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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to go to the doctors for the third day in a row?

113 replies

smellycatitsnotyourfault · 05/02/2020 06:44

I'll try and keep it short, I'm 99% sure I have PND. It's taken me a long time to admit it and reach out for help, I know it's my fault for letting it get this way.

Two days ago I went to make a gp appointment, they offered me one a month away. I thought this was too far so I told the receptionist what it was for, and she managed to squeeze one in in two weeks. I accepted this, then that night I felt more desperate. Luckily the doctors have a health visitor drop in on Tuesdays, so I once again worked up the courage, prepped everything I needed to say and yesterday took myself down to the doctors. The receptionist turned me away saying the health visitor wasn't doing her clinic today.

Last night was one of the worst yet. AIBU to ring and ask for a same day appointment today? The receptionists must be sick of seeing me/hearing my voice. Am I worthy of a same day? I'm not at the point of planning suicide or anything but i'm getting desperate. I think I'm most scared that by the time my appointment comes round in two weeks, I'll have lost all my courage and will cancel it.

OP posts:
DarcyParty · 05/02/2020 09:11

I've been where you are OP, pnd is hell.

If you still struggle with appointments and have your health visitor's number, mine made my gp appointments for me and passed me onto the mental health team at the hospital.

I tried to hide my illness and I think they saved my life

ScrimshawTheSecond · 05/02/2020 09:15

I would try NHS 24, say exactly how you are feeling. They will probably be able to circumvent the receptionist.

Good luck, OP, you're being very brave and I'm sending you all the best. PND is no laughing matter.

Brenna24 · 05/02/2020 09:17

If you can't get a physical appointment then ask for a phone appointment. Another port of call would be your health visitor. Their number should be in your baby's red book. Call them if you have no joy with the surgery. If even that fails go to a local pharmacy who would likely deal with that surgery and speak to the pharmacist. When I worked in a pharmacy I was in contact with doctors daily.

ScrimshawTheSecond · 05/02/2020 09:17

Ah, sorry, I'd missed the update. Well done, OP. Good luck with the appt.

OwlBeThere · 05/02/2020 09:18

@BeardedMum why was the receptionist shocking? She made the OP an appointment, when the OP said she couldn’t wait that long she made a closer one. It’s not the receptionists fault the HV clinic wasn’t running yesterday. She did her best.
I’m glad you have an appointment today OP. I hope you feel better soon xx

cologne4711 · 05/02/2020 09:19

So glad you got an appointment Flowers

Daisy169 · 05/02/2020 09:19

Hope the GP is helpful. I'll always have a little regret for not going after my 1st DC. It's taken having another to realise I was ill last time.

YasssKween · 05/02/2020 09:21

So glad to see you have an appointment today OP, wishing you luck Thanks

Ironmanrocks · 05/02/2020 09:22

I used to have a direct line to the health visitors for this so I avoided the GP appointment system. Do you have this? Go straight to your health visitor. Hope you feel better soon.xx

Beau2020x · 05/02/2020 09:23

1000% get on the phone again today! I am totally shocked that even after you told them what you where booking for they didn't get you in AT LEAST the following day! Do not feel bad at all, it's hugely important that you seek help as soon as you possibly can. Sending you a big hug and well done for reaching out x

Weenurse · 05/02/2020 09:25

I am so glad you have been pro active and are taking care of your self.
Anyone in a similar situation, please seek help.

PotholePalace · 05/02/2020 09:26

Well done for making the appointment OP. I had PND but spent too long denying it. Because of this it took me a lot longer to get over it (and in some ways I don't think I ever will). Don't let them fob you off with 2nd rate treatment.

Sexnotgender · 05/02/2020 09:28

I hope you get the help you need Flowers

chocolateandpinkgin · 05/02/2020 09:31

I'm so glad you've managed to get an appointment, well done for asking again as I know just that little step can be so difficult! This is the first step to getting better so well done you Flowers

1forsorrow · 05/02/2020 09:46

Good luck OP. I had my first baby over 40 years ago and it shocks me how little support new mums get now. I wonder if they have looked at rates of PND as I think there might be an increase due to this. When I had my first it was 8 days in hospital, in a big open ward, sounds horrific but honestly with very limited visiting times mums were a real support to each other and it was reassuring to be able to compare notes. When you got home the midwife came twice a days for a few days, then once a day and if all was well she handed you over to HV at 2 weeks. I suppose it felt intense but I know I wouldn't have managed to breast feed without my HVs support. Just a friendly face can make a difference.

Marbu · 05/02/2020 09:47

So glad you got the appointment. Sometimes you have to be really pushy. Some people have a tendency to minimize their problems when phoning to book an appointment - not wanting to cause too much trouble etc, thinking that others are in a worse position. If it really is absolutely essential to have an appointment (as it is in your case) you do have to make sure you express strongly enough that it's an emergency.

Littlewelshridinghood · 05/02/2020 09:51

I'm so happy they made you an appointment. Hope you get the support you need OP.

Littleelffriend · 05/02/2020 09:54

You won’t regret going, I had pnd with my first and left it months before asking for help. The doctor was amazing, no judgement at all. It’s a really brave thing to do.

Bluetrews25 · 05/02/2020 09:59

Hope you feel supported and more like yourself very soon.

leadbetter5 · 05/02/2020 10:00

SO brave OP. Carry on pushing until you get the help you need. best of luck!

ScatteredMama82 · 05/02/2020 10:37

Good luck OP, so glad you got an appointment today. You are doing amazingly well already by pushing to be seen.

Thescrewinthetuna · 05/02/2020 10:38

Well done OP and good luck with your appointment. I had bad PND and anxiety and just telling the doctor how I felt was a massive help. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my whole body. It took a few weeks for the meds to properly work but they helped me so much, it was life changing. Well done for being brave and pushing on 💐

TriangleBingoBongo · 05/02/2020 10:42

Call your HV and they’ll get you in today no fuss.

Original poster
smellycatitsnotyourfault · 05/02/2020 10:51

Absolutely devastated. I was hoping to come back and give you all a positive update, but I've come home feeling 100x worse than before. She didn't give me a chance to say anything I wanted to, wouldn't listen to me. She told me I didn't need antidepressants because I'm young. Asked me if I'd considered going outside. Then said there was no antidepressants I could take because I'm breastfeeding and "It's not worth it because they take 6 weeks to work."
I got very upset and told her she was wrong, so she took out her book and flicked through them all snarkily quoting, "Not safe for breast feeding. Avoid. Do not take." etc until she found Parixetine. wrote me a prescription and ushered us out. I was crying and didn't even get offered a tissue.

I'm disgusted and feel like a massive failure as a parent and a human. This took every ounce of confidence I had and I'm wrecked.

OP posts:
collywobblescar · 05/02/2020 10:53

Call your health visitor OP, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I had something similar, rang my health visitor and she was amazing.

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