Bad experience at hospital today, do you think so too or was I being too sensitive?

[Sally61nm]

I'm under the care the oral surgery department of a large city hospital, the condition I have is acute TMD (chronic face and head pain basically)

I had an appointment there today for a review of my condition as my last appointment was cancelled in the middle of last year due to covid.

When I arrived the person who called me through wasn't the person I've been working with during my last two appointments, she wasn't welcoming nor approachable and actually had the wrong file to begin with. She thought I was somebody else who was there for something to do with their tongue.

I explained the history and she pulled up my file on the computer. She asked what was going on and I explained that despite physio and medication prescribed previously there the pain was the same and was so unbearable some days that it is impacting my ability to function properly, especially as I have small children I need to be on form for.

When it's at its worst it affects my (already poor) eyesight.

After a very rushed examination which she did only for the benefit of the student observing, she told me (and I quote) "there's nothing we can do, its a complicated joint and it's just how you are. You will have to learn to live with it"

Much to my embarrassment I started to cry at this point as i'd been waiting almost a year for this appointment, suffering daily, she just wasn't interested at all and wanted me to move along.

I asked to speak to the lady I usually see (the one who oversees the care of all the TMD patients) she reluctantly went upstairs to find her but as she was leaving told me that she wouldn't tell me anything different.

The dentist I've seen previously came downstairs and could see I was visibly upset, she was brilliant and long story short we have a plan moving forward. It turns out there's alot more they can do for me including botox and different medications to name two options.

I feel such a fool for crying as I'm usually very stoic, but I've been suffering for so long and saw this appointment today as something to hold out for as the original dentist (not the first woman I saw first today) is lovely and seemed determined to find a way to help me (and still is)

I'm not planning on making a complaint or anything like that but I was wondering what others think about the first dentist treatment towards me?

Ah, you poor love. I came on to say try botox. It's really helped my sisters TMJ/D out. She has a greater range of ovement and everything. Glad they suggested it too.

If you can't wait, just for info, my sister has hers done at a private dentist and it costs £100.

You poor thing.
Her treatment of you sounds sloppy and unprofessional. Not to mention uncaring.

You have a right to be upset.

I’d have been upset too and may have cried. To be putting up with pain like that for a year while you wait for an appointment is a long time and I’d expect some sort of solution to at least be suggested

I would complain. She sounds ill suited to her job...

She told you they can do nothing but they can? I think you should make a complaint. What were her qualifications?

Bloody complain.
Do it, you could easily have been someone literally at the end of their tether with the chronic pain and her shite attitude could have caused them to do something unspeakable to them self.
Complain for all of those poor nuggets going to see that person in the future, you could just save someone.

Poor buggers not nuggets!!

@DonLewis

Ah, you poor love. I came on to say try botox. It's really helped my sisters TMJ/D out. She has a greater range of ovement and everything. Glad they suggested it too.

If you can't wait, just for info, my sister has hers done at a private dentist and it costs £100.

Thank you Don

I'm going to be having botox via the NHS, the lovely dentist I'm used to has assured me that she's going to make sure I get it.

The only problem is I'm currently pregnant, so I can't have it just yet.

In the meantime she's going to do some research into amitriptyline and nortriptyline to see whether they're safe in pregnancy, if so she will prescribe.

I have an appointment with her on the 8th April for a TMD clinic she runs, at which point she'll let me know about those meds.

She has also offered to refer me for pain management with a psychologist as she acknowledged how hard it is to live with the chronic pain.

I feel much more optimistic knowing there's a plan and they're not just washing their hands of me.

I think her treatment of you warrants a conversation with PALS to be honest.

I don't understand people who are in a care profession, and then act like a bitch

Crossed posts

Thank you all for validating my feelings. I felt so defeatist and upset at the time, it's really not like me to break down like that in public.

I didn't want to complain as I know the NHS is under immense strain at the moment, but if people think I should then I'll consider it.

Yes she told me there was nothing that could be done, but there is.

I think you should make a complaint - just for the benefit of other patients and also as a learning point for the hospital and person you saw.

you could easily have been someone literally at the end of their tether with the chronic pain and her shite attitude could have caused them to do something unspeakable to them self

I'm ashamed to say that's exactly how I felt in the moment, I told her I couldn't go on living like this anymore.

To answer PP about her qualifications, she was a dentist working in the oral surgery department - same as the original lady I had been seeing.

I actually think you should complain. In fact I would strongly encourage you to do so.

If she has done that to you she will have done it to others - who may not have felt able to ask for a second opinion and have therefore been left without any care.

Complaining helps and protects people. It is a positive thing to do.

YANBU.

I have TMD and it’s awful, you really have my sympathy and I’m glad you’ve got a plan for going forward

What diagnostic procedures have you had so far?
I had an arthrography on my jaw joint which led to surgery to get it sorted.
I'm not surprised you cried, I can remember the pain, it's not something you should be told to live with.

We value and support the NHS by ensuring it provides the level of care people deserve and by holding it to account.

Brushing incidents like this under the carpet so more and more people come to harm does not benefit the NHS and it does not benefit the people that the NHS exists to serve.

You really should complain, because she is obviously in need of urgent training. Had you not pushed to see the original dentist, you would have been fobbed off with nonsense about there being nothing anyone can do when, as you discovered, that is simply not true.

You poor thing. This is exactly what PALS is for. YANBU at all, I would have reacted the same.

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit

What diagnostic procedures have you had so far? I had an arthrography on my jaw joint which led to surgery to get it sorted. I'm not surprised you cried, I can remember the pain, it's not something you should be told to live with.

I've only had physical examinations so far, no scans or MRI's.

My diagnosis based on physical examinations is 'acute myofascial TMD and a disc issue on the right hand side'

So it's both muscular and a disc issue. The disc on the right side of my jaw moves in and out considerably slower than the left side, so it's misaligned when opening.

The woman I saw today (the uncaring one) asked if I'd had an MRI and I told her no but I would like one and planned to broach that today.

She then went on to say they would only perform surgery on patients who had lock jaw or a small range of movement. I can open my mouth properly but it crunches, clicks and is painful.

YANBU. She sounds unempathic, dismissive and somewhat sloppy.
I would certainly complain!

Complain! It's not about getting her into trouble but she basically lied and said your condition can't be treated. For whatever reason, she has failed in her duty of care so a complaint is warranted.

The pain is awful and is always there no matter what.

I've been taking prescribed baclofen for the past year which is a strong muscle relaxant, it does nothing for me.

Turns out I need to wean off that now as it's not suitable for long term use and is commonly used long term in patients with M.S or similar.

How awful. Anyone with pain, especially chronic pain, should be treated with compassion. She also failed to provide proper care and you almost left without any hope or treatment, so I really would complain about both her competence and her approach.

(I had an odd experience having an ultrasound last year that was carried out by a technician, with a doctor who came to oversee. The doctor looked at the screen and even touched me without ever speaking to me. Why are these people in a caring profession?)