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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Awful Doctors?

46 replies

Olivetree615 · 22/10/2018 09:46

Posting for traffic!
I'm in my mid-twenties and for the past three months have been losing my hair, it's evenly thinning throughout my scalp and has been horrific; losing about 200-300 hairs on really bad days.
I went to my doctors about this after three weeks, was not taken seriously and made to feel dramatic and small by the doctor. They took blood and gave me supplements.
Three months on it is still happening, it started to slow but over the last week has become much worse again. I called the doctor to make an appointment and was met with the below from a receptionist at the practice;
'The doctor does not feel this is urgent and as they have 'investigated' already they recommend you making an appointment at the walk in centre'

AIBU to be completely shocked and miserable at this? I'm only young and the amount my hair is falling is terrifying, yet my doctor refuses to even allow me to book an appointment? Sad WIBU to complain?

OP posts:
itbemay · 22/10/2018 11:01

this We all pay taxes. Our taxes pay their salaries okay...... !

Unfortunately GPs will only have a small scope of tests / treatment and strict referral criteria, so although this is distressing for you it isn't an emergency and the tests carried out came back fine.

It does sound like the receptionist either has her wires crossed or the GP has specifically put a note on to say there is no more s/he can do for this specific problem - have you seen the GP more than once about this? If so then i believe the latter is the case, if not then i would make an appointment to see the GP, tell reception its private and they will book you in. All the best.

TatianaLarina · 22/10/2018 11:03

OP a walk in appointment is not appropriate for a chronic issue unless a case of immediate need like extreme pain. They’re for people who have an urgent need to see a doctor today. You would be taking an appointment from someone who needs to see a doctor immediately.

Hannnnnnnxo · 22/10/2018 11:06

Are you on any medication? What contraception do you use? I felt like my hair constantly fell out when I started taking depo injections.

At the walk in centre, if they’re a bit annoyed that you came to them, tell them that your GP refuses to see you and that you’d like a referral if possible.

Also the loss of confidence is understandable- but again the NHS won’t intervene until it’s too late and it would be a long process to secure funding for your treatment, if they would even consider it. Hence why seeking treatment privately would be better for you if you can afford it - you’ll hopefully be able to retain more of your hair!

TatianaLarina · 22/10/2018 11:08

Just call your GP surgery back, and ask to make a standard appointment with the GP in due course.

Receptionists generally only screen urgent appointments.

They have no right to ask you what a normal appointment is for and you’re not obliged to tell them,

Hannnnnnnxo · 22/10/2018 11:09

Posters keep commenting on the receptionist being rude and nosey - she’s only following doctor’s/the practice manager’s instructions surely? It is GPs/management that tell receptionists to ask what the issue is so they can triage patients efficiently - so the receptionist is just doing their job and following orders set by higher ups. It’s the doctor that refused to see you - not the receptionist

TatianaLarina · 22/10/2018 11:11

It is GPs/management that tell receptionists to ask what the issue is so they can triage patients efficiently

I’ve never been asked the issue for a normal appointment. If a receptionist asked I’d tell them to mind their own business. Patient confidentiality and all that.

MrsBosh · 22/10/2018 11:13

That's really rubbish OP. I have had post-partum hair loss and found it really upsetting.
Sounds like receptionist confused. Many surgeries use triage systems now where the dr calls you and invites you for an appt if they think needed. Can you call again and tell them you're not happy and it's affecting you emotionally.
However I do agree with PP who said walk is really not best place for this and would encourage you to not take the appointment there - it's not an acute problem they can treat today.

Original poster
Olivetree615 · 22/10/2018 11:25

I called the practice back to make a general appointment and explained I do not feel the walk in centre will help me/they will just send me back to the GP and the receptionist insisted she get the doctor to call me so has put me back on the list today Confused?
So I am waiting for a call from the GP..
I feel the book is just being pushed back and forth and it's driving me insane!

OP posts:
Orchiddingme · 22/10/2018 11:25

I think most GP's don't know what to do with hair loss other than look at iron levels, and they aren't all clued up about iron stores/low ferritin anyway, many will say it's fine when it's really not.

