Online GP appt - did I expect too much?

[blueskys72]

I've just had a phone consultation with the company's private health gp service - I've got depression and anxiety rearing their ugly heads again, can't get through to my own gp, so thought this was the way to go.

Except that all he's done is listen to me crying explaining my circumstances etc and told me to phone my own gp tomorrow. As if it's that easy. As if I hadn't thought of that.

I thought he would give me a prescription, instead I've got to get back in the telephone queue at my own surgery. It took me days to work up to making this appointment already and it was all for nothing.

Just needed a rant.

let HR know that they're wasting the company's money on private health care ( and all the best btw xxx). Hopefully the grumpiness will at least give you the power to ring your own gp :(

Sorry you're going through this OP.

Did he indicate why you need to go to your own GP? I wonder if the service doesnt treat long term conditions, as I'm assuming you've been diagnosed previously?

Thanks for the replies ... yeah I stopped taking my antidepressants over twelve months ago, not particularly on my gp's advice, more a natural slow weaning off. Maybe it is that they can't prescribe for that kind of thing. Wish I'd known that though. Ah well, I'll stick to what I do know. Just frustrating because it took me ages to even get to the point of ringing up (hate making phone calls at the best of times) and now I've got to do the whole emotional pouring out again. Tonight was more convenient with no children awake!

Honestly please tell your company that they're wasting their money.

Our company's private healthcare does not cover mental health. Have you checked yours does?

Well done for phoning. I've had to take them before and asking for help was so difficult.

Agree that it doesnt make much sense for you to speak to a company GP who then tells you to phone your own GP. Must feel like a waste of time.

Give them feedback of this that you dont know what their purpose is.

Why did you decide to stop taking your meds? It sounds like you really need them. My mum has been on a low dose for decades, I dont think there's any harm in taking them long term.

I can't even remember why I stopped. Perhaps a combination of reasons ... not being organised enough with repeat prescriptions, not able to get an appointment for a review etc. And then I'd realise I was running low, so started to eke them out, and still felt okay so it seemed a good time to come off them; and I guess a feeling of not wanting to be on them all my life (I'd been taking them at different points all my adult life).

Then I had hypnotherapy last summer which helped for a while. But then home issues reared their head again - child with SEN - PDA, with violent behaviour started up again, the stress of fighting to get the EHCP right, fighting for some kind of work to be done with him; and very little support of any kind. Compassion fatigue/in the pit/out of spoons - and putting my game face on every day- it's all drained my reserves, I'm running on empty.

Dazed I haven't seen anything to indicate MH isn't covered - in fact we are being encouraged to use their services whilst WFH/C-19. Good point though, I'll check with HR.

The other thing that's just occurred to me, when I phoned to book an appointment, they asked me what I was calling for, and I did say MH. I didn't specify that I wanted a prescription ... I just assumed that was obvious. And I wonder now if she allocated more of "listening" appointment.

Would your company cover prescription costs? Private prescriptions can be very expensive and it may be that cost would fall to you and that's why they don't prescribe.

Sorry you are going through this. Would the private company have access to your medical history? If not they are unlikely to prescribe. You really need to go back to your GP and push for an appointment.

Did you actually ask for a prescription or just hope they'd suggest it? I agree that without your medical history, they are unlikely to just hand out scripts. I do think they could have suggested CBT or similar.

Did you have any counselling or CBT before? There are long waits currently, but maybe consider private sessions in the interim. I doubt you'd need a GP referral for private ones. x

If the reason is any of the above though, the doctor should have explained this. Very poor of them not to have said, oh call your own GP because you aren’t covered for mental health or whatever...

I did manage to get through to my own GP practice this morning; I think talking to the one last night just confirmed that I really did need to do it; those of you who have been through similar might recognise my feelings of "oh just buck up, there's worse things happening, get on with things" etc.

Having written down all my feelings - from panic attacks, hyper-vigilance and anxiety about the aggression that is happening in the household and having to micro-manage the environment to reduce these attacks, to feeling mentally paralysed and unable to make the simplest decisions, crying at the drop of a hat - it had all become normalised and I'd lost sight of the fact that feeling like this, day in, day out, for months, isn't how it's meant to be.

So, when the rain stops, I'm going to pick up my prescription (even typing that is bringing on tears - not for a bad reason, but just knowing I've finally turned a corner and things will get better or at least be more manageable).

Thank you for listening and supporting