AIBU to be very upset GP wont see me for a week despite me being really worried (plus WWYD)

[owlelf]

Apologies if this is TMI, and possible AIBU is wrong place but I am hoping for a few responses fairly quickly.

I have been experiencing a pinky discharge for a few weeks. Its not my period, or ovulation and I am not pregnant. This weekend it got worse and I am now bleeeding lightly.

Called GP at 8am this morning, this is the earliest you can call for an appointment. I was held in a queue and by the time I got through there were no appointments left. Receptionist agreed to ask GP to call me.

I spoke with GP on the phone, he said they need to see me to take a look at cervix and take some swabs etc. He said to speak to receptionist to make an appointment.

Receptionist said the earliest I can be seen is next wednesday. She said that I can't attend a standard morning appointment instead (thses are given out first come first served over the phone from 8am) as I need a longer than standard appointment, and that he would put in my notes that I should be given an appointment.

I am scared and uncomfortable. It feels wrong that I should have to wait for a week. I have explained this to the receptionist, she was very nice but said there was nothing she could do.

DP thinks I should go to A&E, and be seen today. I would love to do this but I think that would be wrong of me.

AIBU to be tempted to complain?

Thanks, feel a bit silly for being worried now . Am still waiting, wondering if I should have just left it.....

Will see what they say here.

I dont think you're silly to worry OP. always surprises me how little people expect from their healthcare. It isn't normal for you, you're worried, you don't want to wait a week, so why should you if you don't have too. Good luck and I hope it's something trivial :)

Doctors aren't always completely au fait with the appointment system, amazingly - my sister has been told by her GP to go and make an appt for a week's time, when he needed to see her again - receptionist has then told her "oh no, that's impossible, you can't get in for another 2 weeks". She has then explained that the GP said she must be seen in a week's time - receptionist insists that 2 weeks is the earliest it can be managed.

So, the GP might have thought it was urgent enough (might not) but may not have realised that the appt wouldn't be easy to achieve. You can't assume how the GP felt from the lack of availability of an appointment, is what I'm trying to say.

Ring forst thing and ask for an emergency appt or perhaps see if you can see the nurse?

first

Genitourinary Medicine. It's a sexual health clinic.

Are you okay OP? Seen anyone yet?

You shouldn't feel silly for worrying. Much better to worry than ignore it - it is probably nothing but it's sensible to have it checked out.

I hope you get to a well woman clinic or similar.

It does sound as if your GP surgery is pretty busy if next week is as soon as they can see you.

At the GUM clinic they can check for all things sti , which means that your GP wont need to faff about with swabs etc . Ask the dr at the GUM to check your coil is still where it should be aswell .

If all your tests come back clear at the GUM , you get a really nice badge and a certificate .

Actually that last bit is a fib

Firstly, try not to worry. And DO NOT GOOGLE ANYTHING!
I was in the same situation recently. I was nearly hysterical! I saw the GP, who had a look up there, pulled a face, then left me, speculum still in place, to go get another doctor to have a look too! She pulled a face too! They left me there on the bed, and between them, booked me in, online, for a Colposcopy/gynae appointment, within two weeks. They then told me not to worry and sent me on my way! I had absolutely NO IDEA what was happening!
I had a horrible TWW, trawling the Internet for a clue about what was happening, and scaring myself badly! When i got to the hospital, i had a biopsy taken from my womb lining at the same time as the colposcopy, an internal ultrasound, and it turned out to be just a cervical erosion! It's very likely to be nothing. Your GP would have had you back sooner if he thought it was an emergency.

Hi there if it was me I would wait to see gp but explain to them how anxious I was. I had a similar problem which turned out to be nothing as yours prob is though it should be checked out. I always google stuff and scare myself silly, try not to. It isn't an a and e thing unless you are bleeding profusely/ in extreme pain, but unless the gp can explain why you are bleeding I would insist on referral to a specialist.

I have been seen by a very nice doctor, she examined by cervix and said she could see a tiny fleck of tampon and possible signs of infection. She thinks that this could be causing the bleeding.

She also took swabs for STIs and I will get results within 2 weeks.

Before she examined me she said it could be a gynaecological issue, and if so it would be outside of her area. She also said that ready my GP should see me sooner.

However, after she found a possible cause she suggested I stick with the GP appointment in a weeks time, if the bleeding hasn't stopped by then.

Oh good for you OP!

Yes, this is why tampons are the devil's work - get a mooncup!!!

Nice that she sympathized about the GP, but a bit poor to take two weeks to get a basic culture back - my rubbish GUM doctor did them there and then.

Thank you peasant. What do you mean about the 'basic culture'- the STI tests?

I think the two weeks is a longest case scenario, although actually I have just looked at my advice card which says they operate on a 'no news is good news' basis- so if I'm clear I will hear nothing. Which is a bit tricky as I guess I Wong know for sure when I see GP next week.

I need to stop worrying now (and investigate mooncups), but I can't help thinking that surely if I had an infection I would have an odorous discharge not just a blood tinged one?

Yes I meant bacterial culture. My dr did them literally in the next room and then just came back and told me the results. Also agree no news is good news = crap as you then are never sure whether you are definitely in the clear, or the letter telling you you have Minge Plague went missing in the post, or what.......

Anyhow should really be working :) slow day!

YABU. Sorry but you are overreacting. If the doc thought you could wait a week then you can wait a week. Sorry.

YY mooncup!

Sorry didn't mean to be quite so enthusiastic there

yeah i thought it was just blood work (hiv test mainly) that took weeks. surprised a culture wouldn't come back sooner.

if i were you now i would ring the docs in the morning and say you need an emergency appointment as you have an infection. with that confirmed you should be able to get in for a that day appointment (albeit with whoever can fit you in) and if it is an infection you can get started on treatment.

There seems much enthusiasm for mooncups, never had a problem with tampons until now but after today I am interested in alternatives.

swallowed the doctor at the GUM clinic has given me a 5 day course of antibiotics. So I'm thinking I may as will wait to see if they work before I go to my GP?

Do you have an out of hours non emergency service. They may be able to fit you in this evening sometime if you are still worried.