Today I hit a wall thanks to my doctors

[Lima45]

I've just got off the phone to my doctors, and I'm really annoyed.
Bit of backstory, I've had tendinitis in my shoulder since October and since the pandemic all treatment has had to stop. That's fair enough, although I work in a physical job and cannot do it with my shoulder not working properly and I have quite a bit of pain which painkillers don't really touch.

However now I'm being told that I can't get my contraceptive jab. Again because of CV19. Ok, can I have a prescription for the combined pill please?

Nope. Can only have the mini pill. That's all they're allowed to offer me without a face to face. No they're not supporting Skype or zoom or other video calling.

The last time I was on the mini pill I got pregnant despite taking it religiously.

So I can't have a face to face, I can't have my jab, I can't continue shoulder treatment so I can't work, and now my only contraception option beyond condoms is the one that let me down.

While I understand that they can't do anything involving contact I don't understand why my only choice is the mini pill, which is the only form of contraception I don't trust.
Just feel like crying. Can't sleep due to shoulder pain. My mental health is going to pot. My counselling had been postponed and now I can't even have a choice in my contraception. Friends who live in other areas have either been given their jab at the local walk in centre or been given a choice of contraception alternatives. I got told it's this or nothing.

I've been relatively upbeat so far during lockdown. But this just broke me a little. I feel I have no choice over anything in my life anymore

Could you maybe speak to them again & discuss if they would let you have the combined pill if you bought a BP machine and supplied them with your readings? I do understand the risks of just handing over a prescription without being able to do checks, as they don’t want to be sued for any health problems it results in but, maybe if you offer that they would be less objectionable. Speak to them before you buy one though as having to log then review your readings would be extra work for someone, not much but these are difficult times. I’m sorry you are struggling, maybe if you speak to them again you could talk to them about how it’s affecting you. I hope tomorrow feels a bit brighter

www.sussexexpress.co.uk/read-this/what-do-if-you-run-out-contraceptive-pill-during-lockdown-2527501

www.boots.com/boots-pharmaceuticals-blood-pressure-monitor-upper-arm-unit-10217394

Thanks so much for responding!

I do have a blood pressure meter which I've been using and have reported my results to the surgery.

I'm going to give them a call on Monday and find out if there's anyway I can do a medicine review over the phone, preferably with my named GP rather than one of the many locums that work for the surgery.

I have a few health problems and am under various clinics within the practise, so I'm hoping that my GP will be able to give me a more balanced response rather than just someone who has skimmed.my notes

I had my contraceptive jab during lockdown. I rang my surgery and they gave me an appointment literally for 1hr 20 mins later.

I would call them back and ask for it - what’s their reasoning for not not doing it?

Did you know that covid is increasing the risk of thrombotic events? Probably not a great idea to start CoCP at this time.

The nurse I spoke to said that they've been advised by the local trust not to administer any contraceptive jabs.

I know this can vary trust to trust. But it's really annoying as I do know people locally who have either had it or at least been given options for alternatives.

I do wonder if my doctor's surgery have just gone hard line, not seeing anyone for anything.

You can buy the contraceptive pill from Lloyds Pharmacy online. They'll ask questions to see if it's suitable, but you'll need to know which brand you want. The one I'm on is £20 for 6 months so it's not too expensive.

Thats ridiculous. We're not doing any routine clinics at the moment but even I make exceptions for people, you have to.

OP why are they only offering mini pill?

Is there any chance amitryptaline might help with your shoulder pain?

You poor thing. That all sounds unnecessarily stressful.
Yes definitely ring them back. We keep being told that the NHS is still there for us so I don't understand this at all. My GPs surgery is VERY VERY quiet at the moment. (I know this as I literally live opposite). Anyone with anything remotely covid like has to go to a designated centre locally. I get there is pressure but stuff like this gets my goat as it's just storing up fairly major problems for the future (unwanted pregnancies etc).

