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AIBU?

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Original poster

Really frustrated with the NHS

109 replies

BabyCatMama · 22/01/2025 11:25

They keep asking if things are an emergency or I can't get an appointment. Well one thing that isn't an emergency is I have had a fungal infection covering my feet for years last year. Nothing at the pharmacy helps. My skin is bleeding and cracking. When you try to tell the doctor all of your health problems they say they don't have time for all this. I've lots of issues that I just ignore because I only get time for serious things.

I just say I'm in agonising pain and there's no appointments left. Today they did say someone will call me in a few days. But I'm on weak sleeping pills that don't work and I don't know if I will be able to be awake at the time they call me. I told my psychiatrist these ones don't work and he said lets just see. Why don't they listen to you ?

The pain medication I'm on isn't strong enough and I've seen several doctors and they refuse to prescribe anything stronger. And I'm taking paracetamol with codeine every day and it's making me ill. Like it's burning my stomach so they gave me something to coat my stomach but I just think if it's doing that to my stomach how is my liver taking it ?

My psychiatrist office just doesn't answer the phone. They just send letters that I can't attend he appointment because my sleeping pills aren't working. Then they wrote to me saying they were taking me off the patient list for not attending appointments even though I had phoned and left messages on the answering machine. I have a psychotic illness and can't take the meds I was last prescribed because of horrible side effects.

I can't call the GP to repeat my prescription I have to have in a form every month and it is on the other side of town from me and I can't always afford to travel there and back every month.

I bought a private prescription for pain meds last month but it was a hundred pounds. I can't afford it this month. I have bought meds online for half the price but I can't really afford it and I'm worried about being poisoned.

I'm thinking about going to see a private GP next month they charge £50 an appointment. But a private psychiatrist would be 2 or 300 hundred. This is why people aren't working. They are staying unwell because of this. I don't know is it this bad for everyone ? If it is how is this allowed for go on. Why has no one sued them ?

OP posts:
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Original poster
BabyCatMama · 26/01/2025 08:14

I think I am turning a corner with the pain. I've only had two doses a day of cocodamol for the past couple of days and using ibuprofen gel. I'm just lying in bed most of the day and trying to keep my back straight. I hope the physio appointment won't take too long because there is still a bulge at the top of my spine.

And I can't seem to sit for too long or use a computer or it gets worse. The GP actually said he had been seeing more of this because people are hunched over looking at phones all the time. I have a refill of the cocodamol so I'm not going to buy any more codeine just now and I will see how it goes.

My sister pointed out that I am always in pain with something and it is actually true. I don't know. I just want to get better. I have bought good sleeping pills privately but I have actually been able to sleep the last 2 nights without any, it just takes about 4 hours more than it should, if I take melatonin. Which is an improvement for me. So I might try reducing the days I use sleeping pills

It would be nice not to be so dependant on drugs. It's just either a hassle or expensive to need them

OP posts:
nc43214321 · 25/01/2025 19:24

Re back pain- if it's lower back I find putting an ice pack on freezes and numbs the pain so you are able to move about easier. Found heat made it much worse. Nothing worse that back pain, you can also self refer to physio at our local surgery and that can help also. Hope you can fix the pain so you no longer need sleeping tablets or pain medication x

Orangesandlemons77 · 25/01/2025 10:10

It might be the problem that you haven't had the pain investigated and have a diagnosis, maybe you need to speak to them about that?

I had a referral to a neurologist for my post shingles pain and they suggested some meds. Now the GPs refer to that and prescribe me some options.

endofthelinefinally · 25/01/2025 10:06

Have you tried calling 111? They can get you an appointment.

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 25/01/2025 06:10

@endofthelinefinally it isn't chronic. It's been 6 or 8 weeks. I didn't know there was a pain clinic. I don't know if it's just this practice that's like this. Everytime I go there I will see a queue of 20 or 30 people just standing queuing there waiting about for ages. There isn't a time when this isn't happening. If you phone there will be a queue for an hour or more and sometimes there is no availability to queue, or the phone rings and they don't answer, then they say they only will take emergency appointments on a day to day basis. So I don't know if its just to do with money but if it is it would be easier to understand if they would just say that

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 25/01/2025 05:53

Sorry if I missed this but have you said what condition your chronic pain is due to?
I had longstanding nerve pain and was treated very effectively with appropriate meds.
I currently have chronic pain due to a different condition and have appropriate, entirely different painkillers for that.
Pain management is complex and needs different meds for different things.
Can you ask for referral to a pain clinic?

