To be annoyed at my GP!

[Battleshiphips]

I've just found out I am pregnant and I have very well controlled type 2 diabetes (also have pcos and this pregnancy is after 8 years of no contraception!). I also have a blood disorder which means I am higher risk for miscarriage and I did have pre eclampsia in my first pregnancy also caused by blood disorder. I have had to stop taking my medication for diabetes as it cannot be used during pregnancy. I rang GPs for an appointment and they have said none available until a weeks time! I explained all of what I have written and basically been told "sorry but that's the earliest appt we can give you". I am really annoyed about this and want to ring the surgery today to complain but don't know if it's me overreacting. Any thoughts?

I would be really complaining, my surgery always have emergency appointments but you have to fight for them. I would ring back and insist on seeing someone, tell them it's an emergency. I wouldn't explain why to the receptionist, I don't think they should even be allowed to ask being as they are not medically trained.

Of course you are not overreacting! I would focus on getting in to see someone today. Can you go down to your GP and say you will wait to see if someone doesn't turn up and explain why you are waiting? And/Or Can you speak to your local EPU to see if they will see you there?

I am also at increased risk of MC for a different reason and I have found that EPU will always see me if I just turn up and am prepared to wait.

I would at least insist on a telephone appt x

Can you contact the community midwives and ask to be referred to the hospital antenatal clinic, as it's likely you'll need an obstetrician rather than a GP, to review your medications?
Agree it's worth a complaint to the practice manager.

Do you have a regular diabetes clinic, or a contact for managing your diabetes? You can't stop your medication suddenly with no medical guidance, especially not while pregnant. You need to see someone asap. I'd go down to the surgery and explain the situation to the receptionist. Don't bother mentioning the pregnancy at all (because when receptionists hear pregnancy they just switch off and think you're complaining about nothing). Say you're diabetic (don't mention type 2 - again that's seen as not much of an emergency) and you're having medication problems and you need to see someone today to sort it out or you could end up in A and E and of course you'll have to mention you tried to get help first but were refused.

Congrats on the pregnancy!

Yes, early pregnancy unit (EPU) would be another good place to try calling.

Thanks for the replies. I've rang again and as usual the lines are engaged! I'll keep trying until I get through. It was a very young (around 20yrs old) male receptionist I spoke to so maybe one of the ladies might be a bit more concerned and helpful. I rang up the community diabetes team and they were spectacularly unhelpful. She actually said I don't really know anything about pregnancy and diabetes

First of all, congratulations

I would do as suggested above, say it is an emergency with your diabetes meds and that you need an appointment today, or you will have to go to a&e and tell them that your gp refused to see you.

Jesus.

How stable is your blood sugar, generally? Do you need to test regularly?

cail my sugars are great. I drastically changed my diet (I eat a paleo diet) and have lots weight and got my sugars under really good control. I don't need to test in general but I'm guessing I will have to now I'm pregnant.

That's meant to say I have lost lots of weight not that I have lots of it.

The diabetic nurse said she didn't know anything about pregnancy and diabetes?? then she should bloody well go and LEARN, shouldn't she!! Am astounded that she thought that was an acceptable response, truly!

I hope you get to see someone soon and get this dealt with, I'm guessing you're going to be under consultant care, probably a good idea to get that going as soon as you can, it might help.

Ok that's good about your sugars, you're not in immediate danger. Still, you could do with an appointment earlier than next week. Unfortunately the medical profession doesn't seem to take early pregnancy very seriously - there's an attitude that miscarriages happen and you just have to put up with it.

I've found receptionists helpful if you explain why you want to talk to a GP urgently. "I've just found out I'm pregnant and I'm diabetic and can't take my medication if pregnant and need to sort out an alternative urgently" should work. Many diabetic drugs are safe in pregnancy though it's just insulin is often needed but a GP might refer you to a diabetes specialist to discuss this.

thumb I couldn't actually believe that she said it! Yes I will be consultant led. I was in last pregnancy too. To be fair last pregnancy I had gestational diabetes and I didn't have a clue how to manage it. I found the dietician a bit rubbish and I ended up on insulin. This time I'm more clued up and I know what foods affect me etc. I also need to start on aspirin asap but don't know what dose to take etc. GP still engaged!

Congratulations & really sorry you are going through this, unfortunately this sort of thing isn't so uncommon & a GP receptionist friend replied to a similar faceache rant if mine once explaining its down to the language you use, basically you have to know what to ask for, otherwise you don't get an appointment,me aft system

You don't need to explain why to the receptionist, just ask for an "emergency appointment" they then have to fit you in with a GP that day & remember a GP emergency isn't the same as a A&E emergency, it just means you need an appointment fast to avoid things getting worse - in our case, that can mean an infection that needs antibiotics etc

Good luck

If you have a thrombophilia then they'll probably suggest 100mg aspirin to start, that's what I had before the clexane started, although with DS2 I actually started the clexane as soon as I got the positive test result (had 3 MCs prior to that, so the aspirin wasn't considered enough) But don't take my word for it of course!

oh and whenever you do get to speak to someone, do tell them what that diabetic nurse said - she definitely needs CPD!

I have factor v Leiden genome thumb. Just spoke to lovely midwife in antenatal at local hospital. She'd never heard of my med so is going to check for me and call me back in a minute. Thanks ladies for all the advice to ring EPU.

for you all. I could give you all a hug. The antenatal have said definitely stop tabs and have booked me in to see a diabetic consultant on Tuesday. Thanks for all your advice I would never have thought to ring the EPU without it.

Great news, glad it's sorted. Wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy

Ah yes, me too. Glad you've got the consultant appt, I think that's the right way to go.

I've had 1 pregnancy with extreme gestational diabetes and then 2 with Type 1 (after they realised that's what I'd actually developed in pregnancy 1!) All my pregnancy care was via the hospital. Frankly the GP and the community based diabetes nurse just don't generally have the expertise to deal with higher risk pregnancy cases. You are much better off doing what you've done and going to the experts! Just wanted to mention higher dose folic acid asap too!

Congratulations

A private nutritionist (not an NHS dietician) would probably be helpful. There are specialist supplements to help stabilise blood sugar levels. A nutritionist would know if they're safe to take in pregnancy.

Cinnamon and gymnema sylvestre might be worth a google.

whatsit I've only just read about the higher dose folic acid! Didn't know about that. I just rang the GP surgery and got a lovely receptionist as midwife said to ring GP and get metformin prescription just until consultant can see me and receptionist straight away said "you need to see GP ASAP" got appt for 10am tomorrow.