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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to A and E because I can't get a doctors appointment?

157 replies

SheThinksShesPeople · 02/02/2015 19:08

I have the contraceptive implant, had it put in in September. Since then I have put on two stone, got spot all over my face and back, feel like killing myself and bled constantly.

I decided to give it a few months to see if it would settle down but it hasn't. Beginning of Jan phoned gp surgery for app to have it removed. Surgery works on a system whereby the doctor, rather than receptionist calls you back to make appointment. The doc that can remove implants only works Mondays. Three mondays in a row now I have booked with reception for doc to call me to make appointment, they haven't. I went into surgery at 5.30 today to try and speak to said doctor to make appointment as they hadnt called me but she'd already left. So arranged another phone call for next monday.

How the fuckity fuck do I get this out of my arm? Sexual health clinic only open to under 25's, walk in centre shut down, 101 tells me to see gp. Can i go to a and e? Perform surgery on myself? Any other ideas?

OP posts:
tinklykeys · 02/02/2015 19:43

You poor thing, your gp sounds absolutely useless and unacceptable. I would call in the morning and ask to see whoever is free and explain the situation. Don't wait for another Monday to roll around.

They may be able to refer you to someone else who can do it.
I can't believe you were crying on the floor and they didn't help. Did they even apologise? Am really upset for you!

Original poster
SheThinksShesPeople · 02/02/2015 19:43

Sadly no way I could pass for under 25. The receptionists were lovely and have clearly been getting a lot of crap from patients about it, but apparently have to complete the trial period before deciding to switch back or not. It's a rural area with dodgy mobile reception so I drove to nearest town and sat in soft play with ds all afternoon to make sure I had reception.

There's a bpas clinic about an hour drive away that seem to put them in so i'll call them and see if they take them out too.

OP posts:
FightOrFlight · 02/02/2015 19:44

I've never head of a sexual health clinic only being available to under 25's. The drop-in centres are often for u25's but they have services available to the rest of the population.

Walk in centre is your best bet, just be prepared to wait for a while.

OurMiracle1106 · 02/02/2015 19:46

A and e won't deal with taking out the implant. However they will have psychiatric nurses on call and they will be able to assess and support your mental health.

Pishedorf · 02/02/2015 19:46

I doubt a walk in centre nurse/doctor would be able to remove it. You have to do extra training to insert/remove them, it takes a while (and money) to do the training so there's only a small pocket of people who can do it in each practice.

If I were you OP I would complain to the practice manager tomorrow in person and demand they fit you in.

Or look at the sex health clinic again to see if there are other days they do for over 25s OR look at the sex health clinics in adjoining areas to see if they provide over 25 services. Their websites are normally quite helpful so you could look tonight to find one suitable.

Are you actively suicidal though? If you are then yes by all means go to A&E. But they won't remove your implant Sad

Doctors don't keep implants in due to the cost but because they do take a long time too fucking long for them to settle down.

Tinks42 · 02/02/2015 19:48

Do you know for a fact that A&E won't take out the implant OurMiracle? Serious question.

Original poster
SheThinksShesPeople · 02/02/2015 19:49

They did make an appointment for another gp to call me tomorrow (i'll be amazed if this happens) as they said I clearly needed to see someone, but they couldn't make the actual appointment iyswim. But this gp can't take the implant out which is causing me to feel like this so it all seems a bit pointless.

OP posts:
ThereIsACarInTheKitchen · 02/02/2015 19:49

Fight I was actually thinking the same thing when I read the OP. I get that sexual health clinics might run certain slots which only under 25's can use but not seeing anyone under 25 at all? Confused My local sexual health clinic is open to all ages.

Phoenixfrights · 02/02/2015 19:50

I too think you need to complain about this gp practice. And then leave. This is not about the implant and who can remove it. You have been given medication which is causing severe side effects and you can't even stop taking it.The practice is surely being clinically negligent to not make arrangements for you to have it remived pronto.

Tinks42 · 02/02/2015 19:54

Not sure where you are in the UK OP. In London we call 111 out of hours and they are fantastic, they will tell you what to do.

TheWitTank · 02/02/2015 19:54

I would probably stand in reception and threaten to cut it out myself unless they gave me an appointment -any appointment -within the next three weeks. Feeling suicidal is not a trivial minor matter and the op has the absolute right to have this implant removed from her arm if it has been in there three weeks, three months or three years. Can you afford to pay privately op? I have absolutely no idea how much it would cost or how to arrange, but it might be worth looking into if you are desperate. I wouldn't want to put up with depression, unhealthy weight gain and acne for one second longer than I had to and I don't blame the op for being tempted to go to a&e, she is obviously really struggling. She clearly shouldn't go and I'm sure she knows that, but it's hard to think straight sometimes.

