you need. Sadly I think unless you have a really responsive medical practice, long waits are normal, irrespective of how urgent we feel they are.

I submitted an econsult for a review and requested I had a blood test first. I got the blood test form and the earliest appointment I could get for that was a month away. I wrongly assumed that because I wanted a review based on the blood tests that the practice would schedule a follow up appointment. I was wrong. When I rang to get my results the receptionist said all was ok. When I asked about the linked appointment she said I needed to do another econsult for that  I did that and the earliest appointment was another month away. In the meantime I was still having post nasal drip issues (18 months and 7 appointments later) so I submitted another econsult with that appointment also being a month later (2 days after the review appointment). It's crazy. My tactic now is to submit multiple econsults and depending on which GP I see decide what is the highest priority I want to discuss at that point. To be fair once I get in to see one they generally are willing to discuss more than the restricted 1 symptom although I get incredibly frustrated with differing opinions on treatment etc as I rarely see the same GP. It's no wonder health anxiety gets worse.

I hope you make progress soon. X