To expect my GP not to treat me like a leper because I am ill?

[Jenkeywoo]

I've been coughing for nearly 4 weeks, I've slept sat up in the rocking chair with a numb ass for the last 4 nights, I'm fed up. I finished a course of anti-biotics 2 weeks ago but as it's no better I reluctanly went back to the GP today.

I walked into her room, one hand pushing the pushchair, other hand struggling with the door so for a few seconds wasn't able to put my hand over my mouth when I coughed. GP looked at me, then swivelled in her chair right to the other side of the room and ordered to me to take a tissue and hold it over my face! She said 'don't you dare give it to me, or to them (meaning my dd's)' - She then told me to 'stay away from' my dd's - I explained that they're with me 24/7 so could be hard so she told me I have to always have a tissue over my face at all times.

She then proceeded to ask me if I wanted more anti-biotics - I suggested that perhaps she could decide as she is the expert. She then prescribed me some more anti-biotics which after I'd picked up at the chemist I realised were not recommended for when you're breastfeeding (I normally remember to mention this but was too taken aback by her generally rude manner). So I had to go back and get another lot but had already paid for the first and Chemist can't refund so I know have to wait for the Practice Manager to review the situation

My dd's were really upset as she told me not to kiss them! All the way home dd kept saying 'why the doctor say mummy can't kiss me?' - She obviously has a problem with ill people so imo is in the wrong profession.

you obviously caught her at a very bad moment.

I hope you get better soon so you don't have to go and see her again.

I'd like to think it was a bad moment but the last time I saw her with pain in my wrists dd was 6 months old and she told me that I should stop breastfeeding as it doesn't have any value after 6 months and 'they bite don't they?' - I only saw her today as I was desperate to see someone before the weekend and for some reason she always has appointments.

She sounds awful, and imo that's the last thing you need when you're ill already. Can you change to another doctor/practice?

Hope you're feeling better soon btw

It's actually a really good practice with 6 GP's and I haven't seen her for ages so will make sure I avoid her in the future however ill I am!

have you got leprosy?

bo-boom

Cheers pointydog, just snorted tea all over my keyboard!

har

Thanks pointydog! another avenue to explore. I did get worried when I read the leaflet in the anti-biotics earlier and saw they use it to treat Anthrax and Gonnoroeah(sp).

I wonder why she's the one out of every GP in the practice who always has appointments free?

How vile and out of touch with the real world is she! Sounds like she needs therapy, Get well soon!

TBH, I'd complain to the practice manager (I see you've already raised the issue of the refund and so you should). Not simply because she sounds very rude but prescribing you a drug unsuitable for use breastfeeding could actually be dangerous (thank goodness you noticed). As this was a repeat prescription (as in "do you want more anti-biotics" ??!!) your notes should have contra-indicated what she prescribed this time. At the very least, I'd have thought a woman with a baby young enough to potentially be breastfeeding should be asked EVERY visit whether she is in fact still doing so, BEFORE any drug is suggested. It's common sense to me and I'm not a doctor.

Well, the reason I think it was missed is because dd is 19 months old and as she thinks breastfeeding beyond 6 months is ridiculous I guess she couldn't possibly imagine I could still be doing it! I do normally mention it as I have never been asked even when my children were tiny but I was just floored by her tonight. As it happens the second prescription she gave me is for the same anti-biotics I had 3 weeks ago, same dose and everything so I can't see how it will work .

Could you have whooping cough, do you think? If so, go back and cough on her some more.

I have to say a did have a nice big cough in her direction before leaving the room.

Seriously, though, do you think it could be whooping cough? Is your chest clear?

Blimey, I've just read about Whooping cough and it sounds a bit like it, it says adults don't have the 'whoop' always. My lower chest is clear apparantly - the original doc said laryngitis (although I didn't have a sore throat or lose my voice) - I have loads of almost squealing at the top of my chest, just below my throat area. I can hear it crackling and squealing when I breath out. tbh I am really feeling quite desperate as I can't lie down at all and am so tired from sleeping sat up in the rocking chair. I feel like there is crap on my chest but no amount of coughing will shift it.

Chest sounding clear is fairly typical of whooping cough (had lots of doctors listen to my chest and say "well, it sounds clear so it can't be anything serious").

Do you get episodes of kind of convulsive coughing where you just cough and cough and cough and can't get your breath back, and then it eases up and you can take a breath (may also make you start retching)? Also, mine would settle down and then moving my head or neck would set it off again.

If it is whooping cough, the bad news is that there's not much you can do about it, other than wait for it to go away.

Yes I do get evil coughing fits where it's almost like I've forgotten what I'm coughing about and my whole upper body is in spasm - and I have vomited a few times too.

Are children routinely vaccinated against it in the UK? I'm wondering if that's why my dd's are fine despite me not employing the tissue across the face at all times protocol.

COW! ( the GP)

I had a cough a few years ago that just wouldnt go away and was keeping me awake all night. Saw my dr who said it was a something that I cant remember the name of, sorry, but the more I coughed the more it irritated it and the more it was irritated the more I coughed! She prescribed me some liquid codeine as its a cough supressant and it really worked. Stopped the coughing for long enough for whatever it was to recover and enabled me to get some sleep!

Dont know if this is any help to you but thought it was worth mentioning.

And good quality dark chocolate is also meant to be very good at stopping coughing, just allow a square or two to melt slowly in your mouth! Might not work but its got to be worth a try!

poor you. having a shitty time of it. hope youre better soon -and lemonaid too

if you have the energy, perhpas you should go back to the docs (diff one obv) and suggest the look into whooping cough?

my mum is medical and she always used to send us to the doc with our diagnosis already made. doc would always have a good look, then say 'ah yes, so you do have...' lol.

Yes, there's routine vaccination in the 2/3/4 month vaccinations (DS, of course, managed to go down with it at 2 weeks before any jabs). It's not 100% effective and often wears off over time, but works on most people for a few years at least and also reduces the severity in the vaccinated even if they do get it.

In my totally-medically-unqualified opinion it does sound very like whooping cough. GPs are notoriously bad at diagnosing it these days.

In good-ish news, if it is whooping cough then after about six weeks you don't feel quite so much as though you want to die just because it sounds as though it would be good for your sleeping opportunities. In bad news, elements of the cough linger on for months until one day you suddenly realise that you've not had a coughing fit for several days...

Additional good news -- after around three weeks you normally aren't infectious any more. In bad news, that means your cough over evil-bitch-doctor-from-hell was probably wasted.

my mother had a mild case of whooping cough at 62.

it took months for them to finally test her for this.

Mine was getting on for three years ago now, so I'm recovered nicely .