To make a complaint about GP

[Bearfrills]

I'm 17wks pregnant and have HG. I saw my GP at 9wks because I was beyond the point of being able to function. I have three other DC (who I didn't have HG with) and when I wasn't throwing up I was lying very, very still on the sofa as any sort of movement made me sick. DH was having to do their breakfasts before leaving for work, I was struggling to make their lunches as the sight/smell of food was triggering vomiting, and then DH was having to do dinner when he got home. I was utterly miserable, couldn't remember how it was to not throw up multiple times each day, and kept bursting into tears over being a shit mother to the DC. GP told me it was "just" morning sickness, that I've had enough pregnancies to know that's just how it is in the early days, and that it's better for me to not take medication so she wasn't going to prescribe any.

Next day I ended up at hospital. I'd been having repeated bleeds to went to pregnancy assessment unit. When they checked me over I was dehydrated with low blood pressure and the three drops worth of urine sample I managed to produce were brown. They thought the repeated pressure from the vomiting was causing the bleeding as I have a cervical erosion and that's where the bleeds were from. They diagnosed hyperemesis and gave me two weeks worth of cyclizine. They also sent a letter to my GP saying what they'd diagnosed and what I'd been prescribed.

Cyclizine worked great. I still felt sickly but not as bad and I could go a good 3-4 days without throwing up. The major difference was that when I did throw up, I only threw up once rather than continually and repeatedly.

The GP gave me a repeat prescription when it ran out, I just requested it via the receptionist and it was issued.

Last week I was running low (I take three a day) so put another repeat prescription in.

Have been to collect it today and it hasn't been issued. The GP has left a note at reception to say that I am "not allowed this medication for simple morning sickness and it is healthier to take no medications in pregnancy".

I am absolutely steaming. I am also dreading tomorrow as I've just taken my afternoon pill and have one pill left which I'm due to take this evening. Then I've got none and then the vomiting begins again.

AIBU to complain to the practice manager? It's only a small practice and they tend to take complaints personally so it would definitely make things awkward. I can't believe they're writing it off as "simple morning sickness" and saying I'm "not allowed it". Not allowed! Like I'm a fucking child incapable of making my own medical decisions.

Fucking fucks sake

[gandalf456]

Definitely query it. You've been prescribed this by a consultant so higher than your GP. He's obviously got a bee in his bonnet. Is there anyone else in the practice you can see? Do you still have your notes? If he's reluctant to prescribe, will anyone else there? Is it possible to get these drugs another way - e.g. via walk-in clinic, out of hours clinic?

[Bearfrills]

There are three GPs there, all female. It was one who would take prescribe it at 9wks and a different one who wouldn't prescribe it today. The third is on holiday so I have no idea what her opinion would be. I have my maternity notes saying what I'm taking and why. The receptionist was lovely and sympathised, she went and asked again for me and GP told her no.

[Hmmnotkeen]

"it is healthier to take no medications in pregnancy"

Well it's all bloody relative isn't it? Yes I would complain and tough if they take it personally. I'd also probably go back to the hospital if you get bad again.

[RaeSkywalker]

Poor you. I have HG too- it's miserable.

When I was discharged from hospital, the consultant said that some GPs can be reluctant to prescribe medication, even if treatment was initiated in primary care. He said I could phone the ward at any time if I needed support (luckily my GP is great, and I haven't needed to do this). Could you consider calling the ward for advice?

I would be asking for an emergency appointment to see a GP (preferably not the horrible one) today, and asking for cyclizine- point out that you were discharged from hospital with it. And yes, I'd be making a complaint as well.

[Bearfrills]

*one who wouldn't

[RaeSkywalker]

www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/

I'd also recommend calling this organisation- they are amazing at giving advice on how to approach getting medication. And please join us on the HG support thread if you'd like to- it's kept me sane through this pregnancy so far!

I hope you get this sorted ASAP

[Mrsmorton]

Consultants aren't "higher" than GPs, they're different. Your GP doesn't have to prescribe something if he's not happy with the risks etc, sounds like you need to find someone else who is happy to.

It's shit for you but the GP has a stake in this as well.

[Cloudhopping]

Yanbu. That's appalling. You've been given a diagnosis of a medical condition, not simple morning sickness. Do you know that the GP has definitely seen the letter from the hospital? I would speak to the practice today and raise your concerns, hopefully they'll be able to get the decision reversed by another GP.

[Hmmnotkeen]

Actually if you are feeling up to it, I would ask for an appointment with the one who refused you today and ask her to explain herself. But that's just me!

[RaeSkywalker]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2685447-Hyperemesis-Support?msgid=63541962#63541962

^ this is the HG thread.

I'd add that cyclizine is safe for use in pregnancy, and that frankly the risks posed by medication as opposed to severe dehydration should be pointed out to your GP. There is also evidence to suggest that the earlier you are medicated, the more easily controlled your HG will be.

[XinnaJane]

This is atrocious. Kick up as much of a fuss as you have to to get the meds. I would consider a complaint to the GMC also.

