My GP called me 'hysterical' over this

[youcanonlydraftthefuture]

I've been to my GP three times over the course of about 6 weeks.

What's happening is I'm getting these sores in my head (I stumble upon them when I'm doing my hair etc), but they're making me lose my hair.

It started off as a few small patches and now I have loads all over my head. The biggest area of baldness is about the size of a £2 coin.

The first time GP said eczema (I've never had that in my life, always had very soft skin etc). He gave me a cream. I returned two weeks later as I was losing more and more hair. He tried another cream in a huff and said I need to wait 6/8 weeks for it to work.

I went back today quite upset as I'm losing more and more patches and he told me "You are being hysterical. It's just eczema. And there's nothing you can do to treat hair loss anyway so it is what it is".

I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. This is a GP who was brilliant at getting my DH sorted for an emergency hospital appointment that he needed.

I was not 'hysterical', just feeling upset and explained as much.

I'm really started to feel a bit depressed about it. I'm losing hair and if feels like it isn't being taken seriously

AIBU to say I'm not hysterical?

Is it tinea capitis?

I would get a second opinion. Definitely.

I really do think you should get a second opinion.

I also think that GP is a bit shit. Female hair loss is a big deal for most women given it's not as common as male hair loss and rightly or wrongly, a lot of us link our femininity to our chosen hairstyles. At the very least, he should have treated you with compassion and shown some empathy.

I was treated similarly by a GP once (not hair loss, but he reacted in a similar way to yours) and I regret deeply not complaining. I have a much better GP now (I moved) and I'm very happy with the service I get, but I feel sorry for anyone who is still a patient of my former GP. I wish I'd done something to flag how awful he was at speaking to female patients.

Get second opinion from a dermatologist and send a letter of complaint with feedback on his kanguage

seborrheoriac dermatitis? I get it off I use certain shampoos (Aussie) or if I use anything too heavy on my hair and don't really wash it thoroughly right down to the scalp, rinse then repeat. Is it itchy? Mine comes on fairly quickly, I just stick to products I know don't irritate these days. Do you ever get red patches either side of your nose? I don't anymore but did in my late teens when I used awful cheap make up.

Looks fungal to me - ringworm? Try some topical cream with a fungicide - clotrimazole?? - and see if that works any better. I believe ringworm does cause head hair to fall out - but suspect other fungal conditions do too.

Sympathies, OP. There is absolutely no excuse for a HCP to call a patient 'hysterical'. That's some misogynist shit, right there. Naturally he/she wouldn't be calling a man that. I have health anxiety and get massively patronised by my GPs but nobody has called me 'hysterical' yet. I do get the 'you're probably stressed' a lot though - GP-speak for 'you're mad, I'm not listening to you, I'm listening to your health anxiety'.

My son had this! The medication that cleared it up was called Betacap. I think it was infected hair follicles. It cleared up and the hair grew back!

OP that deffo looks like tinea capitis.

Given your GPs background in dermatology he's a bit shit isn't he? Switch Gps and ask for a referral. Pay for a Spire consult if you have to and can afford it.

God, GPs like this make me mad! Did it start as small, slightly painful lumps (like pimples)? Has your hair become much greasier in the last couple of years/months as well as being more sensitive? I bet you have seborrheic dermatitis, and this is a reaction to excess sebum production. The sebum production however, indicates a change in hormones. (Peri or possibly full menopause. I certainly wouldn’t trust that your GP is going to handle that sensitively. If you don’t treat this appropriately - by going to see a bloody dermatologist who ACTUALLY knows what they are doing - you may lose your hair!)

YADNBU. Your Gp was wrong to use the word hysterical. Very wrong.

YANBU, his response demonstrates his absolute shit bedside manner, and zero level of understanding/empathy/psychological acumen. All of which should be GP 101.

His clinical judgement appears suspect too. All in all, he hasn’t got much going for him as a GP, has he?

Get a second opinion, and complain about his archaic language, attitude and manner.

@justilou1 that's interesting that SD can be hormonal, I have symptomatic pcos and have no issues with my scalp when I keep my weight down and I'm on regular anti androgenic hormonal contraception, no doctor has ever explained it like that but that makes a lot of sense. I also struggled more when I first hit puberty.

