Gp not taking me seriously because I have anxiety

[Bobbyandme]

So upset right now. I've been suffering with on and off anemia for months. I've been weak and exhausted. My periods have been painful. I had a particularly bad one that made my eyes blurry and I've had four days in the house with a headache and weakness. Palpatations etc. Ofcourse it makes me worry. I'm a parent and when I'm down it affects my husband's work and my child needs to get to school etc.

So after my family expressed their worries when I cried yesterday I called the drs. I told her I do get anxious because I've had alot of worries about being able to function for my kids. I told her I'm worried because since February when my iron was down to 6 I've felt rubbish. I've tried the mini pill and bled and bled. I tried transexamic acid and it did nothing. I tried microgynon and it made me nauseous and low moods. She told me she would refer me but today she suddenly remember any of that. She ignored me telling her my ovary has been hurting for weeks. I told her I'm bed bound on period days.

Her only solution was join the waiting list for steps to change. Or have a hormonal coil put it that can cause bleeds for six months. No matter how hard i tried to tell her my anxiety is from my anemia and bad periods. She wouldn't believe me.

I am anxious because my periods ruin my life. I am always weak and in pain.

I'm really upset as now I feel there's no help for me. What do I do? I desperately need them to take me seriously. It's gotten to the point where we've discussed taking DD out of school until I'm better as oh job is 90 miles away. He works from home the best he can. But sometimes this isn't an option. On top of everything else I want a life again.

Get a new GP!

I have had very similar to this recently. I have been really struggling with my ibs and on one call I advised the gp that they had not tested me for anything so how could he be sure it was ibs.

Ever since that call no matter which gp I speak to I get told it’s not cancer even when I was calling about a different matter and they do not take me seriously at all.

I am going to switch gp surgeries but the only other surgery is nearly 5 miles away that will take me on and it is annoying that I should change through there bad service.

Outright ask for a referral to a gynaecologist. If she refuses ask another GP to refer. It doesn’t matter if you have or haven’t got anxiety. You have blood tests and a lot of bleeding. It’s not like it’s pain she can see or test for (I suffer with chronic pain before anyone starts).

If you can afford it and are desperate you can go private. Find a consultant who works in a hospital as they can transfer you back to the nhs for tests or treatment (I’ve done this a few times - the NHS is only as good as the individual HCPs are and some are rubbish sadly and often to women).

It sounds like she has taken you seriously and tried a variety of different and sensible options. Why not go back and ask if you can be referred to gynaecology but in the mean time you will try her suggestion of the intrauterine device? There's no point in writing it off before you try it.

The issue is, if it turns out to be endometriosis, there isn't a magic cure for that. It's managed with standard painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen, sometimes tranexamic acid and contraceptive options she has already suggested. Surgical options are very rarely used and don't have a great record of improving things. She is probably trying to manage your expectations having clinically ruled out anything she considers to be worrying.

If you believe there is something that she has missed and that she should be concerned about, you can ask to see another GP, but just bear in mind they might advise a similar approach (ie. try all of the contraceptive options first).

It's annoying. I asked about hormones and everything and all she did was send me a link to steps to change. I can't believe it. Felt like she was just judging me based on the anxiety. I told her there's only so much I can put in my body with side effects as I have kids to look after. She said I can't give you anything without side effects.

If only she knew how unwell I feel.

Good idea for changing. I don't know where I could change too really.

I assume you are taking iron tablets? you need a re feral to gynaecology. If your current gp won't then change gps.

And if you try another GP and get a similar result, as PP have said, a private consultation is always an option.

Or have a hormonal coil put it that can cause bleeds for six months.

I don't know if this will help you at all, but I had nightmare periods for years before finally going to the doctors (I'd convinced myself there was nothing they could do).

I was given a hormonal coil, I bled lightly for about 2 weeks and haven't had a period since.

Definitely ask for another GP.

I also find it really useful to try and be upfront as to what symptoms could be exacerbated by anxiety and which couldn’t. Make a list beforehand and be clear in your own mind and absolutely honest. Because the brain is a very powerful thing and anxiety can make you tired and nauseous etc. But it can’t make you bleed heavily!

It sounds m, though, that they’ve tried a lot already so it’s not entirely fair to say you haven’t been taken seriously at all. What outcome are you looking for from your GP? Again, if it’s (for example) a referral to a gynaecologist then you need to be clear about that from the outset.

Hi yes been on iron since Feb but changed to a liquid a month ago. My vitamin D was also low.