[Cloudhopping]

Mrs Morton if a GP doesn't follow advice from a specialist in a certain field they have to have a good clinical reason not to do so. The GP's reason is that the OP has 'simple morning sickness' which is not factually correct.

[Planty18]

Phone the surgery or go down and see the gp and explain in person. If they don't agree to prescribe, you could ask them to speak to the consultant that prescribed them. If they won't, I would call the hospital and speak to the unit you were seen on. Perhaps they will represcribe, rather than you ending up in hospital again through dehydration. This can be very serious both for you and baby so it needs to be sorted today. Good luck.

[popthisoneout]

I would make an appointment and see someone to discuss it and take some literature/guidelines with you.

I've had three HG pregnancies and it awful. Thankfully my GP's are supportive. Fingers crossed it improves for you soon.

[RaeSkywalker]

You could also take the NICE guidelines into an appointment with your GP. A quote from them:

"anti-emetic if initial treatments such as dietary advice or rest have failed and the woman has persistent symptoms.
Early treatment with an anti-emetic is likely to be more effective and is essential to improve the woman's quality of life, symptoms, and reduce morbidity to the fetus."

cks.nice.org.uk/nauseavomiting-in-pregnancy#!scenario

I printed these off when I first saw my GP.

[MothersGrim]

Fuck me, I'd go in person and talk very loudly and demand to see doctor,/practice manager. If you feel the need to be sick whilst ranting at someone so be it. Do so loudly. On their shoes.

[LittleWingSoul]

Yes MothersGrim!! Couldn't have put it better myself.

[expatinscotland]

i'd get hold of your midwife, too.

[theredjellybean]

I usually give or try to give balanced views on mumsnet about people being upset by their GP...possibly because I am one myself .
In this case though , the GP is behaving badly, yes it is true that the doctor who signs the script has overall responsibilty and so if you carried on getting a rpt medication for something that later was shown to have caused harm then the GP would or could be held to account. It would not matter that you 'decided' it was the right medication for you, or a consultant started you on it....
But if a GP feels concerned that a patient is having a rpt of something that they may no need anymore, or has potential risks and they do not feel comfortable prescribing it , they should be suggesting an appt to discuss not just the message you got .
It is also not true that it is safer to not take any medication during pregnancy. Many medication is perfectly safe and clinically indicated during pregnancy.
I am furious on your behalf, what poor conduct on the part of the GPs.
The only thing i would say though is....you might be getting better from the HG by now and you wont know unless you reduce or stop the cyclizine. If I was your GP this is the sort of thing i would be discussing with you and maybe making a plan to try and reduce and see what happens etc.
I would say , yes make a complaint, not that they wouldnt prescribe it but they failed to provide an explanation based on clinical grounds and current guidelines, and they failed to offer an appointment to discuss it with you . They have failed in their duty of care to you .

For the cyclizine ...well try calling your midwife or antenatal assessment unit who might be able to get consultant to prescribe for you ...

[MindSweeper]

YANBU at all I'd go absolutely mad.

You have a diagnosis, you have been coping well on that medication and it has improved your quality of life.

I'd be complaining, talk about things like the sickness debilitating you and the medication being the only thing that allows you to complete activities of daily living yet your GP has decided to discontinue based on him ignoring the consultants diagnosis despite that diagnosis being built upon thorough diagnostics.

[BenguinsMummy]

You could always do what I (accidentally) did...
Made an appointment,
Saw GP,
Got refused the meds and promptly threw up over his shoes...

[Masketti]

This shit makes me furious

Regardless of whether you're a FTM or not but especially as you've had 3 pregnancies before so can judge for yourself what 'normal' morning sickness, being horrendously sick during pregnancy is more dangerous than taking cyclizine. I have 2 happy healthy DDs. The first I hung on till 16 weeks before getting cyclizine as I believed it would get better. The second I got it at 8 weeks.

Yes perhaps the GP has a right not to prescribe when it goes against their medical opinion but she should refer you to another GP or consultant who will. The pregnancy sickness links are helpful.

At 17 weeks if you're still feeling and being sick albeit less often you need to continue with the medication. I totally feel your panic about running out. If you don't have any luck with the pregnancy sickness link perhaps your hospital antenatal unit might be able to help?

[Bearfrills]

Thanks everyone :)

I tried reducing it a couple of weeks ago, the hospital had said that once I got to around 12/13 wks I should try and have two pills a day instead of three and then if that went well try dropping to one, then try come off them. It got worse when I dropped down, tried it again the week before last and same happened so sticking to three a day until my next consultant appointment in October.

I'm going to ring to speak to the practice manager and if no luck I'm going to ring the hospital.

[RaeSkywalker]

Hope you get on ok Bear

I'm the same as you- I keep trying to reduce, but as soon as I do I'm very unwell again. I'm 30 weeks now, so resigned to having HG all the way through. Lots of women seem to get better between 16 and 20 weeks (purely anecdotal, I have no evidence to back this up).

[SimplyLovely]

Not all women are the same. The GP should get a bollocking. This is so unfair, I had very bad sickness but not everyday while I was pregnant with my first and I was given medication as it was terrible!