To say new GP was vile towards me?

[chattoaspanishgirl]

I couldn't see my regular GP so I had to visit what's called a locum Dr, I think they're GP's that are temporarily there.

Anyway, I went in because I needed some more Naproxen and mine is due to run out. I ended up going in my wheelchair because I physically cannot walk at the moment. I can't even use my crutches. I have to be helped in and out of the shower, I can't lift my arms up to put a jumper on... you get the idea.

I remember the conversion word for word. I came away feeling pathetic and useless.

He beamed at me and said "Helloo!"

Then he said "Oh no, what happened, why are you in a wheelchair? Had a fall?"

I said no, it's just my joints are incredibly stiff and I have muscle weakness. I can't walk.

He laughed and said of course you can! Have you tried ibuprofen?

I said yes, that didn't help. And no, I can't walk. I then went on to say I'd come for more Naproxen but it's on observation since it can cause stomach ulcers, and I have been coming in every so often to see my GP after a few repeats.

He said he wasn't sure I needed it, but he'd hand it over if I was certain I hadn't tried anything else to manage it

He then saw I was on tramadol and very vocally said "Tramadol!"

I said yes, for pain. He said I can't see why they've given you this. For Fibromyalgia? No no no. I think this needs reviewing.

I could quite literally feel myself welling up with tears. That medication is also under review but it's the only thing that takes the edge of some days, when things are simply unbearable.

Long story short, I came away with my prescription feeling pathetic and useless. As I went to leave, he said "should I open the door or will you stand and do it yourself? "

He had a lot of so called 'banter'

AIBU to feel so cross, or am I being sensitive? I really can never tell these days. I pass so much judgement it usually never phases me. But this feels like outright belittlement.

I just don't know what to think

*Agree he's right that the medication needs reviewing. I think doctors that carry on prescribing things like benzodiazepines, opiates, antidepressants, zopiclone etc are being a bit lazy and irresponsible.

People stay on these drugs for years and years, and there are lots of serious issues associated with long term use. They're not supposed to be used in this way.*

Are you a pain specialist? Because I’ve been on opiates (not that either of the drugs the OP mentioned are on your list, tramadol is an opioid) for over a decade and that’s exactly what I’ve been instructed to do.

How do you think the Doctor would describe that consultation? Do you think he would describe it in the same way or do you think he might include some other information, like what he had or had not read in the notes which made him ask what he did, might he refer to other things that Op said or did that we don't know about? If he had posted on MN about a consultation (and I know he wouldn't and doing that would be inappropriate) don't you just think there might be more to the story?

Are you sure that any other version of what happened must be a total lie?

Why are people so sure, so quickly, with such limited information that a complaint is required and this DOctor was a terrible person?

I agree with chocolatewombat I think it's likely he wasn't rude and actually just said a few things and you may have been a bit sensitive.

All these 'complain' comments because the doctor spends his days caring for people and simply asked if he should open the door!
She has fibromyalgia that does not mean everyone with this condition can't stand, he was asking a question. He didn't like the medication she is on, he is a doctor he is supposed to look at her medication!

Honestly doctors, teachers, police all people do is complain about them, and then we wonder why they are short staffed. And then people complain.

Get a thicker skin and move on, he is a person too, and your complaint could make him give up on a much needed career. We need doctors, teachers and police, emergency services etc all this complaining makes their job awful.

@RollonSeptember2018 she was in a wheelchair!! Do you often ask people in wheelchairs if they'd like to stand up and do something?

Have you been referred to a pain mgmt team with a psychologist or any physio at all? Fibro is poorly understood but a multimodal approach is known to be more effective than just meds

Yes, I was discharged from physio because they decided they couldn't help. Pain management is seen twice a year, just for reviews. But again, they've been unsuccessful in helping.

I have seen these people for over 5 years. Numerous approaches have been tried but sadly, medication is the only real help.

A number of people in wheelchairs do stand for short periods, and possibly opening a door, might be one of them. Asking if someone can stand to do a task or needs help isn't in itself rude. If Op had said she was unable to walk at all and was in the chair all the time and needed help to get in and out of it, then it would seem a rather odd question, but we don't know that conversation had happened or exactly what Op had said about her wheelchair use

Really? You think it isn't out of place to ask someone if they can stand to open a door whilst they're in a wheelchair? Yes, sometimes I can stand for short periods and walk a bit, but why would anyone request that of me whilst I'm trying to leave? Just seems a bit of an odd and pointless faff.

well if she is on these medication which are addictive and strong, repeatedly and she is still ending up using a wheelchair then surely its right to review them as they cant be working then??

The alternative, on these bad days, is not leaving my bed. Yes, they are working to some extent. They let me grab onto a little bit of place. I would be completely isolated otherwise.

OP, I wonder what your regular GP has put in your notes to make the locum not take you seriously????? I assume he will have scanned your record and the notes from your previous visits before calling you in.

I wondered this too But to be honest, he's only ever been fabulous and understanding. He can never do enough for me. I can't fault him so I don't think it's anything the locum would've read.

OP, there is a medication you can take to help your stomach, Lansoprazole. Has that ever been suggested?

Yes, I take two a day

I'd say that to Op's credit, she asked the question of whether she was being overly sensitive - it wasn't her that stated categorically that he had been vile, and she recognised that with her illness and everything else, she sometimes finds it hard to know if she's being over sensitive or not.