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 20:08

out of Me this app doesn't let me edit

OP posts:
Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 20:08

I'm sorry my anger isn't aimed at you that just came out of you. It's just this narrative that the doctors care and are being responsible for our safety. But he truth is the government couldn't care less about us

OP posts:
Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 19:56

@Neurodiversitydoctor

The naproxen was making my kidneys bleed a few weeks ago

what the hell are they playing at giving people drugs that damage their organs ? And then telling me I have recovered and can take the poison again ?

There is a range of pain medications including non opiod analgesics and steroids. But I don't want drugs long term it is surely a temporary thing

You may be very correct

OP posts:
Neurodiversitydoctor · 24/01/2025 19:40

BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 17:15

So I again spoke to a nurse rather than a GP. She refused to prescribe anything other than cocodamol and also tried to prescribe me Naproxen again. I said I have kidney damage from taking that. She said oh yes, ok your blood test shows your kidneys are ok now so you can have it again. I obviously declined... I asked her why are other people receiving effective pain relief and I m not ? And she said well all you have said is your back is sore

I then said well it is extremely painful and co codamol doesn't work. She had no real response so I told her I am not receiving the treatment I need from the practice and will go to the hospital from now on if I need help

In my experience they are actually a lot better than the GP. Maybe it's something to do with the doctors being young and possibly having more compassion before they get tired of dealing with people in pain etc

I felt like she was talking to me like I was a child

She told me off for taking two of the weak sleeping pills to get to sleep and treating me like I am irresponsible and acting dangerously so they can't prescribe that to me. I really felt like she had a weird confrontational attitude again and assuming a position of higher knowledge than me.

It is honestly a curse how I am so polite to people. But at the same time I am just very honest.

I will go to the hospital if I end up in agony again maybe things will turn out better but I am going to take better control of the situation and stop depending on the useless NHS

The GP's pratice is clearly trying very hard not to perscribe you stronger opiate medication. Why not try the naproxen ?

I really don't have a good feeling about this at all...

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 17:15

So I again spoke to a nurse rather than a GP. She refused to prescribe anything other than cocodamol and also tried to prescribe me Naproxen again. I said I have kidney damage from taking that. She said oh yes, ok your blood test shows your kidneys are ok now so you can have it again. I obviously declined... I asked her why are other people receiving effective pain relief and I m not ? And she said well all you have said is your back is sore

I then said well it is extremely painful and co codamol doesn't work. She had no real response so I told her I am not receiving the treatment I need from the practice and will go to the hospital from now on if I need help

In my experience they are actually a lot better than the GP. Maybe it's something to do with the doctors being young and possibly having more compassion before they get tired of dealing with people in pain etc

I felt like she was talking to me like I was a child

She told me off for taking two of the weak sleeping pills to get to sleep and treating me like I am irresponsible and acting dangerously so they can't prescribe that to me. I really felt like she had a weird confrontational attitude again and assuming a position of higher knowledge than me.

It is honestly a curse how I am so polite to people. But at the same time I am just very honest.

I will go to the hospital if I end up in agony again maybe things will turn out better but I am going to take better control of the situation and stop depending on the useless NHS

OP posts:
Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 11:07

@Wells37 ah ok I will go in and ask them thanks

OP posts:
Wells37 · 24/01/2025 10:35

@BabyCatMama you can access the nhs app with no id. Just ask your gp for a form, once you've completed it they will provide you with the 3 codes/details you need to apply.
Once you have it, it really does make things easier to access. I know it probably seems like a bit of a faff but it's definitely worth it.

help.login.nhs.uk/provewhoyouare/withoutid#how-to-register-for-your-gp-surgerys-online-services

Orangesandlemons77 · 24/01/2025 09:26

endofthelinefinally · 24/01/2025 09:09

Are you taking your vitamin D supplements that everyone should be taking during the winter months? We really need it for so many things.

Yes, I had low vitamin D found after my episode and it can be linked with depression, also low ferritin, my GP checked these for me.

