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'd have said something if I was one of your regular patients. My GP is a person who happens to be a doctor. I've known him for years and years, even though I don't see him that often as I generally see the GP I can get an appointment with quickest. But we always have a very brief catch up - matches/hatches/dispatches in both families, new pets, new jobs etc etc. If he was obviously unwell I'd tell him I hoped he felt better soon or something similar.

No one does my job when I'm not there either, so yes, like you I go in when I'm not feeling 100%. I don't expect sympathy though, am just there to get through the day and get the job done.

Mind you, having just re-read your op, if you consider 26 of your patients to be less I'll than yourself you really really shouldn't be there. Or you're a drama llama.

Oh, it gets my goat too this 'Haha, doctor, you need to see a doctor!" rather than "Hope you feel better soon" as I say to my patients.

And this applies not just to self-limiting illnesses such as coughs and colds (macdoodle is right, primary care would collapse if every GP took a week or 2 off to recover from respiratory infections), but to all sorts of other things.

I had bad SPD when expecting DS3 and was at work because being at home was worse: bored and in pain, rather than having my brain engaged and in pain. No acknowledgment at all that I was walking with a stick etc. Weird.

My favourite story is from my senior partner who has been in the practice for over 30 years, is very well-known and well-loved. He was consulting, listening to a patient telling her story, when he suddenly felt very, very sick. Before she was done he had to be sick, so got up, vomited in the sink in the consulting room, sat back down, feeling pale and clammy, about to utter an apology (what can you possibly say?!) when she said "… and as I was saying, doctor,…" and off she went again

macdoodle, I hope you feel better soon

Immuno-suppression excepted minor resp illness is mainly spread by poor hand washing habits assuming that your doctor does not cough/sneeze straight in your face. And it IS irksome when you've come to work, reluctant to cancel on 40odd patients with your Lemsip and your Difflam spray, only to be confronted by a healthy person who woke up with a sore throat this morning, so needed an emergency appointment and MUST have an antibiotic when they have not even tried taking some Paracetamol yet.

I wouldn't have said anything, tbh. When I go to the GP I want to get in and out as quickly as possible. I am very aware of the time and the other people waiting.

I went to see my spinal surgeon once with a bad cold, sore throat and little voice. I would have cancelled but wouldn't have got another appointment for about 6 months. I felt like shit, he said "I won't examine you, Fairy, you're making me feel ill just looking at you!" so sympathy is not just slow coming from patients!

deep down you know you shouldn't have been working

How patronising. The OP has already said she was well enough.

The medical practice I am reglistened with is wonderful. I have been with them for over 20 years and they have never let me down.

They have obviously had changes in GPs over time and the receptionists have retired and new ones hold the fort now. They are unfailingly pleasant and helpful as are all the staff there.

My daughter's surgery, about a mile away from mine is appalling, the staff are rude, patronising and nasty. The receptionists are unkind and interfering.
This practice is infamous locally.

I can't understand how two organisations, under the same Health Board, can be so different.

Anyway, I digress. I can't belive that people wouldn't comment if you had a cold. I always knock, go in, say Good morning, how are you?
The response is usually Fine, so how are you, what can I do?
Sometimes, if the doctor is, like the OP, full of cold, it will be, Oh, I have this cold that is going around, or if their leg is in plaster, Well, ok apart from this....' Then we start talking about me, obviously, the most interesting topic for both of us!

Isn't this how most interactions work? Obviously on occasions when I have been scared stiff about some condition, I might wobble a bit but I am still polite and acknowledge that the other person, the human being opposite me, is living their life.

Honestly I think I must be an alien, when I read MN, I am open-mouthed at the way people behave.

OP, I would have given you my tips for colds, Veg Soup with as much garlic in as you can find in the house, and tumeric, lemon, honey and ginger hot drink.
I think you should try both today and I hope you feel loads better soon.

Iam, thank you, yes that is exactly what I meant, not a big long sympathy moan, but normal human interaction.

Glad to hear that you are feeling better mac.