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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:
Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 08:40

@Wells37 I am on the waiting list for physio. I don't think I can use NHS online service because I tried to register before and it said I need to upload a passport which I don't have.

I do understand that codeine can be addictive that's apparent when using it but I don't believe I am addicted to it. I am not having any withdrawal effects after running out of dihydrocodeine and now taking only a low cocodamol dose or craving it

I am just in pain every day

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 24/01/2025 08:39

If you can afford about £40 you could see a podiatrist or chiropodist privately for advice. It sounds awful and must be very painful. I must google which foot HCP is the best one. I can never remember.

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 08:36

@endofthelinefinally I was using miconazole nitrate but it seems to have made things worse. The skin has now dried and thickened to the point I can peel pieces of the outer layer off and there's no sensation and my skin had been cracking and tearing open I had a two inch open wound for a while. I have taken a break from using it after that.

I have Milton in my kitchen cupboard for some reason so I will try that. I actually think this started around the same time I was on antibiotics for a long time. It made me really ill and since then I've also developed cystic acne on my face I don't know if these things are related but you've just made me think

OP posts:
Wells37 · 24/01/2025 08:24

Codeine is physically addictive. It does sound like you are addicted. It all sounds very overwhelming and like you are in a spiral of a lot of problems.

Take small steps.

1/ Contact Mind about getting a mental health advocate. If they can't help maybe they can sign post you to correct places.

2/ Contact mental health nurses, set reminders and alarms for any appointments as soon as you get them. Ask a responsible family member or friend to come around and make sure you keep appointment. Or maybe an advocate can help with this.

3/ down load the nhs app if you don't have it.

  • go to services
  • go to contact your gp about a health problem.
  • when you get to list of conditions scroll down to reviews.
  • click on chronic mental health review.
  • complete questions.
  • highlight that you are concerned about addiction. Can they refer you for help with this.
I have found the nhs app works very well and you can choose how your gp contacts you back. It's a lot easier for me to contact my surgery this way, it seems impossible to contact most healthcare by phone now!

4/ Go and see a podiatrist privately if you can afford it. Check it's one who can prescribe.

5/ contact any addiction services in your area and ask for help.

6/ in lots of areas you can self refer to an nhs physio, my husband did this and was seen very quickly. Maybe not an option everywhere though.

If you have anyone who is willing to support you share this with them. Just try and arrange/ contact one service per day.
I realise that it's very hard but prioritise your appointments. Ask for help with addiction, hopefully things will get better for you.

endofthelinefinally · 24/01/2025 08:23

What are you already doing to treat your feet?
You could start by buying some sterilising tablets or milton solution.
Make it up as directed on the packaging and put enough in a washing up bowl to soak your feet for 5 minutes morning and evening. It bleaches everything so be careful where you do this and use an old towel to dry them.
Apply antifungal cream and clean cotton socks.
Sprinkle or spray antifungal powder into your shoes every day.
Wear clean flip flops and no socks indoors as much as possible.
It is worth giving this a good shot because antifungal meds can be very tricky wrt to drug interactions and side effects.
However, there is a possibility of a problem with your immune system and that should be investigated if the above regimen doesn't help.

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 08:17

@SpringleDingle that is so awful. This is what I'm talking about there is serious medical neglect going on across the country

I have had sedation for tooth extraction. It makes time seem to pass really fast and it makes you not care about what is happening at all. I think it is a good option. I hope they will treat her quickly after the consultation

OP posts:
Original poster
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 posts:
SpringleDingle · 24/01/2025 08:09

My ASD daughter has waited 4 years for the NHS to take a damaged tooth out (needs general). The nerve is exposed now so I am today paying a grand for private sedation that I don’t think she will tolerate in a desperate attempt to stop her pain. Mine and her dentists repeat follow ups as her pain has worsened finally got us to the top of the list and they can see her to assess her… end of next month. Who knows when they’ll actually treat her.

AKettleOfDifferentFish · 24/01/2025 08:00

coolkatt · 22/01/2025 16:12

Instead of £50 to see a gp spend £50 to send a
Solicitors letter to surgery stating you have been fobbed off since xxxx date and a list of everything you have requested and been fobbed off about. Send photos of your condition. You need to put in a official complaint and ask
Them who u complain to further for lack of duty of care. Then you need to do it. You need to take some responsibility for it too. Make sure you are awake for phone calls. Change surgeries if yours is too far. Ask for help from
Relatives etc.

OP is demanding stronger pain medication, not attending appointments and hee answer to everything is "I can't do xyz". But sure, none of this is her responsibility, none at all and it's all the mean GP's fault for not giving her stronger painkillers.

And LOL that a solicitor would be prepared to write a ranty letter at all for £50, or that it would get the OP what she wants.

slimpicks · 24/01/2025 07:45

Same here OP. Yet DH got an immediate appointment for a splinter and DS for a mild earache so the NHS Misogyny seems alive and kicking in West Yorkshire. I just say it is an emergency now, because I do need to see a Dr. It is so shit. I am sorry you are experiencing this.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 24/01/2025 07:44

BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 05:26

I decided this will be the year I get well. I have so many things to work on

I really hope that is the case, OP. You are obviously clever and articulate and have so much to offer.

There are so many helpful and kind experts on this thread that have helped me understand this issue better. I hope you get the care you need to enable you to manage your conditions well. I think you can do this! I’m no expert, but it does sound like prioritising your psychiatrist appointments first would be the basis of you turning this around.

2025NewUserName · 24/01/2025 07:42

In fairness to OP, proper sleep, reduced anxiety (helped by benzodiazepines) and reduced pain will all likely help psychotic symptoms.

