To be so hurt by my doctor's comment

[Lisalacuistot]

Long time reader but first time poster. I have epilepsy. Been struggling with it for years. I am now 25 , and is on new medications that have been more effective than all the ones I have tried before. But the side effects are awful ( I am depressed all the time , so tired , gained weight , can barely walk the first few hours after taking it).

I have explained that to my doctor. He then told me that all anticonvulsants have this type of side effects. Because they are meant to slow down your brain activity. I am OK with the drowsiness and tiredness ( Experienced it with all the anti epilepsy drugs I have taken in the past). But not the feeling of sadness and crying all the time.

So , he asked me where I am originally from. Which I told him. He proceeded to say " Well people in your home country don't even have food , so you should be happy and grateful that you even have access to medication. You are being difficult , better be depressed than dead because of epilepsy in Ethiopia."

He did really hurt me. Am I being too sensitive or is it unprofessional to say that ?

How awful. I suggest you:

1. Report to the practice manager in writing exactly what was said to you
2. contact the neurologist's secretary, there should be a number on your appointment letter, to ask about reviewing the medication before August. If this gets you nowhere, see a different GP in the practice.
3. consider contacting the GMC www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/raise-a-concern-about-a-doctor

What the flip!!!! Report him!
How dare he say that! 😡😡😡

Please report him. I am from an African country with a very obvious African name. My GPs have never disrespected me because of it, or even mentioned it!
A GP may have the knowledge, but it is still your body, so they should be working with you to find you the best treatment that works for you.

Wow! Totally unacceptable and YANBU. You need to change GP and make a complaint. Good luck with your med changes.

Totally out of order! Report him and change Dr

what. the. fuck.

report him.

I have epilepsy and I could of written the first half of your post but then OMG your Dr is an arsehole. Ring you local PALS and find out how to make a complaint against him. Absolutely disgusting.

As for the meds you have switched to you haven't been taking very long and when I changed over to the ones I'm on now (lamotrigine and gabapentin) all I did was cry and feel suicidal and this was for at least the first 6 months. It was hell but it calms but takes time. Is there a local epilepsy support group you could attend?

Wow. Just WTF.
Can you contact the office of the person who put you on these drugs? They may be able to help before August.

I can't believe what I've just read. Please report. Completely shocked a GP could make such an outrageous comment

This is wrong
Does it mean his treatment is based on what and how he perceives a patient to be.THis is worrying
Myheartbelongsto she cant she’s upset and the medication is making it harder for her to do so.

That's an awful thing to say ☹️ I'd change GP's. is there a different medication you can take? Hope you feel more positive soon x

Report this person - what a racist thing to say and do. Sorry that happened x

Unfortunately I find GPs have no idea what they're talking about when it come to epilepsy and medication. I would really urge you to ring the hospital you go to and ask to speak to the secretary.

Epilepsy Action has a really good website and helpline if that's any use for you.

Your GP sounds a disgrace and if you feel able to do make a complaint to the practice manager.

Hope you're ok

Jesus wept...is this real? If so, it's fucking appalling. Your GP is a cunt.

@IHateUncleJamie No I have never tried it. I am on Trileptal , Clobazam and Vimpat. All twice a day. I have been taking the Trileptal for years, and the Vimpat and Clobazam have been added about a month ago, to replace Levetiracetam.

Thank you all for your advice. I will try to ring my neurologist office.

report that horrible Dr!

Im seriously shocked that this person has access to patients. Report op

I will try to ring my neurologist office.

Good idea. Quality of life is so important. ❤️

And report that awful racist arse of a GP too.

What a prick. I think you should complain to the practice manager, if you feel up to it.

I also wouldn't go to your GP for anything epilepsy related, I would go to your neurologist. Does the neurology department have specialist epilepsy nurses? Our dept has a dedicated Epilepsy nurse led helpline who can speak to you and give advice or refer you to be seen by the consultant if you need to.

It might be worth asking if there is anything like that available to you? Mine really helps, they even encourage you to ring if you just want to talk to someone in general, and off load about the side effects.

Sometimes just acknowledging it's so hard, even if nothing can be done, makes a difference. Minimising and belittling and being rude, does not help. I'm sorry you feel shit and your GP made it worse. I hope it gets better for you soon.

Wow am in shock!!

How Vile! Report and change gp. How awful for you xx

What a dick.

Are you also the poster with the shit DP who said he'd rather you were thin and epileptic, rather than gaining weight?

Jesus wept, wtf was he thinking?

Actually, I know what he was thinking, the racist shit.

Definitely report him.

@adulthumanwolf No, it's the first time I post here.

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRole What you say is very true. I am now too old to be peeing myself in public while having a seizure. I also lose my stuff all the time when I have absences outside and now I also feel bad for complaining when others have it way worst. I wish there was a medication that could control my seizures and have manageable side effects. I don't want to chose between being seizure free and depressed.

@Elephantbiscuit It took you 6 months to feel better ? Oh dear Lord. I will look online for support groups, didn't know there was such thing for epilepsy.