If anyone has hair loss and some money, then this guy is absolutely fantastic, my dd has her hair back due to him but he's also very honest and if it can't be treated or there's not many options he'll let you know, he's also the leading expert in child hair loss and runs an NHS clinic and if anyone has a child with alopecia/hair loss, I would beg, borrow, steal money to see him privately or get referred through your GP if you are in London:

www.drdavidfenton.com/

nolongersurprised · 22/10/2018 11:26

Dermatologists see people for hair loss in Australia, are you sure they don’t in the U.K.? Maybe it’s just the private ones.

Orchiddingme · 22/10/2018 11:27

We did see a local NHS dermatologist but they were rubbish. You need someone who experienced in hair loss (once you have gone through the basic blood tests for low iron etc).

2BorNot2Bvocal · 22/10/2018 11:45

What you are asking for is a follow up appointment for an existing health issue, for which they have suggested an initial treatment. Complain to the practice manager.

This is not one for the walk-in centre.

frami · 22/10/2018 11:52

I have had hair loss it is devastating and in my opinion few if any GPs know what to do (middle aged men are the worse).
Go back to the GP and say you want a full thyroid test (full review) be persistant they will try to fob you off with the cheaper less extensive test. Also get your iron levels tested. The range for "normal" iron is quite wide, you will probably find that your test comes back "normal". However to promote hair regrowth it needs to be at the top of the range. Get the test done first and if it is below the max get yourself some Florisene. Amazon is cheapest. Remember though it will take about 8 weeks to show any improvement. As I was told: to find the root of the problem (no pun intended) look a what was happening in your life 3 months ago.
If no improvement get a referral to a dermatologist or if you are having some gynae issues a gynaecologist. My hair loss preceeded a sudden onset of menopause symptoms, I started to get on top of the problem working with the GP but he left and his replacement had no interest. I now see a gynaecologist who runs a clinic specialising in womens problems. She took a holistic approach, looking at diet, family history and more. It has worked.
If you would like more information feel free to PM me and I can give you her details.

LemonTT · 22/10/2018 12:01

The walk in centre won’t help and will send you back to the GP. You need to make a routine appointment.

Rightly or wrongly, the practice is busy on a Monday morning and is probably low staffed at mid term. This is not urgent so leave it till later in the week to sort out. Monday and Tuesday mornings are going to be given over to dealing with urgent issues.

Long term try to move to a practice that has a better booking system. I do mine on a app. It is great and I get to pick the best time for me any time of the day.

WrongKindOfFace · 22/10/2018 12:13

Which tests have you had done already and what were the results?

Original poster
Olivetree615 · 22/10/2018 12:24

I called them back and the earliest appointment they have is the 14th of November - so just over three weeks away, DP believes they are still BU but what else can I do?
I have had full blood work including thyroid and all cam back fine apart from low iron & B12. I have had injections for the B12 and iron tablets.
My hair fall started to slow but over the last week has gotten worse again.
I guess all I can do is wait for the appointment and hope they refer me/look into private help Hmm

OP posts:
PurpleWithRed · 22/10/2018 12:34

In all honesty, a 3-week wait for a non-urgent issue sounds pretty standard. Maybe keep a diary/photos of the hair loss so you have a record of what's happening? I'm guessing the GP will refer you to a specialist. And if your GP has an online system for appointment booking then I second Lemon, get online, it's much more efficient.

MrsBosh · 22/10/2018 12:40

Well done, OP. That is a long time to wait but I guess that's quite standard for most practices unfortunately.
I think waiting for the appt and researching poss private is all you can do.
Just thinking about causes: do you feel/have you been stressed?

TatianaLarina · 22/10/2018 13:01

3 weeks is normal.

Original poster
Olivetree615 · 22/10/2018 13:19

I did see stress can be a big cause.. I work a 40hr week and have 2DSC living with us half the time but this has been my normal for almost 4 years!
I will see how I go with the appointment, I will call them in the morning in case of a cancellation Grin

OP posts:
Ollivander84 · 22/10/2018 13:26

To those who said they've done all the tests - they did for me. 50+ blood tests over 8 years. But nobody bothered to look at the trend until I saw a locum GP because I was pouring with sweat at night
She opened every single blood test result and it turns out I was severely neutropenic (I had complained about constant infections for years) and I was sent to haematology as an emergency
I knew something was wrong but nobody was listening

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