To ask you to diagnose me and complain about my doctor?

[ScribblerOnTheRoof]

I have the following symptoms, have been to doctor 3 times now and he has referred me for a CT scan, but he doesn't think anytghing will show up. This is giving me major anxiety so here goes;

Started off with a tingling on side of face before christmas which then turned into a headache which I have had since Christmas day. On a scale of 1 to 10 the pain never goes over a 5.

I have sinus pain, a cough but more importantly - a numbness in my bottom lip. I mean if I poke it I can feel it but I am struggling to speak! Have been seen regarding a stroke and this has been completely ruled out. Could my numbness be being caused by this head thing? I am working myself up so much and getting very upset sad I now have a very sore throat too.

A family memeber urged me to call my DR to pass on some information that might be relevant so this is what I did. Spoke to receptionist and told her that my Mother had passed away from a Subarachnoid haemmorage (cant spell it). She thanked me and said my Dr would call me back.

Anyway, he called me back and asked for the info and he replied "yes this is relevant, this is why we have sent you for a CT scan and a Lumber puncture" I told him that I have not had either of these yet and he started stuttering and saying that he had me mixed up with someone else.

I ended up getting tearful in work. I just feel so upset and frustrated, I can barely eat or drink and cant taste anything. Hopefully this is just a migraine or a heavy head cold right?

If it is any reassurance, subarrachnoid haemorrhage tends to be marked by a 'thunder clap' headache -like being hit over the head by a sledgehammer at the back of the head. It also tends to be excruciating.

I think that a headache developing out of a tingling face, that never goes above a 5/10, with no loss of day to day function, is extremely unlikely to be subarrachnoid haemorrhage.

social media threads are not the place to seek a diagnosis - the GP has referred you for tests and you need to wait for the results. Can't see what you have to complain about

My "complaint" was that he didnt know who he was talking to when we had a telephone appointment

Sounds like trigeminal neuralgia. All the pain and numbness seems to be along that nerve.

I don't think anyone can diagnose you over the Internet, and given you have health anxiety I think anyone here who offers you a possible diagnosis is actually being extremely irresponsible and unhelpful.

If you feel you cannot wait until tests are carried out, I would suggest you ask for an appointment with a different GP if possible.

Are you having any treatment or therapy for your health anxiety?

I don't see that confusing you with another patient who has presented with similar symptoms and/or may have a similar sounding name is a hanging offence worthy of complaint unless the surgery have failed to refer you for a CT scan because of the mix-up.

Have you been given a date for the scan by the relevant hospital?

My "complaint" was that he didnt know who he was talking to when we had a telephone appointment

I can understand that this made you more anxious. But GPs have 2000 patients each and see a hundred or so test results a day. They can't possibly keep a mental track of whether each patient has already had every test requested. It isn't as if he told you anything wrong - he just got confused for a moment as to whether you'd actually had the CT yet. Sorry, I know you are very anxious but I think you are being VU to consider complaining.

Hi everyone

Just a quick reminder that Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here, and we do advise that if you have any health concerns that you should consult a medical professional.

Best of luck OP, and we hope you feel better soon

You can guarantee that anyone who offers a diagnosis over the internet to someone with health anxiety is not a HCP.

Haha Shiny. Spot on!