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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

If a Dr said this to you, how would you feel?

67 replies

PissyDressingGown · 27/03/2018 13:02

So you go in with a list of symptoms including weight loss, mild confusion, fatigue and hunger and thirst. Whilst there you casually mention that you have a lump which keeps coming up in your lower abdomen (thinking hernia here). Dr more or less ignores all your symptoms, doesn't bother checking this lump and says the following:

"I'm not concerned as it doesn't sound like cancer".

WTF - I wasn't even thinking cancer, I certainly am now. I never mentioned that so why would he?? Why would you mention a word like that if you didn't think that's what it was??

On top of this I can't actually get an appointment to review the blood tests as they're fully booked up for more than two weeks. Absolute joke.

OP posts:

alpacawhacker · 27/03/2018 13:55

Never mind the lump and the blood tests, it's a URINE TEST he needed to do!! OP, please take yourself straight to A+E, you have the symptoms of type 1 diabetes which, left untreated, leads to a life threatening condition called DKA. This is REALLY urgent. My teenage son was in DKA when he was hospitalised and diagnosed last year.

Willow2017 · 27/03/2018 13:56

thejoy
Stop putting words in ops mouth!! She never said that at all. Its worrying when you have a whole lot of synptoms and 2 weeks seems like forever.
And gp should have examined op re the lump and discussed it with her. If it is a hernia it may need treatment surgically. Thats not something you just dismiss.

His bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired.

MsHarry · 27/03/2018 13:56

Our Dr will call us in the late afternoon after surgery if we can't get an appointment, especially about blood test results or receptionist will let us know if they are normal or not.

Totsntantrums · 27/03/2018 13:57

Agree with all PP’s, as soon as you listed your symptoms, he should have had you checked for diabetes.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 27/03/2018 13:58

Let’s have your surgery open on Sunday shall we, or bank holiday Monday? Staff being allowed time off, shouldn’t be allowed according to you? Why is your results any more important than anyone else’s?

Yet another example of the spite on MN. AIBU doesn't give you free rein to be a complete bitch.

EdmundCleverClogs · 27/03/2018 13:58

With all due respect, did you really need two threads on this? And I’d also be relieved they didn’t think it was serious but obviously if symptoms continue or get worse it needs to have further tests.

Did they do a blood test today? If it’s anything serious, they’ll ring you to come in ASAP.

Eveforever · 27/03/2018 14:01

I'd probably think that's great, but are we going to try and find out what is wrong with me and does this doctor know that his bedside manner needs work. I agree that this sounds like it was his clumsy way of saying that he doesn't think it's anything serious, though personally I'd be expecting an actual examination of my stomach before a doctor could say this. I'm interested to hear the view of any nurses or doctors on here though.

MsHarry · 27/03/2018 14:01

if you've had blood tests and something was majorly wrong they would contact you.

alpacawhacker · 27/03/2018 14:04

Please do NOT wait for the results of blood tests! If he hasn't done the right ones it won't diagnose T1 diabetes, of which you have the classic symptoms, and if he has it will not be fast enough.

RidingWindhorses · 27/03/2018 14:06

I would think he was a crap doctor and go and see someone else.

They need to rule out a whole list of things including diabetes, hyperthyroid, ovarian cysts, hernia etc. The latter two need a physical exam and ultrasound.

MsHarry · 27/03/2018 14:09

Does seem strange that with thirst and weight loss he didn't do a diabetes test.

Usernumbers1234 · 27/03/2018 14:09

@alpacawhacker

Yeah let’s just pack A&E full of people who have had their diabetes diagnosed based on 4 lines of text by some entirely unqualified person on a forum.....

What ridiculous advice. OP, by all means seek another surgery or second opinions at your surgery. Go to a walk in medical centre if there is one, but please don’t go to A&E

Sallystyle · 27/03/2018 14:12

What is wrong with you? Not enough drama for you so you thought you would make some up?

OP I would be relieved he doesn't think it is cancer, but pissed off by the lack of tests and not feeling the lump.

MsHarry · 27/03/2018 14:12

I think this poster has experience of DT1 so hardly deserves that attitude Users

WorldofTofuness · 27/03/2018 14:24

Tbf, I can kind of see why a dr might focus on cancer (or the absence of it). From the perspective of medics, it's the big (?only) thing that gets a deadline for intervention. From the perspective of lay people/ the media, it's often seen as The Worst Thing That Could Possibly Happen--sometimes out of all proportion to its likelihood.

It would be a shame if it entirely ruled the agenda, since there are plenty of other things that can either kill you, or aren't fatal but will fuck up your life to varying extents. However, if the NHS/GPs really are focussing on cancer to the relative exclusion of other stuff (and I've certainly had experience of abysmal handling of not-fatal-but-may-fuck-up-your-life condition), let's at least get this out in the open so patients can make alternative arrangements for the other stuff.

thatsmyjoomper · 27/03/2018 14:26

I also immediately though type 1 diabetes. Please please get it checked. My DD was sent straight to hospital with these symptoms after the GP luckily tested her urine. Unfortunately I know lots of people in the T1 community whose symptoms were ignored by the GP and some almost died.

Usernumbers1234 · 27/03/2018 14:32

I have experience with DT1 and Alpaca is right to raise the issue of DK. But it’s not a present yourself to A&E case at this stage IMO.

One medical professional has seen her and didn’t associate it with DK. This may be an oversight and a second opinion should be sought either at another surgery or a call with 111. But to just present yourself to A&E with those symptoms and say “someone on mumsnet reckons it’s DK, I demand tests now” is one reason why the NHS is creaking.

RidingWindhorses · 27/03/2018 14:32

Another diabetic here. The quickest way is to go to walk in clinic or buy a £10 glucose monitor from your local chemist and check your blood sugar yourself. You can also buy urine test sticks on Amazon Prime and check your ketones and glucose.

My GP missed it too. A locum flagged my high blood sugar but my GP dismissed it.

hackmum · 27/03/2018 14:34

Not a health professional but I also thought "diabetes"! Doesn't mean it is, of course, but those are characteristic symptoms. Presumably if that's what it is, it would show up on the blood test.

RidingWindhorses · 27/03/2018 14:40

She needs a urine test for diabetes and a blood glucose test - finger prick one which the GP doesn't seem to have done. That will give an indication straight away.

alpacawhacker · 27/03/2018 14:47

@Usernumbers1234 The OP already said she can't get another appointment within two weeks and where will 111 send her? Oh yeah.

RidingWindhorses · 27/03/2018 14:51

To be fair, 111 will most likely send her to a walk in clinic/emergency GP appointment.

Usernumbers1234 · 27/03/2018 14:53

@alpacawhacker

Taking op at face value and there isn’t another GP or drop in medical centre available then yes phone 111 and let them tell her to go to A&E

But that’s not what you said was it. You said “go to A&E now” Which is what I have an issue with. I’m just wanting a medical professional to make that call not mumsnet.

Usernumbers1234 · 27/03/2018 14:54

And as horses says, they’ll send her to a GP anyway, because she needs a urine test right now, not an A&E response.

Mintychoc1 · 27/03/2018 15:00

If you thought the lump was just a hernia, why did you "casually mention" it, in amongst all those other worrying symptoms? Do you realise you only have 10 minutes?

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