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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To talk about all of these issues at my doctor's appt?

51 replies

sharkirasharkira · 23/03/2018 16:33

I know generally they hate you doing this and want you to talk about only one ailment at each appointment, however, from the time I initially phoned up to get an appointment it has taken me over a month to actually get one. I have multiple things that I want to discuss which I think could potentially be connected so it could actually be useful to mention them all at once if you see what I mean.

But in the past when I've tried to do this they just sort of ignore anything after the first one. Should I bother?

Fwiw, the 'reason' for the appointment is that I've had pain, numbness and tingling (pins & needles) in my hands, in addition to a number of other symptoms, including a skin condition which has remained unresponsive to previous treatments. I want to have my thyroid checked as the two can be connected and I have a family history of thyroid problems.

I'm on some medication for another, unrelated issue and need the dosage changed, and I need a referral physio after I had an accident 6 months ago.

I also haven't had a smear in 5 years since I had CIN 2 abnormal cells in my last one (they haven't sent me any letters and i only just realised its been so long).

Wibu to bring all this up in the same appointment? I know its a lot (I'm generally just falling apart at the moment) but at the rate the appointments are being given out right now it'll be 6 months before I can get everything seen to otherwise!

OP posts:
Mymadworld · 23/03/2018 16:36

Not unreasonable but ask for a double appointment as the 10 min slot is unlikely to be enough and probably why they don't normally like hearing multiple ailments

Skyllo30 · 23/03/2018 16:37

You can just go ahead and book your smear.

Do you live in an area where you can self refer to physio?

Things like the dosage change shouldn’t take too long.

Darkstar4855 · 23/03/2018 16:38

Do you need to speak the GP about your smear? Can’t you just book a smear appointment with the nurse?

Musicaltheatremum · 23/03/2018 16:39

Sadly yes that is too much in an appointment. You could write it all down and ask to discuss a couple of things but in 10 minutes there is no way I could get through all that. It takes time to take a proper history and examine you and decide a plan of action. So by all means give the GP your list and allow them to time manage. I always ask patients to give me their lists and we plan around it. Eg maybe getting you to get some bloods then come back and discuss more of the list.
Also your smear should be with the nurse. Good luck.

Munchyseeds · 23/03/2018 16:39

At our (fantastic) surgery you would need to book a double appt for all that! The smear would be booked with the nurse

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 23/03/2018 16:40

Ive found that if inwrite evwrythingbdown and hand the list to the doctor and any obvious links are easier for the doctor to note that way.

Original poster
sharkirasharkira · 23/03/2018 16:42

Tbh Mad I'm not sure I can change the appt to a double now as it's in the next few days and I think it might be too short notice. I'm really worried if I try they will put it back by another week, I've already had it changed once by a week and really need to see the GP.

I can't self refer for the physio, they told me at the hospital that I would need to be referred by the GP if I was still having problems. But I can't see it taking long, or the medication change I think it should just be a click of a button.

I'm not expecting to have the smear on the day, in fact there is probably a nurse who can do it so I won't have to wait too long for that appointment. It's more that I want to make them aware that I haven't been sent anything about it in 5 years so am obviously missing off some kind of system for it.

OP posts:
Original poster
sharkirasharkira · 23/03/2018 16:43

Ah, cross posted with you all about the smear Grin

OP posts:
TomboyFemme · 23/03/2018 16:44

Tell admin staff about not being sent an appointment when you book the smear, it's nothing to do with the gp

Original poster
sharkirasharkira · 23/03/2018 16:49

Ah ok, I didn't realise that was the case. That's one thing sorted then!

I don't mind having to go back for a blood test (which I probably will if they investigate the thyroid issues) but I just really don't want to have to book a separate appointment for everything.

OP posts:
theredjellybean · 23/03/2018 16:52

Yes.
You are being utterly unreasonable
You have had some of these issues for a while, you could have made appointments and it just is not fair on the gp.
We have 10 minutes to get you in, say down. Discuss the issue, examine you, discuss next steps, arrange anything that needs doing, explain all this, answer your questions, and document it all.
Do you reasonably think your GP can do that for

  1. Pins and needles issue
  2. Physio referral... Will need to ask about why you want this, examine you, fill in form, decide if indeed it is physio you need etc
  3. Disc why you want your thyroid tested... What symptoms you are having, family history, then decide if symptoms might be due to something else... Think about that, examine you...
  4. Dose change.. Ask why you think you need this, discuss what other options there are, is it the right medication etc...

