Been given a face to face appointment at my GP… AIBU to call and push back?

I totally get it OP, I had a similar issue. Symptoms that I’ve been having for years and had seen the doctor for previously, the AI system directed me to A&E which was totally unnecessary, spoke to the receptionist who said if the system says a&e we can’t book you an appointment you need to go to A&E.

So I went back onto the System, changed a few of my answers and got a GP appointment. There is obviously room for error with these systems, but it appears humans aren’t allowed to use their common sense anymore if computer says no.

If you are after pain management, it’s really sensible that they see you in person. Firstly, a young, healthy person should not be on regular naproxen for their joints. They isn’t normal and while you may be waiting on a referral, it’s sensible that the GP reviews if you need another different one.

Beyond that if the GP is going to be managing your pain meds long term (even if not controlled substances), they need to assess you. Naproxen in particular often requires omeprazole with it, so they probably need to explore if you also need that, or if another painkiller would suit you better.

They are not wasting an appointment. You would still have an appointment if they discussed it on the phone. Same appointment, same amount of time for the doctor. The GP obviously thinks you need to be seen

Well no, but it might be more helpful to her if you did.

Then it’s best the GP sees how bad you are, surely?

Probably you don’t, but you don’t know that you don’t, and it’s a risk that is better assessed by a GP in person than by you.

Go to the appointment, be glad you got one and they’re not fobbing you off.

It's not about whether you have a DVT now, it's about whether you're at an increased risk of developing one in the future.

You’d be the first to complain if there was something wrong and you couldn’t get an appointment. GP surgeries can’t do right for doing wrong. Just go and be thankful they’re so responsible.

The GPs I know prefer seeing people in person most of the time anyway. They didn’t envisage sitting on a call all day when they were training. At our GPs we are given the choice of phone or F2F unless GP needs to see you. I I had to change from phone to in person recently at last min (sudden change in symptoms) and there was no issue at all as similarly scheduled. I’m not sure there is much time difference in phone vs in person for the GP, it’s more faff for the patient. So you aren’t wasting any NHS time.

This is what we’ve come to, is it? When someone working in the NHS thinks seeing a GP for a genuine problem is a ridiculous waste of time.

OP, go to the appointment. Cry if you want to. That’s also ok and worrying that you think it isn’t. You never know, you might get the GP on side and get expedited too..

Can’t you just ring your surgery and explain over the phone? Ours do this, they then send a message to the GP, who will then either give you a prescription or ask to see you/call you to discuss.

Naproxen can have side effects, and in general repeat prescriptions need to have an eye kept on them.

Sounds like you need to be seen tho. Also good that they’re keeping an eye on you.

Given you have arthritis, are you carrying extra weight? Perhaps they’ll be discussing weight management drugs? Or alternate drug management. Or ask them personally to sort the Dihydrocodeine prescription. Go prepared.

Go, at least it’ll be an opportunity to touch base with an actual human. Rare these days! 💐

Naproxen are quite a strong medicine.
They are prescription only for a reason.

You mentioned 5 times that is was because you would feel like a knob, it was taking an appointment from someone else, you were going to get emotional, then when the comments didn't go your way, it was because you didn't want to take time off.

I didn’t say anything at all about drugs.

And, no. The issue being wasted time off is in no way implied by: I just think this is so silly and I’m taking up an appointment for something that’s really not that serious! I just feel like I’ll look such a knob tomorrow sat there.

This is a non-issue. Just go to the appointment and stop being silly.

I'm guessing the reason you are cross is because you have to wait until tomorrow and you were hoping for just a prescription you could collect today and go and get filled.

Tbh OP making such a fuss over wanting to be seen by the doctor before prescribing prescription painkillers is a bit of a red flag that you have some dependency on the painkillers.

Something that makes you emotional and upset because it is starting to have an impact on your day to day life is anything but minor.

I’m also going to go in and get emotional (because despite it being minor, it’s really starting to have an impact on my day to day life), which is just going to make me look even worse too

No, she should not apologise for wasting anyone's time. Is this how bad the NHS is? that having a face-to-face appointment is a huge deal and something that people should agonise over.
Surely a lot of GP time is taken up with fairly routine matters, interspersed with patients who have serious medical conditions.
This thread seems like a lot of drama over something very straightforward. Just go to the bloody appointment and stop overthinking it.