FightOrFlight · 02/02/2015 19:57

I would probably stand in reception and threaten to cut it out myself unless they gave me an appointment -any appointment -within the next three weeks.

That might just get you an appointment with the mental health team rather than someone who can remove an implant!

OP look up your nearest sexual health clinic and ask them for an urgent appointment - tell them about experiencing suicidal thoughts, they will get you in ASAP.

BoreOfWhabylon · 02/02/2015 19:58

Try ths, OP

www.nhs.uk/service-search/

Select 'Contraception information and advice' and put in your postcode. Then scroll through the results and read the info to see what's available in your area.

And yes, complain to Practice manager.

Tinks42 · 02/02/2015 19:59

OP, if you are feeling as you say.

Call 111 for advice and tell them you are wanting to pull it out yourself.

Just because your limb isnt falling off you can of course go to A&E, that's what its there for if you are feeling so awful and low.

middlings · 02/02/2015 20:01

Do you know what, having experienced the degradation of my local NHS in the last 6 months since more and more of it has been privatised, I actually think YWNBU.

Yes, it's an abuse of the system but I don't actually know what we can do at this stage to force a change. I'm not a crier but having spent 3 hours at an horrifically under (and incompetently) resourcedout of hours service with a sick two year old three weeks ago, I arrived home in floods of tears and told DH if he votes blue again at the next election, I'm divorcing him.

I'm so sorry you're going through this OP. Once you do get it out, I have the non-hormonal copper coil. It's been in for just over a year and it's great. I didn't want anything hormonal and it's been a great alternative. I wish you well.

Tinks42 · 02/02/2015 20:02

Just because its a form of "contraception" doesnt mean you don't have the right for it to be taken out here and now due to your symptoms.

Pishedorf · 02/02/2015 20:03

Well hopefully the GP who calls you tomorrow can arrange the appointment for you then.

Tinks they definitely won't remove it in A&E.

TheWitTank · 02/02/2015 20:05

She is feeling suicidal -she is tempted to cut it out -she needs to be honest and tell them this. If she goes away and tries to cut it out through desperation then she could really do herself some damage. She needs an appointment with someone who can help her, not to be fobbed off with settling in periods. She has wept on the floor of her local practise to the point where a friend had to be called -that is absolutely terrible and unacceptable.

Tinks42 · 02/02/2015 20:07

To be honest Im pretty dumbfounded that they wouldnt given the OP is suffering so much and getting absolutely nowhere. We all know that people go to A&E who dont have a doctor for various reasons, to get antibiotics for a minor complaint.

wtfhappened · 02/02/2015 20:08

I only got to the end of the first page and feel so incensed that I couldn't read any further without commenting so I apologise if I have missed anything that may've calmed me down but.......

jesus christ, are you fucking serious??!! You can't get your GP to take out your implant so you want to clog up an ACCIDENT and EMERGENCY department? You say you feel suicidal and people have said 'yes, go to A&E for that' but seriously, all that would be done is they would refer you to the on-call psychiatry team to talk about your 'issues'. They don't remove implants either, you know that , right? And they don't have the resources to refer you onto anyone who could remove your implant. So you will leave the department (possibly after waiting up to 8 hours for the team to come and see you. Oh and that's about 3-4 hours after you have waited to be triaged) with exactly the same issue (but maybe with a prescription for anti-depressants). The emergency physicians won't even give you a second glance post triage, they'll take one look at your booking in card, say a few choice words, then tell the triage nurse to get rid.

For goodness sake phone your GP in the morning, when they open, to get an appointment. If you are suffering, mentally, as much as you profess then you will take the first appointment offered no matter what. Then take it from there.

FWIW, I had my implant taken out a little while ago and I didn't even bother with my GP I just phoned the family planning clinic and made an appointment. It was out in a week.

Tinks42 · 02/02/2015 20:09

What TheWitTank is saying.....

Why on earth are people just banging on about complaining about the surgery. Did no one listen to what the OP was saying?

Idontseeanysontarans · 02/02/2015 20:09

Just a thought - wherever you go can the friend who picked you up go with you? I'm thinking that with if you're with someone who is feeling stronger than you do right now and saw you in a bad way at the surgery you might be less likely to be fobbed off again.

SardineQueen · 02/02/2015 20:10

I'm surprised that the GP surgery called a friend to take her away rather than doing something like maybe contacting local mental health or something. If someone is collapsed on the floor crying at the GP to get someone to come and remove them seems just not right to me. I don't know if OP had told them her symptoms but if she did then that is not the correct approach that they took IMO.

SardineQueen · 02/02/2015 20:10

OP have you got anyone with you?

SardineQueen · 02/02/2015 20:13

I am really boggled at the callousness of some on this thread I don't understand it.

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