I think she has got sick of me. I have been contacting them once a month though so they probably have nothing left to offer.

So strange as she was going to get my ovaries rechecked and everything. She now suddenly won't entertain me.

I regret telling them I'm struggling now as I want to be taken seriously.

She's right about the side effects. All medical treatments have potential side effects.

A hospital consultant will tell you the same. That's not to say don't pursue a referral, but I think if you are expecting a treatment with no side effects you'll be disappointed.

Is it mirena she wants you to try?

When you say 'rechecked' do you mean she has already referred you for a scan previously?

What was the finding from your previous scan?

Did you have your iron levels rechecked. I take 200 mg of iron x 3 daily for my anemia. .it can take a while to get back to normal levels.

I'm not sure what else you expect, she has referred you to gynae already and the mirena coil has been discussed, you have decided against it. If the pills don't agree with you then the Mirena would be the next logical step. Don't be wary of it, many people do not bleed at all and its a very low dose of localised progesterone, less than the pills you have tried. Just give it a go, it may be the answer to everything.

I had something similar and yes as poster said, iron first port of call. Change G.P. yes, blood test.

Second gynae to exclude endometriosis and related conditions.

Third, yes consider Mirena. It helped .

I tried microgynon and it made me nauseous and low moods
How long did you try it? Sometimes you have to accept giving some treatment a couple of months for it to work.

She told me she would refer me but today she suddenly remember any of that
Do you mean previously or today?

Because if she's referring you and you won't try the coil, there isn't much more she can do. She is probably getting frustrated that in spite of your symptoms you are dismissing her suggestions.

Did you get a blood test to confirm your iron levels have gone back to?

there is a scan you can get referred to to check for endo and related conditions and make sure there isn't a deeper seated problem...

Not brill to do and I hate the doctors but it may set some things to rest.

Good luck this is an awful issue to have and often underestimated.

Mirena works for some and for others it makes it worse would they remove it if it made you worse or just leave it in there? This would be my first question

And on mumsnet prescription I would be listening to woman's hour as the regularly cover such things. Look on the archive radio four.

Unfortunately women are seldom listened to medically, especially around periods for some weird reason. Some of it (shockingly) is down to luck, the surgery I am registered with has a GP who specializes in it, and is more than happy to actually listen, but you have to push for an appointment rather than be lumbered with one of the others who basically say tough shit. Is there another doctor you can see?

@YesItsMeIDontCare

Or have a hormonal coil put it that can cause bleeds for six months.

I don't know if this will help you at all, but I had nightmare periods for years before finally going to the doctors (I'd convinced myself there was nothing they could do).

I was given a hormonal coil, I bled lightly for about 2 weeks and haven't had a period since.

This is my experience of the coil too. I had horrendous periods, flooding, anaemia etc. I had one period after the coil and nothing for three years. It’s been life changing.

I've not been referred to gynocology yet. She sent me to the local hospital for a scan of my womb to search for fibroids. Then she gave it the big speech of I'll do this and that and refer you to gynocology. Then nothing. No letters. Then Corona happened. I have had no success with hormones. But it shouldn't be the only option. I feel they could be looking an many things.

Hormone imbalance.
Endometriosis.
Surgical options.
Going to speak to a doctor who specialises in blood.
Iron infusions
Blood transfusions.

She also ignored my neck issues I told her about. No advice on anything to ease that. No referral for physio. No excercise to try.

I don't want a coil with hormones as I can't get it out if I start feeling rubbish on it. I've tried out so many things and I'm getting nowhere. Hormones arnt they answers it seems. But also a gp doesn't do much. She won't even see me. Just phone calls. She's not checked my blood pressure. She's not checked my heart rate. She has not looked at my neck.

I guess I want to sit with someone who specialises in these things that might take me more seriously. The optimal levels for iron are never discussed with my gp. She doesn't care if they are just inside the bottom end of normal. That's good enough for her. But my symptoms don't ever clear up because my problem is still there.

@dontdisturbmenow

But I have tried alot of her suggestions. But the coil isn't something I want to try as I've always had trouble with hormones. Even the one I was induced with made me react badly. I do have a right to choice and at this stage she should be passing me over to someone who can do more scans and discuss better options with me. I don't think women should only have hormones as an option.hormones come with depression, mood swings, nausea and headaches.

I stuck with both pills for several weeks/months
And I didn't stop bleeding or feeling rubbish. I also had panic attacks on the combined pill. That's not a life I want.