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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be a bit put out by GP's response?

45 replies

MakingAMess · 18/10/2010 12:18

Took DS (aged 4) to the doctor's this morning which a big red welt-y rash all down his arm and leg (about 20 big bumps on his arm and more on his leg). This is the the first time I have taken DS to this surgery since we moved, and the first time DS has been to the GP for 2 years.

Anyway, I explained the symptoms to the GP and took DS's top off to show him the rash and he said 'Some people think we GPs have crystal balls'.

I was all

He then went off on a huge rant about people expecting doctors to be able to guess what is wrong with them and if he knew what was wrong with everyone, he would be so expensive that no-one would be able to afford him. And when I asked whether he thought it was contagious and whether I should keep him off school, he went on about the 'health and safety culture gone mad' and people with their priorities all gone wrong.

Errr??

Is that not the point of GPs? You go along with symptoms, elucidate with explanation of circumstances / other information which may or may not be relevant, and the GP hazards a guess at what is wrong with you!?

What should I have done?

OP posts:

brimfull · 18/10/2010 16:00

arf he sounds funny and unhinged

did you ask if his balls were crystal?

TechnoKitten · 18/10/2010 16:07

YANBU and you should probably write a letter addressing your concerns to the practice manager.

You didn't want to know what the rash was - you wanted to know what it wasn't. IE not worrying or contagious. A GP should know enough about common childhood rashes to be able to reassure you if it's nothing to worry over (or alternatively if it is something concerning they should have a fair idea of what it is!)

Sorry if people expect him to know what's wrong with them but isn't that why people see GPs?

Bites down one side of body - possible if there's something on the mattress and he sleeps on his side. Could be molluscum too but a GP should be able to recognize that.

I would go back and ask to see someone else.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 18/10/2010 16:13

[boggle] erm. do doctors not go through 7 years of medical school so that they can learn about diseases and illnesses in order to be able to diagnose and treat?

If I called out an electrician who started ranting about how I was expecting him to understand electrics and to have an idea why my socket wasn't working I would have something to say!

It is not unreasonable to expect someone to be able to function in the job that they are trained to do!

werewolf · 18/10/2010 16:15

ggirl - did you ask if his balls were crystal?

ROFL!

whydobirdssuddenlyappear · 18/10/2010 16:19

He probably just watched House last night and realised quite how inadequate he was in comparison.

Original poster

MakingAMess · 18/10/2010 16:29

yes - i was quite astounded by the whole 'people seem to have such a high opinion of doctors - they expect to walk in through the doors and have their ills diagnosed' rant! errr - precisely. i thought that was what they spent all that time training for. so they could piece together symptoms and come up with a diagnosis!!

but he wasn't even interested. didn't ask ANY questions. just ranted!

just looked at molluscum on the internet (dangerous...) - but it doesn't look like that.

wondered about something on the mattress too, but it was on his thumb? that spends most of the night in his mouth . strange...

will have to see how it is tonight. hopefully it was just 'one of those things', never to be repeated. kids are good at that sort of thing.

OP posts:

DeadBodyofKaraStarbuckThrace · 18/10/2010 16:31

'A bit put out'

I'd be livid if my GP spoke to me like that! Definitely speak to the practice manager - he sounds like he has a screw loose!

Itsjustafleshwound · 18/10/2010 16:34

Speaking to a GP friend, skin rashes and irritations are a hard thing to diagnose ... but still the way he spoke to you was unacceptable !

I think a change of doctor is in order.

Original poster

MakingAMess · 18/10/2010 16:43

he didn't even try to diagnose. he just ranted about me expecting him to know what it might be and then expecting him to offer an opinion as to whether it might be contagious. apparently - why would i want to know that? and why would the school care what it might be...

i have been sent away from the GP's a couple of times with the 'viral rash' or 'viral infection' diagnosis, and you feel a bit stupid for having gone, but they never make you feel like you are UNREASONABLE for expecting them to be qualified to offer an opinion as to what it might be.

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JamieLeeCurtis · 18/10/2010 16:49

What an arse

Stropzilla · 18/10/2010 17:01

Definately complain! I had a doctor like this, I went to see him for a lump under my arm. I assumed it might be an inflamed something or other. He heard "lump under my arm" and acutally laughed! Then he said in a really patronising tone "Oh and I bet you think it's breast cancer". Well, no I didn't actually but I do now! I did complain, and found out so many other people had that he was promptly fired.

Can you imagine if someone actually DID have breast cancer, and was too afraid of being thought paranoid to see him?

nigglewiggle · 18/10/2010 17:07

He's obviously missed the memo about diagnosing them all as "non-specific viral rash."

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 18/10/2010 18:45

My DD had something similar - a really diturbing rash especially when she puffed up and went pinky/purple like Violet Beauregard in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But they gave me an 'explanation' - (I saw 2 GPs - I went back on a second day as it got worse) they said it was a reaction to a virus (so sort of admitting they don't know what it is, I suppose).

But I would complain. The way he spoke to you was out of order, unnecessary and unprofessional. I think you've got 2 weeks - something like that, anyway.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 18/10/2010 18:46

just read your post nigglewiggle!! Mine had obviously read that memo!

BetsyBoop · 18/10/2010 18:54

YANBU

as has already been said, standard GP response to this scenario is I'm not really sure so it's probably a viral rash, come back in a week if it's not cleared up

MumBarTheDoorZombiesAreComing · 18/10/2010 18:56

OMG he sounds awful, We have a GP in the surgery who is quick wham bam thankyou goodbye and one who actually takes the time and is caring. I always try to see him re DS welts/ hives.

Just an aside have you tried DS on antihistamine?? It may help and if it itches it will take the edge off.

Deux · 18/10/2010 19:17

Making, I've just come back to this thread and it still makes me laugh. Would make a great comedy sketch.

When my mad as a box of frogs GP diagnosed my DH with high BP, amongst other things, he suggested that I buy a bread maker so that I can limit the amount of salt DH consumes through bread. I was really . Especially as DH doesn't really eat bread.

On a serious note though, and perish the thought, could it be bed bugs? Have you been away anywhere, on holiday? Aparently the little blighters are taking over at the moment.

lowrib · 18/10/2010 19:22

YANBU. I would change my GP quick smart.

brimfull · 18/10/2010 19:41

yes bed bugs

ewww

my dd who is hostelling aroung france atm has bed bugs all over her legs apparently ...boak

Original poster

MakingAMess · 19/10/2010 12:59

i wouldn't have minded 'wham bam thank you mam' approach. but he was detaining me by his ranting! DS was tugging at my arm trying to get me out of the room and he was still ranting away.

bed bugs - yuck. hope not!! haven't been away anywhere.

the welts are still there but no worse.

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