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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be upset with my GP

39 replies

childcarehell · 12/06/2013 13:21

I went to my GP over a week ago with concerns about 6 month old dd (posted in health in you're bothered). In summary she has a stiff often curled arm, can't roll (and won't soon as she has such uneven control), head lags if lifted to sitting, ends up flinging her arm wildly on one side if attempting control and on the other rubs her face. Can't weight bear, sit (poor head control too if held and slumps), barely lifts head on front...

Im worried and wanted to talk it out, she just clammed up and said she'd get back in a week (normally she knows bloody everything too, likes to be know all)

Earlier a week on I tried to make contact, then later again. Receptionist finally said gp had spoken to a consultant and they feel she needs a specialist referral...am I planning a holiday soon? No...ok I'll get a letter, the gp will do the referral, bye (the pauses are her asking gp in the background). Felt like I was reminding them of an unimportant matter

AIBU to want to speak to her to:
voice further concerns pointed out by hv (not mine, a friend who is)around development
know roughly what the consultant said and who and where this specialist is?
just have the chat about dd in person, reassurance etc as I'm worried

She's busy but it's a big deal to us and the waiting game isn't nice. I know it's good she's referring, but I'm pissed off right now with them.

I'm posting as I need to vent really my worries. Thinking of seeing hv to sound it all out

OP posts:
childcarehell · 12/06/2013 14:07

I'm trying to see it from each side, I am though a SENCo and I know the standards I have. I always get consent for referral AND explain the process, try to listen to worries even when I can offer little back. We need signed consent for any referral of any kind, and a new signature for each service. I'm busy at work too, but I manage...

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childcarehell · 12/06/2013 14:08

My work in a way I must admit makes it worse as I have too many people around to spot difficulties!

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meddie · 12/06/2013 14:10

By 6 months I would expect a baby to be rolling front to back, sitting up with minimal or no support (ie in a high chair). babbling, smiling, giggling. If they aren't doing these then they should be assessed by a Paediatrician, which is hopefully what your GP has referred you too.

combinearvester · 12/06/2013 14:11

My developmentally delayed DC was 34 weeks, but cause for delay was never ascertained. Glad to hear difficulties are confined to motor skills, there's nothing worse than a kid who can't get to where they want to go and can't tell you they want to go there!! It does sound like there could be a specific cause, I'm wondering if maybe the GP is worried about mild cerebral palsy but doesn't want to worry you? Personally I'm a fan of knowing the endless scary possibilities so I can make a plan. Your daughter sounds lovely by the way.

childcarehell · 12/06/2013 14:18

My daughter is lovely Grin thank you, seriously she's been a blessing making us all so happy. She's pretty and a bundle of fun with a good laugh on her.

The delay doesn't worry me as much as the uneveness, it is why she can't do. With arms held wonky her back is too so she can't sit. It's this lack of arm control that stops rolling or front playing too. If I breastfeed on one side she'd curl her arm under, but with other side she can reach out to hold me. She's hard to dress as her arm is nigh impossible to unbend.

If I knew some possibilities from the GP I'd feel better

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PixelAteMyFace · 12/06/2013 17:20

Your daughters symptoms remind me of DHs nephew. When he was about 6 months old his parents realised that his right hand was always clenched and he was only reaching for toys with his left hand. He also couldn`t sit straight, and he had less movement in his right leg than his left one.

He was immediately started on physiotherapy, and his parents were shown how to massage his hand to uncurl it, and encouraged him to use it by holding his "good" hand and offering a toy.

After a few months of therapy his progress was amazing, he could roll by about 11 months and walked unaided at 14 months.

He is now 2.5 years old, a happy, energetic little boy. He wears a splint on his leg to stop the foot from trailing, and although his left hand is very much the dominant one, he also uses his right hand when playing.

Good luck with your DD, childcare - you have done the essential, which is to seek help quickly. The sooner therapy is begun, the better.

SquinkiesRule · 12/06/2013 18:32

We had a little one who went to see the specialist at 6 months, couldn't sit, roll and didn't track well, but was also the happiest bossy little man ever. He too had physio, twice a week in our house, and by 10 months was much better, and at 12 months was walking unassisted. Is now a healthy normal 11 year old.

Thereonthestair · 12/06/2013 18:46

Hi, not sure if I should post or not but here goes anyway? I think the gp was out of their depth and mishandled you. I also think as a mother of a child with cerebral palsy this may be a risk, particularly hemiplegia. Ds doesn't have hemiplegia but there are lots of people who know more than I do about it in sn children and they may help clarify what you should think about when you next talk to your gp, paediatrician or a physio. I will also say 6 months is tiny, and it is very difficult to know if there is a problem at 6 months even if it may be cp unless there are risk factors.

For what it is worth ds was29 weeks, and placental abruption so lots of reasons why. He is also the happiest most content and bright child.

CloudsAndTrees · 12/06/2013 18:51

It sounds like you are looking for support that a GP can't provide. You want to just chat about it and talk it out, but GPs are given a tiny amount of time to deal with each appointment and there's no way you'd get everything you want out of a regular time slot.

Your HV is the person to go to if you want time to chat. The GP has done her job by making the referral.

I feel for you though, waiting like this is horrible. If you can afford it, I'd go to a private paediatrician that will be able to take the time to talk to you, listen to your concerns, and discuss the possibilities.

Lweji · 12/06/2013 19:01

I understand you needing a bit more feedback and concern and this gp doesn't seem to have good "bedside" manners.
But some doctors are just not good at chating.