I get these and think it’s seborrhoeaic dermatitis. Starts as a tender lump then breaks and weeps, crusts over. If I touch it gets worse. There’s one spot I’ve had for months as I can’t leave it alone.
Your doctor is a dick

Don't feel bad getting a second opinion, I once took my son to the doctor to get him checked as he was falling down, his leg was collapsing under him.

The doctor looked in his ear (he has a history of ear infection so no doubt thought he had found a simple cause), showed me the inside of his ear while saying "look how red it is, it's an ear infection", as I worked as a vet nurse for many years I know what an inflamed ear looks like, his ear was perfectly normal! He prescribed me antibiotics and sent me out the door without even looking at his leg despite what I was saying.

I went straight up to the reception and insisted on seeing another doctor, my son was seen, he didn't have an ear infection at all, it was a problem with his knee. He was seen the following day again as he had developed a very high temperature, again the doctor checked his ears and no sign of infection, they did run bloods to make sure that the lameness and high temp weren't related to something more sinister but it looked like he just picked up a bug and hurt his knee at the same time luckily.

If you are not happy with the answer seek another one, they will either confirm the diagnosis and give you peace of mind or agree that it needs to be looked in to further/is something else and you can sort it from there.

That certainly looks like ringworm (tinea capitis) so what about seeing the practice nurse who would certainly have lots of experience in this and likely to be more sympathetic.
If you have animals in the home thats the most likely cause.
Use the mildest shampoo in the meantime, and rinse very thoroughly
If no joy with the nurse, you are entitled to a second opinion so see another GP in the practice, take someone with you and be firm in your request for a referral. Its worth trying any topical treatment rather than leaving it and the nurse should be able to help with advice.
There is a shortage of dermatologists in the NHS so there may be a wait. If you can afford it just for a single appointment even, get a private consultation. I would sacrifice the expense of Christmas presents if I was that worried. Good Luck

Ketaconazole (not sure I've spelt it right) shampoo & cream, to kill fungus infection. I had similar to you. My hair did grow back, took ages tho. You might also have to take oral anti-fungal medication, it has to be a particular one

@LionelRitchieStoleMyNotebook - it’s not necessarily hormonal, but a reaction to mega greasy hair. The change in sebum production almost invariably IS hormonal. (If sebum not a response to normal hormonal changes like adolescence, peri/menopause, scans & blood tests should be considered in case of pituitary or adrenal tumours which could also be affecting hormone levels, also PCOS is another thing to consider.)

Why are so many of these posts so aggressive? GP's are human too and by all accounts overworked due to lack of adequate staff.
GP performs perfectly one day with her DH and then on another lets himself down. He may have had an absolutely lousy day and need some support himself. Sometimes conversations don't go as we mean them to and words just tumble out....so he shouldn't have been dismissive but I bet he felt just as badly about the consultation as OP did.
Always advise if possible to take someone along on GP appointments especially if feeling a little insecure so reason prevails. As hair loss is such an emotive issue for a woman, where was DH in offering support?

www.dermnetnz.org/

Have you not heard of Hysterical Woman Syndrome? She has been let down by her GP who is dismissive of a genuine medical problem. Her scalp is painful & inflamed and her hair is falling out. He has refused to treat or refer her, despite claiming to be an expert. He has also insulted her. THIS is why people are pissed off.

It does look stressful OP and I hope you get it sorted. But please realise that never having had something before is irrelevant, there is a first time for everything.

justilou1
Have you not heard of Hysterical Woman Syndrome? ...OMG just listen to yourself....suppose you are just perfect ALL the time....

When feeling stressed, do you abuse your professional power to deny people access to services to which they are entitled and then pile on their distress by dismissing them in a misogynistic manner, cuparfull ?
You might want to access some professional support if that's the case.

Regardless, the OP is not unreasonable to expect a better response for her real medical issue.

It could be a number of things. I have psoriasis on my scalp that glares with stress or in the heat.
But you wont know what it is until you see a dermatologist *

Well I would be bloody hysterical if my head was covered in sores and my hair was falling out! He still shouldn’t have said that, though.

I would go back with the list of suggestions from “some of the mums on Mumsnet” and watch him squirm. One of them is bound to be correct.

I'm really shocked at cuparfull comment and similar ones.

The GP had a tough day? No. I'm sorry but there is simply no excuse at all for the GP behaviour. It could have, and should have been handled in a much more caring, gentle way.