Orangesandlemons77 · 24/01/2025 09:24

BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 08:10

@2025NewUserName I actually think my sleep disorder contributed to me developing psychotic symptoms in the first place. It came out of nowhere at the start of the pandemic when I was already past the age of 30. I hadn't actually spoken to another adult in about 6 weeks.

And it was at a time where I wasn't regularly medicated for it at all, (the insomnia) so I was staying up for 3, 4 nights at a time. I think over time that must damage the brain. I was studying as well, constantly and the work was really difficult.

I had been up for 4 days when I got my first symptom. I was using social media and suddenly I thought everyone talking to each other were talking to and about me ! I thought there was spyware on my phone and laptop.

I came out of the episode eventually naturally but I didn't realise for a long time that I was ill and I genuinely thought this had happened to me

OP I had similar, I couldn't sleep with pain due to a condition which needed surgery and developed psychosis, now I have a diagnosis of a psychotic depression but think it was a lot to do with lack of sleep.

I was told any severe physical or mental stress can trigger it in anyone and we all have different limits.

Have they tried you with one of the more sedating antidepressants such as mirtazapine? To start with they put me on that with olanzapine and I just slept and slept. I did start to feel better though with time.

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 09:12

@endofthelinefinally no and my diet is not very good. I used to take a good multivitamin and was planning on starting it again

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 24/01/2025 09:12

BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 09:08

@endofthelinefinally someone recommended a cheap online private GP service so I think I will use that next month when I have more money. I have a GP calling me me today but I don't think I'm going to have time to mention it. I already have three things I really need to talk about. It's always like this. They rush you off the phone. And I don't think I can make a separate appointment unless it's "an emergency"

What are you thinking it is ? It has calmed down after I stopped using that spray and is just very thick weird skin. Like it's all layers and layers of dead skin

I think it needs a professional to look at it. It must be a very deeply entrenched infection.

nc43214321 · 24/01/2025 09:10

Use online pharmacy for meds, I find pharmacy 2 u great, saves time traveling etc.

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 09:10

@ScaryM0nster I'm not necessarily wanting stronger opioids I have suggested gabapentin and I know topical steroids can be used but I feel like I've just been left to deal with it for weeks and weeks. The cocodamol wasn't the right dose to begin with for the pain level

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 24/01/2025 09:09

Are you taking your vitamin D supplements that everyone should be taking during the winter months? We really need it for so many things.

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 09:08

@endofthelinefinally someone recommended a cheap online private GP service so I think I will use that next month when I have more money. I have a GP calling me me today but I don't think I'm going to have time to mention it. I already have three things I really need to talk about. It's always like this. They rush you off the phone. And I don't think I can make a separate appointment unless it's "an emergency"

What are you thinking it is ? It has calmed down after I stopped using that spray and is just very thick weird skin. Like it's all layers and layers of dead skin

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 24/01/2025 08:48

Sorry. Cross posted. I am sure I didn't have to upload my passport. But I did my online access process about 8 years ago so I can't remember.

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 08:47

@MeanMrMustardSeed thank you that is kind of you to say. A few years ago I thought I was going to be some kind of scientist and then this mental illness hit me and it just ruined everything, now I'm just nothing.

I have thought about going back when I can get stabilised on the right medication/s, but I don't know I don't know if I have it in me to try again. It was so difficult, and I'm tired

But then I think of all the years I have left to live and I don't want to just waste them

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ScaryM0nster · 24/01/2025 08:47

You seem to be missing a couple of key things:

You don’t need to be enjoying something to be addicted to it.

You think you’re not addicted because you’re ok while taking cocodamol daily. That’s got codeine in it.

You say that’s not a problem on being dependent, because there’s no other issues beyond pain.

Except you’re behaving irrationally in seeking more opiod based pain killers, and the cocodamol isn’t working. Almost certainly because you’ve become tolerant of it.

Ask for pain management support. Then you’ve got a better chance of a useful engagement. Rather than hitting every opiod painkiller dependency red flag.

That pain management is likely to be wider than drugs. Eg. Gentle exercise, vitamins etc.

endofthelinefinally · 24/01/2025 08:45

It sounds more serious than a simple fungal infection.
Can you do an econsult and attach photos?
GPs generally will only allow you to mention one problem per appointment.
I have used the econsult for a skin problem amd got an immediate face to face appointment. It is a good way of getting past the receptionist.

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