I think people who talk about (and even prescribe) antipsychotics don't actually know what they're like. I slept 20 hours a day on antipsychotics and put on a stone a month. Coming off them looked like a scene from trainspotting. I have never been able to get my weight back fully and I was extremely slim all my life beforehand. Coming off diazepam was actually easy for me in comparison. We really need to move away from the model that all NHS doctors know best all the time.

That said, doctor shopping, the combination of drugs you are seeking, missing appointments, inability to try other things are flags (and only flags) for addiction. Although doctors should be giving you time and listening to you, they will have to be mindful of not helping fuel an addiction. Look at people like Matthew Perry who just got given what he asked for... You shouldn't say 'it's only codeine', that is still addictive.

*Edited typo

Neurodiversitydoctor · 24/01/2025 07:12

Codeine is very addictive, tolerance builds quickly, I wouldn't recommend taking it long term ( more than a few days) at all.

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 07:06

@NeurodiversityNeurodiversitydoctor I suppose it isn't good for people that get addicted to it but it is good for me. I'm not going to use codeine more or longer than I need to. I think there needs to be a better balance in the NHS.

OP posts:
Neurodiversitydoctor · 24/01/2025 06:45

BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 06:25

It seems though that private doctors are more willing than prescribe medicines like that though. If I have the money I can quite easily get dihydrocodeine

I don't know what to say to that really, not exactly a good thing is it ?

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 06:25

It seems though that private doctors are more willing than prescribe medicines like that though. If I have the money I can quite easily get dihydrocodeine

OP posts:
Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 06:23

Sorry that is meant to be @Neurodiversitydoctor

OP posts:
Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 06:22

@Beurodiversitydoctor I studied sciences for a while and in my latest chemistry modules it did seem to me that the more addictive drugs were often the effective ones without dangerous side effects (other than overdose and abuse)

I was looking at newer drugs based off of addictive substances and they just looked weird

OP posts:
Neurodiversitydoctor · 24/01/2025 05:55

BabyCatMama · 22/01/2025 16:07

There are some sleep meds which have a very short half life so they don't affect your ability to wake up normally. I've been prescribed sleeping pills on and off all my life, and consistently for 2 years. I was taking a benzodiazepine for one year but the psychiatrist felt uncomfortable about it, I believe they are trained and told not to use it.

It worked really well for me, and if I had a tolerance I would just take a break and just deal with insomnia for several days. I never became addicted to it or enjoyed using it. After a while all it does is what it's intended to do. So I started on the Z drugs the first of which gave me really weird side effects like doing things I had no memory of. And having sleep paralysis and terrifying nightmares. So now it's the one I use currently and it doesn't work, which I was aware would be the case

I have been too harsh because my recent psychiatrists do appear to be taking me seriously I just wish it wasn't a constant stress to get my medication. It takes up so much time and I'm really tired

I used to get temazepam, it worked well, there were no side effects, but I think a lot of people were using them recreationally a little over a decade ago and a GP told me it is a highly controlled medication now.

I just think there is a time and a place for very effective medicines

I am just tired of it all

Temazepam has been a contrilled med for at least 25 years. All the benzos are highly addictive. No NHS doctor who values their registration will perscribe them regularly. Yes they are highly effective- that is in part why they are so addictive.

JanglingJack · 24/01/2025 05:50

Something jumped out at me on your original post -

I have a psychotic illness, but can't the meds due to the horrible side effects - words to that effect.

If you can't manage to treat your psychotic illness of the mind, then you can't possibly be thinking clearly about these benzos and codeine. You need to treat your mind first. The pain management will become secondary.

Fungal infection in feet can often be treated with Canestan or another OTC anti fungal cream. I don't think a podiatrist or dermatologist will tell you any different.

I think GPS will struggle to help and prescribe as you openly admit to not taking your antipsychotics.

I sometimes get Zopiclone. I often get codeine, and whilst it would be lovely to sleep everything away, it's not going to happen.

Get back on to your antipsychotics, deal with the side effects so you can manage them. Then get some antifungal cream, and if that's no good, you'll be in a better head space to explore other options. Good luck!

Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 05:26

I decided this will be the year I get well. I have so many things to work on

OP posts:
Original poster
BabyCatMama · 24/01/2025 05:08

@Orangesandlemons77 thank you I will try using that service

OP posts:
Orangesandlemons77 · 23/01/2025 13:24

Hi OP I'm also on antipsychotics and pain meds, including co-codomol. I have recently been prescribed gabapentin for post shingles nerve pain, but I did see a neurologist who recommended it and I think this maybe helped the GP prescribe it?

I used Benenden health to get the specialist appt maybe you could think about joining them and getting your physical health problems looked at properly?

Ssrissri · 23/01/2025 10:06

@BabyCatMama I think it’s all so interlinked …pain plus sleep deprivation plus psychosis is a real burden to carry ,many of my patients used to self medicate with pain killers as some people use them to reduce their mental distress …I do hope you get some input to break this vicious cycle.

MolluscMonday · 23/01/2025 10:00

I was trying to pinpoint what I wanted to say, @BabyCatMama, and I just realised I posted on your thread about shaving your head the other day.

I totally hear and understand how difficult it must be to live with those side effects, and have experience of chronic pain and sleep deprivation too. I don’t think you’re doing as well off the meds as you think you are, and I honestly still do mean that kindly. There’s a bit of mania underlying your tone again. You mentioned that your Psychiatrist was referring you to a mental health nursing team- has that happened yet, do you have their contact details? I think they’d be really well placed to help you review all your meds, and will almost certainly be able to help you access and engage with treatment for your feet, too.

Hope today is a good and peaceful day :)