To wonder if anyone has had a positive experience with their Gp?

[FlyingElbows]

After far too many years I have bitten the bullet and made an appointment to see the gp about (what appears to me) my hormonal out of whack-ness. All I ever see is women writing about how their GPs don't take them seriously. It's been my experience too which is one of the reasons I haven't been for 15 years! Please tell me someone, anyone, has a story to tell of being taken seriously by a Gp when it comes to Women's health. There must be positivity out there somewhere?

I switched GPs after mine informed me I was making up my gynae pain for attention, following three years of me attending with same symptoms and him googling them then giving me painkillers. (I made a formal complaint and it was investigated by another GP from another practice who concluded that my account was 'hearsay' and GPs was accurate ). Next GP was also make but listened to my symptoms, suggested a possible cause and made appropriate referral. I had a hysterectomy within a year and all has been well since. There are good GPs out there; don't assume you won't be taken seriously but take affirmative action if you perceive that to be the case. Hope all gets sorted for you

*was also male.

I previewed and everything!

Yes
But you have to go in with a clear list of symptoms and not go off on a tangent.
I think it must be hard to diagnose based on some symptoms
So for example hormones all over he place? Have you kept a diary so you know at which point in your cycle? Are you eating healthily? Do you binge drink etc etc? If you do then they are likely to try and get you to address all this first.
I love my GP but I make sure I go in and am clear with what I want.

I have had a great GP for years - he specialises in women's health, which I didn't know when I was assigned to him but has been helpful. Usually practices will state their GPs' specialties on their website - maybe ask if you can see one who specialises in womens' health or thyroid issues, as they may have a better idea about hormonal problems?

I had a very good experience of my own GP (London). He was always attentive, I even saw his eyes well up with tears when I was telling him about my marital breakdown... He was so popular that the people who were registered with other GPs, always booked appointment with him! Women Health was no problem either, whether with him or any other doctor. They asked me if I want a nurse present when a male doctor was examining me, and I said "I trust you and don't mind, but if you would like to feel "covered" - then please invite the nurse".

I had a nasty work accident I was claiming the compensation for, and the claim process was somewhat stressful, so another doctor signed me off for work stress, 3 months and then another 3 months. In that time I was planning my escape, getting the compensation via the trade union, selling the flat and moving in with my fiance. These doctors really saved me, and enabled me to have time and space to sort my life out, and I left a very good, grateful review on NHS Choices website.

Every one of the 4 or 5 GPs I've seen at my local surgery has been excellent: respectful and ready to listen. When appropriate, referrals have always been made. I think, judging by what I read, I must just be incredibly lucky.

Obviously the surgery is under threat of closure .

I can't praise my GP enough - he's been wonderful. I went to him maybe 5 years ago when I was mentally really low and fragile. I burst into tears in the room etc etc. He was always sympathetic, took me seriously, asked me what I wanted, listened properly. He made time for me, was kind and understanding, and wanted to see me regularly even when I was "better". He's recently retired and the practice was FULL of flowers and cakes and chocolates and cards from patients everywhere, so I'm assuming my feelings weren't unique. He told me personally that he was retiring too, and reassured me that his replacement had a similar style to him and would be supportive and so on, and he is.

No i feel i get fobbed off a lot. I know my own body, and i know something isnt right.
I feel like the go to answer for everything is...smoking..no dont smoke, drinking ..nope...must be your fat then.
I have a thyroid condition which makes weight loss very difficult, im not huge, im a 14-16.
I cant keep food in for long, without dashing to the loo, im very tired, i ache everywhere, im stiff, dizzy, but everytime i get ignored. My mom thinks im suffering fibromyalgia, its in the family as are the thyroid problems.

The majority of GPs I have seen have been good. Listened, taking my concerns seriously, respectful, etc. Maybe 75%.

I must admit when I went to see someone for anxiety for the first time, I had a backup plan to pretend I was there for something else. In case I got a bad vibe from the GP. It wasn't necessary.

I've had brilliant experiences with my GP. As it happens, my current GP takes a special interest in older (as in 50s-plus) women's health so she was utterly fabness personified when I had severe oestrogen depletion, even sending me for a better-safe-than-sorry transpelvic scan just to be absolutely sure that a sudden deluge of discharge wasn't a ruptured cyst but was just part of a severe need for oestrogen. (It was.)
My previous two GPs, both of whom were men, were also pretty top notch. One was more obviously sympathetic than the other, but even the one that wasn't as user-friendly took absolutely everything completely seriously and never made me feel I was wasting his time.
Good luck.

My GP is awesome, fantastic guy.

My friend had a breast lump and I booked an appointment because I wasn't 100% I knew how to check myself properly. He showed me and told me what to look for.

Twice he's referred me for smears before they were due (age).

He's done blood tests whenever needed and will go through the results carefully with me, making sure I understand them.

He's ace, DH switched to him too because he had a shit GP before.

All of the GPs at my practice are excellent - I’ve seen about 6 different ones over the year and they have ALL been kind, patient and pro-active.

My last practice was the same but the one before that was not, therefore I understand your concern.

