GP dismissing sexual abuse impact. *TRIGGER*

[ShamanYou]

NB - I'm a long-standing male member, MNHQ can confirm if necessary.

I was raped and sexually assaulted as a child, I was 14. It's left me with PTSD, GAD, Anxiety, Depression and a propensity to hate myself. The incident happened the start of July.

I'm prescribed a few (5) diazepam and zopiclone each month as I also have CPTSD and deep-lying issues.

I've had a phone appointment this afternoon with a training doctor. I was requesting more of both drugs, I am already having flashbacks, insomnia and panic attacks. Self harm will soon follow.

I explained the entire incident, the psychological and physical effects and why I was asking for more medication. He completely blew me off stating that rape and sexual assault from "that long ago" couldn't possibly be having such an enormous effect 30 years on.

I'm just numb, the next month is going to be utter fucking hell. My pulse soars and shallow breathing just thinking about it.

I'm not sure what to do, he's a trainee doctor and I don't want to blot his copybook but his attitude stank.

He's right, YABU
He's wrong, YANBU.

Any thoughts most appreciated.

Ring and ask to speak to the manager

Speak with the practice manager. That is not on

That's not ok, I'm really sorry you went through that OP and I'd recommend speaking to the practise manager if possible

He's wrong. No-one has a right to say that your trauma responses should follow their preferred timetable.

His copybook is not your problem. Ring the practise manager. If anything this will be a good lesson for him on how to treat patients.

Oh op, handhold here.

Are you able to self refer to talk for change? I've recently finished EMDR for cptsd and it's really helped.

I'm so sorry you're feeling so rotten

Surgery is closed now, however I can email the practice manager which might be preferable for detail.

I have three major issues, my therapist is only interested in one of them, I've requested a change of therapist but then COVID-19 hit and everything's in limbo.

YANBU
I didn't want to read and leave without saying anything. This is absolutely horrific for you and I can't believe a junior doctor would be so uncaring (and uneducated!) about abuse trauma.
I too am prescribed diazepam for agoraphobia and anxiety. I feel like if I know I have my tablets with me and I will be getting them regularly then I need them less of that makes sense.
Have you ever had any therapy for dealing with the panic attacks and how to.cope with them? I've had 2 rounds of CBT and at the time it really helped but unfortunately a couple of months later old habits seem to resurface.
What dosage do you get for your meds? And how often do you take them? I know they really are cracking down on benzodiazepines because of addiction. I've been on them for 8 years and I'm too scared to ask for a higher dosage incase they stop my low dose all together. Just try and remember that with panic attacks, what goes up, must.come down. You won't stay at that intense level of panic indefinatley, your body physically wont. Low level anxiety all day though is awful. I'm sorry you were disregarded in this way x

There are two issues here: the medication, and the communication

You might find asking for drugs without street value gets a different response.

I suspect you need to come to an arrangement with your practice where you deal with just one GP, if you can tolerate the fact that this may mean having to wait to see them.

Absolutely email the practice manager and tell them (don’t ask) that you need the soonest appointment with another GP to discuss your medication and further options to treat your conditions. Have you been referred to a therapist through your local IAPT service? If so, they should still be open and with the backing from your GP, you should be able to change therapists easily enough. If you’re paying a private therapist, it’s time to find a new one ASAP

@ShamanYou you need to ring and report this to the manager he is absolutely in the wrong and should not be talking to people like that.

The practice manager has much less power than everyone thinks. They are usually the admin manager for the Gp's who own and run the practice.
GP's are rightly told that requesting benzodiazepines and other sleeping medication is a giant red flag. Far too many people are addicted, and most practices have programmes which aim to wean people off this incredibly addictive medication.
That said they should not have dismissed your trauma. Phone back, ask for an appointment with a GP partner.

@asdf can you think of any medicines that would work that don't have a street value?

What Yennifer says is accurate to a degree. However, the PM will usually deal with complaints on behalf of the GPs and GPs won’t always prescribe a medication if you have already been refused by another GP in the practice. PP is correct that drugs with a street value are viewed somewhat differently than other meds.

That's terrible communication. Definitely ask for an appointment with one of the fully trained GPs regarding the medication, and please do explain to them what he said to you. It won't 'blot his copybook' - he'll get feedback from his trainer, and hopefully help to improve both his knowledge and his communication skills.

I’m so sorry OP - that is just not on. If you can and feel strong enough to, you could email the practice manager and discuss your concerns about the GP and their handling of your situation. It’s not right that a GP, newly qualified or not, should be practicing with those assumptions/viewpoints. They will doubtless have contact with many, many people during their career and I would hate to think that this is how they will go on to treat all survivors of abuse. Wishing you well x

So sorry you have been through such trauma. If you need immediate help call NHS direct, they have been brilliant with a family member who is suffering with a situation similar to your own. They can refer you to a urgent care centre who can asses your and get you the help you need. My thoughts are with you.

I think you have had the right advice to speak with a GP partner urgently, and also to see help more urgently if you need it, that could be anything from phoning a helpline like the Samaritans, mental health crisis team and so on. You cannot just take someone off addictive medications with no support anyway, that's completely the wrong thing to do, even if in the long term you are working towards not needing them/using something else.

I also wanted to say that dr is completely in the wrong. I have experience of what you speak about in my own family, it is devastating to the present day, over 30 years later. I hope you get some support with this.

I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through but also disgusting that this doctor was so dismissive of your distress and need for medication. Of course someone can be effected in the years after abuse has happened. This trainee has so much to learn. I would.d definitely contact the practice manager and insist on speaking to another doctor. I also think you need to make a formal complaint about the trainee. If they are just advised they will no doubt blame on you being oversensitive. You aren’t at all being over sensitive so don’t allow yourself to be fobbed off. I hope you can get some support.

Can you get a doctor's appointment by phoning the surgery?

Bloody hell that needs training the hell out of him right now. Put your complaint in writing to the practice manager / GP partner or GP trainer for the practice. You can ask for a face to face talk (even if it's video call at the minute). His dismissive attitude is terrible and not only caused you distress but it's potentially harmful to any future patients who went through similar events. Somebody with no support or in a fragile state of mind may consider ending their life if he makes them spiral with such crass and uneducated comments.

Ah I’m sorry OP, you must be feeling very panicky at the idea of being forcibly taken off those drugs.

Unfortunately if he doesn’t know you and your history he’s unlikely to just prescribe something as addictive as diazepam and zopiclone, he should however have been more civil and explained his decision, and that you’re welcome to seek a second opinion from a GP who knows you and has been okay with prescribing those medications in the past.

Are you likely to experience withdrawal symptoms or is it truly that you only take a few per month?

Hi OP. You said you have a counsellor? Can you get a referral to a psychiatrist as they deal with medications. GPS are very anti benzodiazepines for the reasons already stated in previous posts and generally don't have the "knowledge of complex MH issues.

YANBU - that's an appalling attitude for a healthcare professional to take. However, Drs make mistakes. They're only human and, if the person you saw was a trainee, their experience - and how to manage situations they haven't encountered before - is going to be limited. Also, although you explained everything, they may not have read your file / viewed your previous Drs notes about medication.

Although it will be stressful and awful to have to explain everything again, I would do as others have suggested and ask to speak to the practice manager to complain about the trainee's apparent lack of training, and then book an appointment with another GP. Alternatively, is it possible to book an appointment with a private GP (I don't know how this works in terms of dispensing medication)?

I am so sorry OP. That's awful. You need to make a complaint. You also need another doctor. What a twat. Sorry