I would want at least 10mins on each of those... And we haven't got onto skin problems and why you haven't had a smear yet... Oh and don't forget we arw now being told we should be screening for alcohol use, and give lifestyle advice regarding weight, diet etc

GREATAUNT1 · 23/03/2018 17:07

Book a double appointment, say you have a number of issues that you want to discuss, & write them down so you don't leave anything out. We usually have to wait about 2 weeks for an appointment, but you can also ring up at 8am & get an immediate appointment that way too.

I was quite shocked when a new Dr I was seeing told me I'd have to come back as my appointment was for 10 minutes, & I'd already had 15 minutes. Actually I refused to budge until I'd finished my final thing on the list, I told her this was my appointment & there was no way I was making another one. My old Dr never rushed me, she was always up for a chat & sometimes that's all people need.

GuntyMcGee · 23/03/2018 17:10

Have to agree with the above responses. I work clinically (not a Dr) and have 20 minute appointment slots which is just enough time to do what I have to do clinically, added requests, questions or issues eat into other people's appointment times, causing clinics to run late, which has a knock on effect of making everyone else's appointments late and most days means no lunch and a late finish (both unpaid) for me. That's without the copious amounts of documentation required to do on top. Oh! And the phone calls, checking results etc that also needs to be done that's not scheduled into a clinic list.

So yes. YABU for tying to discuss all in one go. Decide which is the most pressing issue at this point then make other appointments for the other issues and when you do book, request a double slot. I wish my patients booked double slots, life would be easier for me and they'd receive the care they need and they wouldn't feel short changed at things not being addressed properly.

And book your smear with the nurse. Smear reminders come from a local central office, not your GP. Have you moved home? Could the reminder have gone to the wrong address?

theredjellybean · 23/03/2018 17:12

So great aunt while you went down your list, the person booked after you was waiting, the snowball affect of this is your GP finished morning surgery an hour or so behind, then had less time to do all the administrative stuff generated by morning surgery, didn't have time to eat lunch, started afternoon surgery tired, hungry, wasn't at her best, so afternoon patients possibly not get good treatment, she spends evening catching up, doesn't get home to see her children before bed... After a couple of years of this gets fed up and gives up being a GP... And it gets harder for you all to get appointments... But no don't worry your selfish head about it, you carry on refusing to budge

Fuckingnamechanging · 23/03/2018 18:13

For fuck's sake you mardy lot.

Do you know how difficult it is to actually get an appt at some surgeries?

I'm certain the OP hasn't just sat around, then suddenly made an appointment. She's probably been trying to get one for bloody months!

theredjellybean · 23/03/2018 19:16

Well maybe you should think why we are haemorrging GPs....

Original poster
sharkirasharkira · 24/03/2018 08:32

Jellybean some of the issues are very recent and a lot of the other stuff has multiple possible causes which don't require a gp visit so I haven't just been contemplating an appointment for months but not bothered.

My accident only happened about 6 months ago, I initially had physio at the hospital and was told to come back if I'm still having problems but I wanted to give myself time to fully heal.

If I don't ask for the referrals etc, can I do that by phone afterwards?

OP posts:
Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 24/03/2018 08:36

Our GPs surgery makes it clear, 1 10 minute appointment = 1 problem, otherwise you'd have people sat there all day whilst others were waiting.

Want2bSupermum · 24/03/2018 08:40

For my dad I email the list to the GP and he gets the necessary appointment time. Sometimes that's an hour.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 24/03/2018 08:47

My GP always asks me if there’s anything else I want to talk about. I wouldn’t go in with a list as long as that for a single appointment though.

I haven’t been screened for alcohol usage or offered diet advice when I’ve been and I must admit I’d be thinking I could actually be discussing the problems I’d gone to the GP with if I was cut short for that.

GirlsBlouse17 · 24/03/2018 08:47

OP Maybe you can tell the GP you have A, B, C etc and wondered if they are related and the result of some underlying cause. That way you get them all mentioned in the one appointment

Perfectly1mperfect · 24/03/2018 08:47

theredjellybean Are you a GP ? Is so I think you might work at our surgery, they are all rude as well !

FroodGloriousFrood · 24/03/2018 08:48

Yes, you are definitely going to need another few appointments for that. There's obviously no way all of that could be safely done in a ten minute appointment!

FroodGloriousFrood · 24/03/2018 08:50

theredjellybean isn't rude, just honest

OhYouBadBadKitten · 24/03/2018 08:51

The way to tackle issues you think are related are to say 'I have a few issues which I feel may be related'. Then reel them off as a list and let the gp pick out bits that concern them. If they miss out something that really worries or bothers you can then ask if so and so may be connected or is it a separate issue that needs a new appointment.