to expect if not sympathy at least an acknowledgment

[macdoodle]

Ok am genuinely after opinions here.
I am a GP, I have been in my practice for over 12years, so I know my regulars well, and most of the other patients. I am well liked.
On Thur I started with a horrid cold, sore throat. By Friday my voice was almost gone completely and I sounds horrible. I soldiered on as fully booked surgeries and down a doctor (unable to recruit) means we are overwhelmed. Luckily I only work half day on Friday.
I saw 16 patients in the morning, made 8 call backs (for results/advice) and did 2 house visits. I reckon less than 25% even commented that I was clearly unwell, and of those most were of the jokey type " you need to see a doctor haha". Would you comment? Express concern?? Some of the patients were chronic diseases, ongoing problems, so not acutely unwell. And those that were unwell, were less so than me. Those that commented with genuine sympathy, were those I know well, or parents who had brought children.
I feel disappointed TBH. I work hard, even when unwell, and would have expected a bit of sympathy TBH. AIBU? Does the doctor not need some sympathy as well :(
COI am feeling very sorry for myself, illness and working single parent do not go well together!

I would have expressed sympathy but then I am one of the ones with young children plus I love like my GP

what does having young children have to do with it? (I have two)

What an odd thread

If you were my GP I would probably have said 'Blimey X you sound dreadful, are you ok?' then hoped you had managed to get home alright.

Where does the OP say she wasn't focused on her patients and doing a professional job?

She felt ill. She can still reflect on that and her patients' reactions in a human capacity afterwards.

Op says the surgery was overwhelmed so it was either have an 'ill doctor' or 'no doctor'.

Oh well, obviously one or two posters here would rather have had no doctor at all.

And it didn't take too long for I'm glad you're not my doctor to be trotted out.

I am glad that I am not a GP and some of these posters are not my patients sooty.

Wot sparklingbrook said

All the very best to you,

Perhaps they dont know what to say to you because of fear that it will sound patronising?

Me too Sparkling

She feels unwell and down. She's a single parent so no TLC forthcoming at home either. And then she gets the GP bashing as well. I really think one or two of the responses are pretty unkind.

GPs are people too believe it or not. They have feelings and everything and even families of their own.

Sooty and Sparkling, what about the concerns of those of us who are chronically (and seriously) ill ourselves and could be made significantly worse if GP saw us whilst knowing she was unwell and possibly infectious?

I did note the concerns of those who are ill themselves. My response was more about how the responses to the OP have been expressed.

Well if the OP hadn't come in or gone home sick you would not have seen a GP then I guess Yes.

I do know people that are in the same group as you. They don't tend to go to the GP's surgery due to the germ fest of a waiting room, but I do understand how the HV may have possibly been unwise, depending on the reason they couldn't get to the surgery. i would like to think OP knew which patients were at risk though.

And asa GP she must have been able to make a professional decision about whether she could safely see the patients on her list that day.

x post there Sparkling.

YY sooty that's what I would have thought.

Sitting in a GP's waiting room is a bit of a gamble at the best of times germ wise, so the patients could catch anything.. I imagine OP caught it off a patient in the first place.

YesIDid you would be more pissed off if you couldn't see a GP as they were all off sick, I'm sure (having full access to your medical records) your GP would cancel your appointment if she felt she would be a risk to you ... with him/her being a health care professional and all that!!

So as someone chronically and seriously unwell, would you rather see a doctor (even an unwell one) or miss out and go to the back of what sounds like quite a long queue at a surgery down 2 GPs? On balance, and I personally am chronically unwell with a completely messed up immune system, if I need to see a doctor, then I need to see a doctor. Because I'm feeling really bad, and need their help or need to discuss next steps following on from test results. So I think the PP and those replying in a similar pompous vein are being a bit precious myself. I've got 2 doctors appointments next week and I will be gutted if either of them get cancelled for any reason.

OP hope you feel better soon.

I would definitely prefer to reschedule a GP appointment rather than running the risk of not being with my DC at Christmas.

Perhaps OP let her patients know prior and gave them the choice, to give benefit of the doubt.

I get what you are saying about surgeries not being germ free but whilst you cannot totally avoid risk, you can minimise it ie by nor having contact with someone who knew they were currently unwell/infectious.

I'm sorry you think I'm being pompous and precious

When your ill though and trying to soldier on sometimes the last thing you want is to chat about it,

I think it sounds in this case that any rescheduling would not be quick Yes.

OP hopefully knows which patients it would have been a no-no to see though.