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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To complain about GP Practice?

10 replies

Tack · 12/06/2018 09:59

NC for this as potentially outing.

Sorry for long post but I don't want to drip feed!

Since DS was born I've felt crappy, for first few months I just assumed this was normal post birth stuff (especially as that's what Drs, HVs & MWs kept telling me)

Roll forward to 9.5 months post birth and the pelvic pain is getting worse; just walking about town is now a massive painful chore and holding DS can be excruciating at times. Sex is tough.

Periods are heavy and painful and I am bleeding between periods too. I have frequent peeing and feel generally bloated and super super drained. I just cant seem to sleep enough and have gone off eating.

So I pop into see my GP who reckons it could be PCOS and so sends me for an ultrasound.

(now 11 months post birth)

Ultrasound comes back with Follicules on one ovary everything else looks fine. A different GP confirms it must be PCOS and tell me nothing they can do but perhaps a STI and Thrush swabs would be a good idea.

All come back negative.

I go back to see a different GP and this one tell me I need to lose weight as losing weight is known to help manage PCOS. At this point I break down in tears (I'm a size 6/8!!) as I feel like I am being dismissed and my extreme pain and tiredness is being totally ignored. GP tells me I need to just learn to cope with my "discomfort"

I decide to switch GP surgeries but unfortuently I am told I am not an emergency so I have a 3 week wait until I can book into see a GP.

(now 11.5 months post birth)

I am desperate so decide to pay £150 to go private.

Private GP diagnoses me with PID and anaemia within 10 minutes and is horrified that not one of the 3 GPs I saw spotted the classic symptoms of PID or even anaemia and that none of them even bothered to examine me. I am now on a 2 week course of 2 different antibiotics. GP reckons PID was caused from an infection during labour and anaemia from my heavy bleeding. She also said I do not have PCOS and that is the classic excuse that GPs like to lump everything under.

Anyway... after all that! I am feeling pretty pissed at my GP Practice for not having any GP that could diagnose me with this and none thought an examination would have been a good idea? I didn't feel like I was listened to or taken seriously with how much pain I was in.

On top of this I am now wondering if PID is what has been causing us problems with TTC for past 7 months (fully aware that isn't that long compared to other people but DS was conceived 1st cycle). I hate to think of what would happen to my fertility if I took GPs advise on lose weight and just put up with the pain!

AIBU to want to complain? And what exactly would I say or complain to or do I just take it as "one of those things?"

OP posts:
Jimmers · 12/06/2018 10:20

I would definitely complain. I appreciate it’s sometimes tricky to diagnose gynae issues, but good grief they should’ve referred you to a gynaecologist if the tests were inconclusive & you were in so much pain post-natally. And telling you to lose weight when you’re a size 6/8 is ridiculous!

2blueshoes · 12/06/2018 10:21

Did you have a caesarean? It could be adhesions, they have left me in agony for 18 years, resulting in a hysterectomy (made things easier but not completely right).

anotherangel2 · 12/06/2018 10:22

I would complain so that they can improve their practice.

Tack · 12/06/2018 10:29

Thank you all

Jimmers yeah it was like the GP wasn't even looking at me! Just reading off a script what helps with PCOS!

2blueshoes No I had a forceps delivery but I did actually get sepsis and have to stay in hospital for a week on a course of antibiotics. Wonder if it didn't fully clear it all? Also... Student MW did attempt to break my waters, which were all ready broken, and instead started scraping my insides which was painful! Luckily my mum told her to stop as being a FTM I just thought maybe breaking the membrane was painful and not all of my waters must have broken!

anotherangel2 yeah that is a good way at looking at it, will save another woman being dismissed

OP posts:
PumpkinPie2016 · 12/06/2018 10:36

I would definitely complain! A GP being unsure is one thing but to not even examine/send for further tests is outrageous! As is telling someone who is a size 6/8 to lose weight!

I hope you feel better soon!

BottleOfJameson · 12/06/2018 10:39

I agree that you should complain with a view to improving the service for other women. If this isn't flagged it's unlikely to change.

MrsOprah · 12/06/2018 10:39

I'd copy and paste the info here into a complaint - it's well explained and factual post. GP practice manager or PALs are good starting points. NHS website or surgery receptionist should also be able to explain the complaints process.
Well done on seeing it through and getting the diagnosis you needed

Jimmers · 12/06/2018 10:40

The fact that you had sepsis should also have alerted them to refer you when their tests were inconclusive. And telling someone they just need to learn to live with it is outrageous.
At best the GP in question needs educating on gynae conditions & how to support patients in pain.

gryffen · 12/06/2018 10:46

Yup complain.

I have PCOS and have zero pain and it's not diagnosed by a guess and ultrasound as lots of people have cysts and follicles but not all have pcos.

Make sure all is in writing and go straight to head of surgery with copies of letters and diagnosis- never give them original ones and if you need to go higher then repeat etc.

Email would be better due to electronic trail but not always possible.

Good luck.

Tack · 12/06/2018 11:06

okay, I'll start drafting an email to send and good idea MrsOprah I shall use my post as a starting point

OP posts:
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