Posted by Meri-Tuuli on June 7, 2006, at 3:41:56
In reply to Really Bad Doctors Appointment!, posted by Tom Twilight on June 6, 2006, at 15:44:26
Hi Tom!
I'm really sorry to hear about the bad GPs appointment, although sad to say it doesn't surprise me. I usually burst into tears on the way home after one. I really hate the appointments.
> It’s a sort of an “I’m in charge & you’ll listen to me!” attitude.
Yeah this is very true!
> I think partly its because he thinks I’m a time waster.
Oh don't think that! You pay tax don't you?? Then you're entitled to whatever you need from the NHS.
As for the actual GP, well just see a different one at the practice. I regulary see different ones, just to see which is most sympathetic and clued up about mental health and the drugs, which sadly none of them are really.
Also try and take print outs about the different drugs you want to try, and sort of suggest them, and not sort of really try. Also, can you take someone along with you to the appointment? Would that help make you feel more comfortable? Anyway just see a different doc at the practice. Try to see a youngish one - I thought that if I'd see the most senior one it would be better, but he wasn't much good. The young ones are better I think. Also, I've started making notes about the different docs, so I can remember which one was which, and therefore which one was the most unhelpful.
> Unfortunately I’m quite socially anxious, and so find it a bit difficult to explain myself in these situations.
This sounds really corny, but I've considered doing it myself, which is to write it all down in a letter, and at the appointment, simply say you have problems expressing yourself, and here's what you want to say, and hand the GP the letter.
I get so frustrated too with them. Its like they don't listen, or take you seriously enough, or think you are making it up.
> My GP responded by saying that since I’d tried about six ADs it was clear that there was not a chemical solution to my problems.
Wow, this is awful!!! But again, this doesn't surprise me, it happened to me. I can't believe that they can say things like that. Talk about not giving you hope! I mean, if you had cancer, they won't be so blunt would they?? Are you being seen by a pdoc on the NHS? Well if the GP doesn't think your solution is chemical, ask him/her to refer you to a pdoc, because cleary the GP isn't an expert, so how do they know your problems aren't chemical?
> Brought up ADD possibility but he didn't even want to discuss it.
Apparently ADD doesn't exisit in the UK in adults. Can you believe it!? Well, there are some good links and stuff that paulbwell and pysnoname (I think) posted about ADD and the UK. see this post:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060520/msgs/647880.html
Argh! I am not liking the mental health care system in the UK one bit -- I've lost all faith in my pdoc too after telling me with certainty that reboxetine had been discontiued, when it hadn't. If he doesn't know you can still get it, then what else doesn't he know!? I mean, there could be some unknowledgeble patient out there who is the prefect fit for rebox, but doesn't get it because the pdoc thinks it isn't available.
Sigh. I wish I didn't live in the UK too. I wanna move to finland and be with my finnish family and mother!!!!
Kind regards
Meri
poster:Meri-Tuuli
thread:653699
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060604/msgs/653920.html