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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think my GP is no longer making an effort and they should be trying more to help me?

44 replies

SchrodingersMew · 26/04/2012 17:21

I've been going to the GP to complain about wideapread pain and disabling fatigue since I was 11, back then the GP just blamed it on me not wanting to go to school (I loved school), no one took me seriously for years and I was constantly given paracetamol and sent to psychiatrists.
Eventually I started googling and researching what could be wrong myself, I was sent to Rheumatology when I was 15 and I asked if it could be Fibromyalgia and was told it could be, I went back and told my GP this and he just agreed no questions asked.
Fast forward 5 years, 20 and pregnant and don't feel any further forward, I tell my GP I think I have Ehlers -Danlos and I want it investigated as it can cause problems in pregnancy and birth, am told I wont as I don't fit the height and weight normals, I go see another GP and ask to be re refered to Rheum, I get a diagnosis of EDS.

Pain clinic and GP are trying to make me take anti depressants that are used as painkillers on a fairly high dose. I really don't want to take them and suggest trying a vitamin infusion instead for the fatigue, he refuses and says.

"I think you are thinking about this too much Schrod and medicalising yourself too much not that I am saying what you say you are feeling isn't true"

I feel like that bloody lost 11 year old again and I am starting to really hate myself and my life, they wont take me seriously and everytime I leave that surgery I cry, if it wasn't for my DS I am sure I would be contemplating ending it all and I have a fair few times. The ironic thing is, I don't ever feel depressed until I visit my GP and realise all hope is gone.

OP posts:
SchrodingersMew · 26/04/2012 17:22

Really sorry this is so long...

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 26/04/2012 17:24

What is EDS?

curiositykitten · 26/04/2012 17:25

I don't get it. You have a diagnosis, and they are suggesting a treatment plan? What else are you looking for?

I understand - as a suspected sufferer of FM - that you are exhausted and drained, but I'm not sure what you hope to achieve by disputing and arguing with what they want to try?

Flisspaps · 26/04/2012 17:25

Ehlers-Danlos at a guess Worra

Olympia2012 · 26/04/2012 17:26

Change gp?

Olympia2012 · 26/04/2012 17:26

And stop googling!

SchrodingersMew · 26/04/2012 17:27

It affects the joints and causes pain and dislocation. My thumbs and hips are the worst, I can't for instance open a bottle of juice without my thumb dislocating.

OP posts:
SchrodingersMew · 26/04/2012 17:29

Kitten - I have tried the anti depressants before and they didn't work all they did was make me more tired and now they want to put me on 5x the dose I was on so completely counter productive.

I know I should stop googling but I guess it's just one of those things where you hope there wil be a lightbulb moment and everything will be fine.

OP posts:
SchrodingersMew · 26/04/2012 17:30

I guess I am just annoyed they woukdn't even consider the vitamin infusion but are perfectly happy to just dish out brain numbing anti depressants.

OP posts:
BartletForAmerica · 26/04/2012 17:32

A vitamin infusion? Of what exactly? Sounds like quackery to me.

If you have pernicious anaemia and are B12 deficient as a result, then you need B12 injections. If you are iron deficient, you need to take iron tablets etc. But random 'vitamin infusions' aren't going to help anything.

Gigondas · 26/04/2012 17:33

Changes Drs and dont google

Sidge · 26/04/2012 17:34

I don't know much about treatment for EDS and FM but I am guessing they are bound by prescribing/treatment protocols eg NICE guidelines etc.

So if high-dose antidepressants have been shown to be helpful and vitamin infusions haven't, then they will go for the former as a therapeutic option.

Groovee · 26/04/2012 17:34

I have fibromyalgia and i have good days and bad days. I find it can be hard to get into the hole I can sometimes fall in to, but I try to look on the positive side.

Maybe the vitamin infusion isn't available in your area. I take amitriptyline and I'm not mind numbing because of it.

Maybe you need a lifestyle management course. Mine did me the world of good.

SchrodingersMew · 26/04/2012 17:35

I have been b12 deficient in the past and had the injections and everything seemed fixed for a good while rigt now my b12 is the low end of normal.
I at the moment have low iron and have done since at least January but the tablets and syrups all make me very sick.

OP posts:
SchrodingersMew · 26/04/2012 17:37

Groovee it is Noretriptiline they want to put me on, I have been on Amitriptyline also.
I'm just worried it migt help with the pain but make me so tired I can't get out of bed.

OP posts:
EldonAve · 26/04/2012 17:38

are you seeing a specialist or just your GP?
have they deternined why you had low B12/low iron? It's not usual to have injections and then stop

DPrince · 26/04/2012 17:39

Vitamin c infusuions appear to help some patients. This is not a treatment doctors would give. If you want to try the Infusions, go ahead. Buy a go won't prescribe vitamins that 'may' help. I am more concerned that you haven't had any genetic counselling. Did the go that diagnosed the condition do so before you got pregnant?

Olympia2012 · 26/04/2012 17:39

And you are pregnant?

Harleyband · 26/04/2012 17:40

What exactly are the vitamin C infusions supposed to help with? Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin. Any extra taken in is flushed out in the urine. Schrod, MN is NOT the place for medical advice. Go back to your rheumatologist if you're not happy with gp.

SchrodingersMew · 26/04/2012 17:45

I am not pregnant now and had the diagnosis while pregnant.
DPrince I haven't been offered genetic counselling and have been worried since DS was born as his knees and arms make clicky noises, they noted this before as well. It is "Myers Cocktail" I had read about, I guess I hadn't been thinking the GP migt not actually be able to try it.

I guess I am BU about expecting the GP to do more, I think it's just the feeling that they don't take me so seriously.

Eldon - They didn't find out why, no. I am seeing the pain clinic as well who refuse to let me ty decent painkillers at all even once at night until I try an extensive list of anti depressants. Last time I seen them 18 months ago I was just told to try exercising more.

OP posts:
DPrince · 26/04/2012 17:47

I had low iron when pg. I took spatone, as iron tablets make me ill, it worked amazingly. No taste or smell and none of the side effects. Maybe you could try that. The midwife would not prescribe it (the same as the doctor won't prescribe your vitamins), so I paid for it myself.

Olympia2012 · 26/04/2012 17:48

Well they are the medical professionals....

SchrodingersMew · 26/04/2012 17:49

What is Spatone and where do you get it? I have tried a couple of different versions of iron pills and a couple of the syrups. It really doesn't agree with me.

OP posts:
SchrodingersMew · 26/04/2012 17:53

Olympia? Just because someone is a professional it doesn't always make them right. As I said, I spent years being told I just didn't want to go to school, then later told I didn't have EDS to be told by Rheumatology I did. I was also brushed off about a problem with my heart and blood pressure that I had been admitted to hospital with, guess what 2 days ago a Proffesor at cardiology suggested putting me on beta blockers for the problem the GP didn't believe I had!

OP posts:
JosieZ · 26/04/2012 17:53

Mickel Therapy have had some success with FM and ME.

While you are googling you can have a look at them.