Does anyone feel like when you see a GP their job is to disprove anything is wrong rather than investigate what is happening? I just wonder if this is the case in other health services?

[Whyjustwhy123]

I’ve not had to see a GP for years, but in the last couple of months has to see them twice. The first time for an injury and the second time for a reaction to medication that was given for the first visit.

Both times I’ve given my symptoms and rather than any tests to investigate what may be causing the issues or blood tests to check something I was just offered strong painkillers.

It very much feels like rather than my symptoms dictating what conversation we had but the GP very early on in the appointment haven decided what the issue is. Then followed up at both appointments, but if this changes go to A&E or call 999. And I’m thinking surely it would make sense to treat me properly at this point and avoid a trip to A&E.

Im not wanting to ‘bash’ GPs and I suspect my experience is the result of the pressures on them. But both times I came away feeling like I had been mistaken in having to see them. And despite this neither issue has been resolved!

@FatCatBum 👏

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame the individual GPs but the system is broken for everyone. GPs are burning out, patients aren't getting what they need, and other services are feeling the pressure because patients have no choice but to seek help elsewhere

Free at the point of use is an amazing idea but in 2023 it doesn't work for everything. People always go on about the US model as the only alternative to the NHS but many other countries have in between models that work

But your appointment wasn't a diagnostic one? It was because you'd injured yourself and then needed a medication change?

Why would they take bloods for eg a torn rotator cuff?

They would order unnecessary tests and X-rays because they can charge you for it and make more money.

@Saschka - that is what I wonder. Hence my comment about compassion fatigue - when people start to lack compassion for the people they are caring for. I don’t blame individuals but the situation they work in.

And if you cc the board/trust and your MP?

"Re point 4, presumably they have guidelines for limiting referral to specialists because waiting lists are so long? Where I live in the UK, this can be three years."

Well, exactly, they are gatekeeping at the expense of your health.

Yes, but even as a person who lives in a country with good social insurance, I can say that is not the only option.
Another option would be to adequately finance the NHS and recruit more doctors.

@Whyjustwhy123 you say it's a chronic condition in one post but another you've had it for six weeks. I'm a bit confused because if it's a long standing chronic condition how would an x-ray help?

I have just had to beg and take a dossier of evidence in to support a referral to a rheumatologist.

Twice I was simply told no .

Third time I took in a file with photographic evidence, screenshots of nhs website and NICE guidance.

I felt like I had to diagnose myself and then beg them to do something - and I'm a police officer- used to putting evidence together- for anyone who is t god help them .

@AnyaMarx that was a smart thing to do. My health board block our GPs referring us for a scan so many are having that done privately for a few hundred. Faced with irrefutable proof our GPs are then allowed to refer to a consultant.

I feel this. Dismissive. Or try and fobb you off with the cheapest option.

I agree OP, I hurt my back so bsd I wa sin alot of pain, couldn't sleep at up. It was awful, gp over the phone told me I have slipped a disc...one yr on and its still not better even though I'm seeing a chiropractor.

Surely it needs a scan to check what is actually going on. I've now signed up for private medical care through work cos I know ill be listened to.

Its the same with my tonsilitus. I have a long history of getting it, I know how exactly if its viral or bacterial. I only ever go to the gp of I know its bacterial for antibiotics and I go early but I have had it refused so then it progressively gets worst and only then will lthwy give it to me. Why would you not just look at my history and know that I also know my symptoms better too. Really pisses me off cos the last time they refused to give me it, it was so bad I lost my voice and suffered uncessarily.

Really? What particular blood tests are useful to diagnose the cause of headaches?

Yes, if someone is having symptoms of the menopause it's really useful for me to know if you are pro or anti HRT, as some people have strong views one way or the other, but requesting 'blood tests' for a symptom that is largely diagnosed clinically will just make the clinician 🙄

Thank you it wasn't really meant to be smart as such I just had enough of being fobbed off

My job was on the line
I live alone

I decided to start keeping evidence, coupled with nice guidelines and nhs website the go couldn't dismiss me anymore. I went in ready for a fight tbh . In the event the go I saw was great and the dint need to fight but my god I was ready for one after being basically told to foxtrot Oscar twice before - I've got either rheumatoid arthritis or lupus causing rheumatoid arthritis.....I've been basically disabled 16 months and counting and I truly have had enough of being dismissed! I printed off all the photos of my swollen discoloured joints , printed off nice guidelines and snippets off the nhs website and plonked them in front of the gp - I also said if I was going to be refused a third request for referral I'd like their reasons in writing . Because then I'd have become a really awkward fucker and complained .
As it happened the the go I saw write me an urgent referral and to my astonishment I've got an appointment already without having to go private. I was told our waiting list here was longest in country so when she said she was doing an urgent referral- bless her she did . That said I'm almost disabled to a ridiculous degree, and have gone from a fit , active woman to a little old woman within a year . I'd had enough.

I've only ever had scans and my blood pressure checked for headache related stuff. Never had blood tests for them.

This has been my experience visiting GP regarding interstitial cystitis, at least to begin with

Last time I saw my GP her questions were:

Have you any thoughts as to what is causing your symptoms?
What do you expect from this appointment?
What would you like me to do?

Is this the latest bullshit from junior doctor training? I went having had consistent pain in a joint for months, having tried to sort it myself and paid for physio which didn’t improve it. Felt like a strategy meeting at work

I’ve noticed this. Told the GP what my symptoms were and he asked me what I thought it might be. So I hazarded a guess and was told it wouldn’t be that and to go away. 🤷‍♀️

Even with stuff like possible endometriosis now apparently they don’t investigate. A gynae consultant said to me they just offer the contraceptive pill and if symptoms improve then yes it’s endometriosis but you now don’t need investigation or surgical treatment because the meds are working. But if you don’t want to take hormones you have no need for then bad luck. And also if you cant take contraceptives Because of previous blood clots also bad luck. Here’s some pain killers.

Dm got diabetes and one particular doctor likes to blame everything on it. Other gp listen to her and don't interrupt her while she tell them about their symptoms.

My GP surgery is actually great – they make referrals and investigate everything completely unprompted. (So for eg a strange pain in my stomach was immediately referred for an ultrasound – and I’m 30s and otherwise fit and healthy). A ear issue was immediately referred to ENT. None of the ‘come back if it gets worse’ type thing. So there are good ones out there.

Sorry to hear that is not your experience OP. Can you look at other GP’s locally?

@ElizabethBennetismybestfriend

you can greatly alleviate or even cure carpal tunnel by strapping it fairly rigidly at night. When I had it , I was told that the operation was by no means certain to last, and I knew this was true from a friends experience.
I started strapping it just to stop it hurting at night with movement, then I noticed that it seemed to be getting better. So I kept doing it , every single night, sometimes after supper if I didn’t have much to do.

I used crepe bandage, but you can get a much better sticky strapping ( in decathlon) which is easier and more efficient to put on.

I hope you can get some relief , it is worth a try.

I hate to say this but I suspect if you're working and under a certain age you are more likely to be treated. A consultant friend of BILs said the word retired is a big red flag. I was asked if I was retired just last month by the consultant and said I was a childminder for 5 grandchildren. Now that's a green flag