Yes mine is fantastic, they have a doctor at the practice that runs a clinic each week specific to women’s health (along with a range of other weekly no appointment needed clinics). In SW London in case close to you?

I love my GP practice. There are three GP's, all male, and they have been absolutely brilliant over the years. They listen to me and are really good about referrals.

What an offensive, stupid post.

There are hundreds of thousands of GPs in this country, all of whom save lives on a daily basis, and you come on in the hope that someone, somewhere might have come across a half decent one?

Of course, being MN, we all have to pretend that male GPs couldn't give a shit about female issues (we poor, hard done by perennial "victims") - which is generally completely untrue. The scientific jury is still out where many of these "ishoos" are concerned & medical practioners sometimes have to try many different approaches. Is that really so hard to understand?

And, frankly, any idiot who hasn't been to the GP for 15 years because of one (supposed) bad experience has only themselves to blame. There are other GPs you could have seen. Be a grown up and find one

(Cue a dozen bores queuing up to share their dreary tales of woe in the mistaken belief this invalidates what I've just said).

I've had a few good ones. You have to go in and be brief, factual and polite but firm, take someone in to help you make your point if necessary.

I had a great male gp who took me seriously and really helped me when I wanted to change my birth control based on the pill no longer feeling "right". I've also been informed by a smirking bitch that I must be lying about being too fatigued to move to get out of doing my a-levels (nope, anxious workaholic a grade student stressed about falling behind & said bitch had poisoned my liver with inappropriately prescribed OCP and refused to help) and had a male gp grin like a moron and ask why I couldn't just embrace body positivity & the weight I'm at when I went to discuss possible thyroid problems, downplay test results he'd previously been worried by and poke back through my notes to try and link the whole thing to the one time I'd been signed off with stress. Offended is too mild a word for my reaction. Bursting into tears did get me a referral though!

GPs have a lot to do in limited time. They aren't saints & do a fantastic job overall. But that doesn't excuse the behaviour of some of them.

I had a brilliant GP when I had to see her about abnormal vaginal bleeding.

She referred me for scans and got the ball rolling within weeks which eventually resulted in my diagnosis of Endometriosis and cysts and then a Hysterectomy.

From start to finish my treatment was fantastic.

The main male gp is hit and miss. The lady gp is fab

Mine spent about 45 minutes discussing my menopause issues and doing exams etc. Really good experience. Like somebody mentioned above you should consider whether you need to address lifestyle issues as part or all of your treatment. This will come up as one of options and is not a fob off. But be clear but open if you feel medication is the best option for you and why. I walk to help me relax and clear my head nd it is very effective, but sometimes the menopause anxiety got the better of me and stoped me doing this. I realised I needed medication to enable me to manage my health consistently, even though I had coped well in the past.

I’m not sure how old you are but it might be good to request a health check first. At mine the HCA recommended seeing the GP and arranged the appointment with the GP best suited to my needs. I also had the outcome of the check to confirm low risk in relation to long term conditions, like high BP.

My GPs have always been excellent. The current practice is so good i have ro pinch myself.

30 years ago i had a single awful appointment with a GP. It was absokitely hotrible and i have never forgotten it, but even then there was nothing factually incorrect about what he said and it could be argued that his advice was reasonable, though made in a way that ensured i would never take it.

Go and see yiur doctor and try to build a relationship. It goes two ways.

I've always seen female GPs - partly but of preference, partly due to what's there - and they have without fail fantastic. IN particular the support one gave through a difficult pregnancy was outstanding - caring, thoughtful and well beyond the call of duty. It was 15 years ago now, and I still marvel when I think of it. I also had a great experience being taken seriously when asking to switch pills because I felt it was affecting me emotionally. I do - of course - have friends with horror stories, but also know many women who have been treated so thoughtfully and compassionately. Go in with a clear list, be honest and don't underplay your symptoms, and I'm sure you'll be fine. If you're not, just wait a few weeks, then go see a different GP in the practice!

I adore my GP who was so on the ball when my gynae problems started rather than dismissing them as normal. She's also been brilliant with my MH problems. And now the bint had dared to go off on maternity leave and I'm so annoyed! Luckily I had a diagnosis before she left or I'd be on the usual lottery of finding which GP's are sympathetic.

I had an excellent GP when I had a really bad ear infection, she was very thorough and didn't rush me like other GP's do. I've even had them laugh in my face at my concerns before

If I have any hormonal/lady area issues I go straight to the sexual health department in my hospital. They are so specialised and always so lovely and informative. I haven't had a single bad experience when I go to the hopsital. I have had a lot of issues with contraceptive issues and extremely heavy periods and the GP just used to fob me off and just swap whatever I was on, the lovely nurse at the SH department talked me through all my options, discussed everything with me pros + cons, asked whats worked before, what hasn't etc. I was in there for half an hour which would never happen in a million years at the GP's. If you have a specialised department near you definitely get an appointment with them over the doctors

Thankyou for your stories, they help to calm the nerves a bit.

My GP is amazing, he listens, takes concerns seriously and never makes you feel like you're wasting his time.