Fairplay for recognising that it is possible to be over-sensitive. However, others seem pretty sure this Doctor was very unpleasant and needs a complaint made about him and that the practice shouldn't use him anymore......how they can be so sure about it, when they weren't there and don't know exactly what the Op's mindset was during that meeting, is beyond me.

If you're in pain and you're worried about your meds, plus stressed about speaking to a new person about the issues then it might well make it difficult to be fully balanced in your interpretations and feelings. When you're in this kind of place, all kinds of things and people might make you feel a bit crap and it probably doesn't take much to tip you over the edge into misery, and it is good to be aware of that possibility.

I'm not sure if lots of the comments on here telling the Op that the Dr was definitely unporofessional and inappropriate are really very helpful for her. I expect she's felt some support - and that's great to feel people are supportive of you in your difficulties, especially when others who have suffered similar illness come forward.....but is it helpful to fuel this query about the Dr and if she was being over-sensitive into definite outrage about what happened?

Unless Op reflects on it and is sure there was unpleasant behaviour, rather than simply a manner which wasn't her preferred one and which made her overly upset because of her current situation, it's probably best to say 'today wasn't a great day, but tomorrow is another day' and move on.

Op, I think you said you got your meds that you wanted and I hope that your health gets lots better and better solutions are found for you, and you have better days ahead xx

I think doctors that carry on prescribing things like benzodiazepines, opiates, antidepressants, zopiclone etc are being a bit lazy and irresponsible

That's nice. Is pain management and chronic immune conditions your specialty?

If you really work alongside HCPs then you will know that these drugs are reviewed regularly (at least once a year, often twice) but that is best done by a doctor who has the full history or who specialises in pain management. Not some random locum who may or may not "believe" in immunological conditions.

People stay on these drugs for years and years, and there are lots of serious issues associated with long term use. They're not supposed to be used in this way.

And thats your expert opinion as a pain management consultant is it? One of the receptionists at my GP used to take that attitude to patients. Or at least she did until one of her adult children developed arthritis, at which point a rapid change in attitude toward patients with chronic pain appeared.

How am I so sure? About, oh, ten similar experiences of being similarly insulted and disrespected by medical practitioners for having the temerity to want to feel well.

The smart ones always couch it in supposed concern or “banter”. Bullshit. Doctors should have respect for the human beings that come to them for help.

Don’t complain. It’s good to check these things - opiates and toxic drugs - you were upset at the banter and as per usual mumsnet goes ‘complain to the practice manager complain to the head complain to the boss’. Everyone is so offended on behalf of others. A thick skin is useful in life in general not just for these sorts of things

Rebelrogue she has fibromyalgia, she is not paralysed. Her doctor would be able to see this from her notes. Do you know anything about fibromyalgia or know anybody suffering from it? I'm guessing no.

Sounds horrible, and my worst nightmare as someone with ME.

A number of people in wheelchairs do stand for short periods, and possibly opening a door, might be one of them. Asking if someone can stand to do a task or needs help isn't in itself rude.
Being able to stand and being able to open a door, hold it open and get through it, with a wheelchair, seated or standing, are 2 very different things. Ok I only have experience of using my scooter or rollator rather than a wheelchair precisely, but the question as described by the OP is just rude. "Would you like me to get the door" is reasonable, "can you stand and open the door" is just rude and ignorant. I can stand, I can open doors and get through them still seated on the scooter (within reason); he showed a complete lack of understanding.

C8H - patients are supposed to be reviewed yes but it simply doesn't happen a lot of the time. Maybe your doctor is hot on it, that's great but many aren't.

My area is complex trauma/ptsd so I am not a pain mgmt expert no, as you probably know though early trauma has a big impact on the neuroendocrinal system so many of my clients suffer with things like fibromyalgia, thyroid issues, CRPS etc. So I do have a working knowledge yes.

C8H - patients are supposed to be reviewed yes but it simply doesn't happen a lot of the time. Maybe your doctor is hot on it, that's great but many aren't.

What is your evidence that it doesn't happen a lot? Maybe you know incompetent practitioners but at the pain clinics one of the common recurring issues is GP annual reviews being required but not always conducted by the long term doctor. As you will undoubtedly know, pain clinics also conduct regular reviews. Some of the drugs you listed with pain drugs are nothing to do with pain management. If you are dealing with people with immunological disorders you will also know that a depressing number of HCPs insist they are all in the mind.

So just to be clear - are you a doctor with prescribing responsibility, citing actual evidence based research when you say they are over prescribed and not reviewed regularly or not? Because most of the "common sense" and assumptions in this space is based on anecdote and partial knowledge.

One of the commonest problems my consultants describe with long term pain management is persuading people that on a properly managed regime they won't turn into raving drug addicts. In chronic pain management this is rare, partly because there is no positive association between taking the drugs and pleasure which comes from recreational use.

Op you say you are taking lansaprazole. There is also another PPI omeprazole. I find it gentler on the stomach as do a couple of other people I’ve spoken to. Lansaprazole gave the an upset stomach. You can now get it otc if you decide you want to try it.

I’ve got fibro. Daily tramadol. Changed from naproxen to nefopam due to suspected stomach bleeding. He was an arse. Ignore him xx

Definitely complain. I've complained about a locum before, was taken very seriously and turns out I wasn't the only person to have raised issue with him.
I'd gone in with my 3yr old as the eczema on his hands was really bad and I was worried it was infected. Was made to feel like I'd wasted his time because it wasn't infected.