To complain about this Dr (and order antibiotics from a dodgy online pharmacy)

[Chwaraeteg]

I'm relatively sure I have a UTI (I've had a handful of UTI's previously - 2 of which have spread to my kidneys before I have managed to get treatment, so I'm familiar with the symptoms). All I want in the world is for someone to dip my bloody urine! Shouldn't be difficult, right?

Well, here is what I've been through in the last 24 hours:

Went to boots to use their private UTI service I had read about online. They told me their pharmacist hasn't had the right training for this yet. Advised goung to another branch. I don't drive, so I devides to phone 111 instead.

111 are great. They tell me I need to see a Dr within 2 hours. They acn't find me an apt, so pass my details onto OOO Gp.

OOO GP calls 4 hours later. Bad phoneline, extremely thick accent, gets angry when I ask him to repeat anything, during the call it becomes clear that he has a very limited grasp of spoken English. GP doesn't ynderstand basic words such as 'waist', 'navel' or 'side of body'. Doesn't understand where I am experiencing pain. GP tries to tell me I have Costochondritis!!! Tells me to take paracetamol and phone back in a weeks time if this hasn't improved. I query this and ask why I would be experiencing diziness/seeing stars with this. He tells me it's dehydration, probably caused by loose stools 😮 and I should drink more. I haven't mentuined loose stools. I don't have loose stools and I'm 90% sure I'm not dehydrated. Baffled by this and concerned about the level of miscommunication, I ask if I can see him face to face, or even drop in a urine sample. I'm told no.

Next step - Phone 111 and complain. I'm told to attend an OOO 60 miles away as I nees to be seen by a Dr within 2 hours. I decline, obviously, as I have no transport and it's the middle of the blooming night!

So, I try the Lloyds pharmacy online cystitis service. They decline to treat me, saying that my symptoms mean that I need to see a GP face to face and advising I call 111!!!!!!!!!

By this point I've had enough. I go into e-prescriptions online or some bollcks, fiddle around with the form until they get the answers they need and order myself some antibiotics (probably made in china and full of cyanide).

I mean, it shouldn't be this hard to get a fucking urine dip test, right?

I feel your pain op, I’ve had problems for months, 2 uti over Christmas/new year and generally feeling awful/exhausted bloods showing infection. I’ve had a diagnoses of Crohn’s disease recently but have had horrible lower back pain mostly right sided so I can’t walk far or stand for any length of time and I just feel horrible. Can I get a bloody drs appointment calling at 8am whilst trying to get 3 kids ready for school - youngest asd so needs getting ready by me. I never get an appointment and I’m in pain and really fed up. My gp is really nice and says I can call anytime to speak about things if I’m worried, however you can’t get past reception. I rarely bother them, I don’t want to be at the drs, I’m on high dose steroids for the crohns so more susceptible to infections however I think this has been rumbling on for ages. The lack of care drives you to seek alternatives, hope you’re feeling better soon op

Get antibiotics into you today and arrange an appointment with own GP tomorrow.
Get urine sample sent off to hospital via GP for testing if you have had more than 3 water infections with a twelve month period.

I've bought Nitrofurantoin online (from e-surgery) as that is what I was prescribed previously by a GP. I may be able to see my GP tomorrow if I call at 8 (though I'm not holding my breath, they are like fort knox atm). If my symptoms get worse I'll go to the hospital (so far I have a dull aching pain in my right side, between my ribs and hip. Sharper burning pain lower down that worsens when I wee, weeing every 20-30 mins, cloudy urine, wooziness and I'm feeling a bit shaky and weak. The pain started last weekend, then went away for a few days before returning on Saturday, after having sex. The rest of the symptoms are new).

For the poster who asked my age, I am 36 :-)

Last time I went to GP with UTI, prescribed antibiotics and left a sample. Had a call a couple of days later with prescription of different ABs.
GP had prescribed AB on basis of most common UTIs, but once test results came back, there was another AB more suited to whatever I had.
I appreciate your frustration, & hope that you're feeling better soon, but best to keep persevering to see a gp just in case, rather than relying on self diagnosis and what you were prescribed before.

@viques

It must be wonderful to be so bloody healthy and not get recurrent infections.

I have several auto immune diseases and an on immunosuppressive medications. I have recent MRSA in my sinuses and every 3-8weeks it flares up, I get a raging sinus infection at say, noon on Monday. By noon on Tuesday I've got a terrible chest infection and by midnight I've got the start of pneumonia. 36 hours after it starts. So if I can't get a drs appointment on the Monday as I need to call at 9am for a sage day appointment. So I can Tuesday and pray I get a slot. If I don't then I have to call the walk in Center and again, pray I can get a prescription for clarithromycin. If I can't? Then I'm in hospital for 3-7 days . But even so, can I get any antibiotics to keep in reserve from the NHS? No I bloody can't. So when I go abroad to a country that sells them in a pharmacy of course I buy a few courses. Because the NHS wasn't wonderful pre corona, now it's absolutely bloody awful.

During the lockdown I phoned my regular GP for a repeat prescription
I could not get passed the receptionist, despite stating that I had taken it for X years

I ordered on line, at a cost to myself

However, I am fully aware that some other people do not have funds to buy themselves

So angry !

[quote ChiefBabySniffer]@viques

It must be wonderful to be so bloody healthy and not get recurrent infections.

I have several auto immune diseases and an on immunosuppressive medications. I have recent MRSA in my sinuses and every 3-8weeks it flares up, I get a raging sinus infection at say, noon on Monday. By noon on Tuesday I've got a terrible chest infection and by midnight I've got the start of pneumonia. 36 hours after it starts. So if I can't get a drs appointment on the Monday as I need to call at 9am for a sage day appointment. So I can Tuesday and pray I get a slot. If I don't then I have to call the walk in Center and again, pray I can get a prescription for clarithromycin. If I can't? Then I'm in hospital for 3-7 days . But even so, can I get any antibiotics to keep in reserve from the NHS? No I bloody can't. So when I go abroad to a country that sells them in a pharmacy of course I buy a few courses. Because the NHS wasn't wonderful pre corona, now it's absolutely bloody awful. [/quote]
That seems unduly strict. My GP prescribed me clarithromycin to keep in reserve over the covid crisis following a bad attack of asthma and be abuse I've had pneumonia and pleurisy before.

I also got prescribed antibiotics by my GP online during covid for an infected finger (it was oretty nasty).

Still not a substitute for a face to face examination though.

Its bank holiday, this will obviously mean things run differently.

Id not order anything online but pop into your gp tomorrow morning, you don't need an appt, they'll dip your urine and prescribe if required.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon

Get some Vogel Uva Ursi. It will soon deal with the uti.