Regardless of her manner, you should ask as many questions as you need to. Even if she has already said bye. :)

EglantinePrice · 12/06/2013 19:16

YANBU.

I'm astonished that she has referred you but not told you to whom.

For all we know she has spoken to a paediatrician and agreed a physio referral would be useful. Or maybe she's reffered you to paeds'. Just guessing of course and we really shouldn't have to because that is the role of your GP.

Additionally I would expect her to explain why she felt a referral was indicated for eg "I'm not worried about x but I am concerned about y therefore..." If its outside her area of expertise (sounds like it) she's quite right to openly say so and explain that that is why you are being referred.

Perhaps this is a communication breakdown..? She told the receptionist who didn't understand or didn't pass it on.

I would either make an apt to see the GP again to discuss. Or I would ring the practice manager and explain the situation, how worried you are and if it is normal practice to be referred without being told who to or why.

I hope she is just a late developer and you have nothing to worry about xx

GailTheGoldfish · 12/06/2013 20:02

I read your thread in B and D. Fengirl1 gave some good advice in the first reply, find out who the specialist is and call their secretary. GPs are under a lot of time pressure so I don't think you will get the support you want from yours, but a HV might be able to listen and give some support. Good luck with everything Flowers

CHJR · 12/06/2013 20:18

YABU maybe a little bit, but please don?t think I blame you ? you poor woman.

Quick background: I was unable to get pg (even in my 20s) and when I did with much hi-tech help, I had a stillbirth and repeat MC before finally ending up with 2 DCs. The younger one turned out to have major motor and intellectual disabilities, and will never live independently. So over two decades I have been through medicos and bureaucrats public and private and in my lady?s chamber, and here?s the first thing I will tell you:

you are now in the most stressful, sad, and scary time of your life. It is not surprising you feel crappy. But your doctor is probably not what is making you feel bad.

Go to emergency stations. This is what we say in my family now at bad times. It means, cut out any removable other sources of stress in your life. Pamper and indulge yourself in any ways that are safe and affordable.

And watch out for yourself to become totally U at times. May I just say that I speak not from your behaviour (you have done nothing wrong yet!) but from looking at my own behaviour, and that of many peers in various support groups over the years? When threatened, we all have a bit of a tendency to ?shoot the messenger? and ?kick the cat.? Not surprising, is it? The doctor is supposed to be helping not hurting you. And where else can you aim your justified outrage and hurt? Please not at yourself, your DD, your DH, the oblivious healthy happy families all around, not even the genuine asshole in a car who just cut you off at the light? You have clearly behaved with great restraint so far, so try to keep it up. There is a reason that doctors delivering bad news very commonly pass the buck to specialists and then do it in twos or more. When my DS?s final diagnosis finally came out, four years after we started tests, they had 6 professionals in the room. (And no I didn?t hit anyone ? but I did tell them repeatedly that they were WRONG WRONG WRONG. I can laugh about this five years later.)

Also, if god forbid anything is wrong with DD, you?re about to discover a whole hell full of long long waits for referrals and doctors with no bedside manner at all. Often there will be no better doctor in terms of medical care. Grit your teeth and remember, some of the best medicos were such big nerds they have no social skills whatever. If they weren?t well-intentioned, they?d be bankers not doctors! If they?d been well socialised they might not have studied so much!

Going back to your specific experience, sounds like both you and doctor did the right thing. You didn?t hit anyone. She gave you a referral. You should, clearly, have been told WHEN to expect to hear from the referral, but to be fair, you were probably in such turmoil you didn?t ask. Call the receptionist and ask her to get the doctor to clarify, and if recep is no help drop a letter by with your doctor?s name on it and your email address inside asking for this crucial info. Referrals get lost the whole time; you need to know when to follow up.

Don?t see GP again, but do write down all the concerns and questions about DD that come up. Take this paper with you when you see the GP or a specialist. WRITE DOWN what they say. It?s amazing how stress wipes the memory. Start a file, and toss in every paper you get about DD in simple chronological order, and take it to appointments. Hopefully some day you will take out this file and, giggling, burn it as so much rubbish.

Finally: if you think, on calm reflection, that you never have got on that well with this GP anyway, now is the time to change her. You don?t have to change practice; go try other GPs in the practice, figure out who you feel heard by, and next time ask for them specifically (as many good choices as you find), even if it?s just for a spot on your nose. Even in the NHS, it?s allowed! Even if your DD is fine (which we all hope and pray) you should always feel comfortable with your GP.

childcarehell · 12/06/2013 20:34

There are some very very kind replies here, thank you.

I'm feeling way better after a rl chat. I presume the letter will be through soon and end part of the question, and I'm making a decision to enjoy the kids in the interim. I've been a bit down and missing the enjoyment they give and deserve. I'll leave it to lie until the referral letter, if this is the start of long term contact it's probably best not to fall out with the practice before I even start.

I don't what it means for dd, I hope it's all chance. Tonight after play and massaging her she relaxed her arm completely and I was able to move it very freely so maybe it's just one of those things, with her arm freer she nearly raised her trunk a little on her front. I'm hoping she does the classic response of children when seeking medical help...they do their best to make you look like a liar ;-)

Dd has loads going for her regardless, she's clearly bright with a good sense of humour. She tracks well and you can see her interest in everything. Plus it's not huge whatever the problem is, maybe she'll be delayed or uncoordinated but we are fortunate I believe in that even the worst case scenario is something as a family we will support comfortably and she has the love of many people in her life.

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