We're still doing depo injections at the surgery I work in. We ring the patient on the morning they're due in, screen them for any symptoms and book an appointment that day. You're in and out in minutes and the nurse wears PPE.
Has your surgery got e-consult? It will be on their website. If so, fill out a form and explain your reasoning about the pills. Our surgery has to get back to you by the end of the next working day so if you do it this weekend they should get back to you by the end of Monday.

Thank you for all the responses, I'm on the app so too.mamy to thank by name.

Re my shoulder, it was improving with physio and a steroid injection but the injection wore off and obviously physio is off the cards right now. I'm on co-codamol and naproxen, but it's not very effective. I operate machinery in my job which requires full motion of that arm and right now I can only manage a 90° angle. Even washing and brushing my hair is a challenge

Our surgery do have e consult so I will investigate that. Thank you for the suggestion.

I have been told by the nurse that only the mini pill is offered, as it's a direct substitute. "It's that or nothing"

I cannot afford or cope with another child, my DP is disabled and our DD is almost 9, we've only got a very small two bed and can't afford bigger.

I'll check with my pharmacist who is excellent and see if my pharmacy do the normal pill in store so thank you for that option.

I'm beginning to believe that my doctors are just generally a bit useless, it's a big practice with lots of just qualified doctors who rotate in and out.

Make up an excuse and book emergency appointment with the doctor. Then tell them why.

Sorry there were paragraphs in that last post, they seem to have vanished

Try your local gum/sexual health clinic?

OP I’ve just realised

The depo is progesterone only so ot makes sense they offer mini pill as the alternative.

I think they’re reasonably okay about giving out amitryptaline for pain and it might help you sleep as well.

It obviously varies from surgery to surgery. The one I work in patients for the Nurse are still coming in, symptom checked first, hands anti bac'ed, nurse in plastic apron, face mask, visor, room cleaned after each patient and she is doing depo injections, B12 injections, necessary blood pressure checks and dressings. We also have a phlebotomist visiting for urgent blood tests for ours and other surgeries patients.

You can keep up the physio - the exercises are downloadable.
I'm wondering why you've got a blood pressure meter - do you have blood pressure issues?
Anyway , go back to the Gp and try again. If you have to use condoms in the interim, it's annoying but not the end of the world.

apologies, i haven't read all replies...
is it they won't prescribe the injection, or that you can't attend to have it administered? I inject my own depo contaceptive, it's left at the pharmacy, I don't know if you would be comfortable with this?

Can you ask to be prescribed Sayana press, you inject it yourself. Instruction videos on youtube

To answer a few more questions.

I'm asthmatic and diabetic. There's a history of hypertension in the family and I get white coat syndrome so I have a blood pressure meter at home which was recommended last year as it was that and measure my own or go onto medication based upon the Wildy varying readings I got at the surgery.

They won't prescribe the depo injection, I'd be happy self injecting. I already inject insulin daily.

I have just put an explanation of all of this onto e consult so hopefully someone will get back to me on Monday. I have requested my named GP.

I'm just really wary of the POP as I took it religiously, set alarms, never missed one and still ended up pregnant, whereas in the last 8 years have had no issues whatsoever on the depo injection.

I also cannot get a steroid injection which I need in my shoulder as no face to face appointments. This all leads me to believe that it's an issue with the practice as a whole rather than just the nurse I spoke to.

I understand it's disappointing, but you should be able to get condoms free from your GUM clinic and they should give you confidence.

can the physio give you a sheet of exercises for your shoulder?

I do have physio exercises I'm doing at home. But my shoulders movement has locked up again. Was told this could happen and if it does I'd need another steroid jab.
I'm doing all the exercises I can manage with the reduced movement

Could you get an appointment at a sexual health clinic?

With all the positive will in the world (and positivity is good - I had the same issue in one of my shoulders and it did get better without a second injection - ice packs are really helpful, along with massaging the bastarding thing to try and keep it moving enough to keep up with the exercises) - if your shoulder hurts, your DP is disabled and you're really feeling down, can't risk pregnancy and condoms are off the table for whatever reason - could it be a good idea to abstain for a while?