Elevated bloods for years, GP ignores. Help!

[brokenblood]

I've had elevated blood test results showing inflammation (results twice as high as upper limit) for many years yet my GP has constantly maintained there is no matter requiring input. Yet my corresponding symptoms point to rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis and a couple of others. This GP is extremely unlikely to take things seriously, proven in a couple of other incidents, so what am I to do? The practice assign a GP, so cannot see another. They are a close knit practice anyway.

I'd complain, but don't much like the idea of being removed from the patient register, the practice manager has a certain reputation.

Have NC but long time poster.

I think unless you complain or change practices then you are stuck really. The only other thing I can think is when you are having a bad flare up of your symptoms go to out of hours gp or extreme case a&e!

Surely if a consultant thought you had one or more of the diseases you listed they would at the very least write to your GP with their findings. In what specialist have you seen consultants?

They have, but requires GP referral. Two or three, can't detail which, but complementary specialisms where they'd recognise.

How do you get to see a consultant without having been referred by the gp?
Surely it goes the other way round?

If consultants have written to your GP detailing you are exhibiting signs of xyz and GP won't refer then your only options are to see a different GP in the practice or find an alternative surgery.

How do you get to see a consultant without having been referred by the gp? Surely it goes the other way round?

Yes it does, even private consultants sometimes require a GP referral. I had to go through my GP for private referral in the past.

How did you get to the Consultants without GP referral?

OP I would move to a new practice if I were you or would pay for a private GP appointment just for the referral. I recently switched to a new practice as I really struggled to get an appointment at my old practice. I also paid for some scans privately to speed things up (although I appreciate not everyone can do this). You can’t take chances with your health.

Xpost! Are they GMC medical doctors or 'complementary practitioners'

@brokenblood

Why are you so desperate for a diagnosis of a chronic illness?

I'm actually just heading off to a consultant appointment which I was referred to by a different consultant in another specialism. It involves needles 😬.

Do you have online GP's in your area?

I've recently switched to one as I didn't want to go back to my doctor after she was difficult over HRT

It was so easy. Met the doctor online, she prescribed. Also needed an x Ray to confirm arthritis, she sent me a form through the post to turn up at the hospital any time between 8-5.30 to be x-rayed. I'm going this week.

I'm also sure I have one type of arthritis as I had my knees injected with steroids privately as I struggled with walking/pain one day and couldn't go to work. He did guided ultrasound injections and said my pathways were very narrow and to go to my GP for an x Ray to get arthritis confirmed

Online GP is NHS. I downloaded an app (I'm in London, no idea if it's in the rest of the country). I've just logged on now and the next appointment available is 10am.

I'd get a private GP appointment and ask to be referred to a NHS specialist that way.

Are they GMC medical doctors

Yes, working within the NHS. There are ways to see Consultants.

If there are ways to see consultants and you have already done so could you not see a consultant you think you need?

I’m a bit lost here.

@blackchina so if she does have one, she can receive the appropriate treatment for it, I would assume....

• If there are ways to see consultants and you have already done so could you not see a consultant you think you need?

I’m a bit lost here.*

No, because they are in a different department and referrals must be done by a GP.

So if your bloods are out of normal range, and you have symptoms, what has your GP diagnosed you with? Or if she hasn’t made a diagnosis, what is her explanation for the bloods and symptoms?

How have you seen the other consultants? Have they written to your GP recommending another referral?

OP I would move to a new practice if I were you or would pay for a private GP appointment just for the referral

I do this.

Is she treating you for something else? Otherwise keep going back with the problems till she does something could be another option.

Lauriefairycake do you have a link or name for the app?

It's called Babylon

If you are already under consultant care for other conditions they should be able to make a direct referral if they are concerned. This is what happened to me - dermatologist referred me to rheumatologist without me having to go back to see the GP.

Or do you mean that you are frequently visiting the hospital for emergency visits?

Op is not mistaken
I was not able to be referred to an endocrinologist by my gynaecologist it had to go through GP. Not all departments are as well connected as people expect and different hospitals have different pathways
When I was under rheumatology I was able to be referred to neurosurgery as it was a direct connecting problem

Sometimes when it is not a directly connecting problem but a ‘new’ problem connected to something else it has to go back to the GP

It is better practice and better outcomes for rhe patient to have internal referrals but it often just doesn’t happen.

It’s called red tape

OP if you have concerns about your care you can ask NHS England to intervene and if you are still not happy then the Health Ombudsman.

A practice should not be removing patients for asking questions, but they will for aggression or rudeness. If they removed you for asking a question you could report them to the ombudsman and NHSE. I would ask NHSE to assist you