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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Have we been cleverly fobbed off by Christian g.p g.p?

113 replies

Drinkwinewithme · 31/12/2021 20:29

Ran dd15 physical symptoms by G.p . She said bring in dd to have e.c.g and that she thought she could have p.o.ts syndrome.
ECG was fine, blood pressure low on standing but nothing to worry about..But she also said that we were to look up somatic. Is this the same then as hypochondria, if so why not just say! How do I cure the somatic ?

I asked if she had pots, should she have tilt test ? She said no as she was not passing out. So I'm confused. A.i.b.u being confused ?
Also above g.p's head, a framed Bible poster saying that those who believe in Jesus will see their health soar (like eagles wings). So belief will make her well? I'm sure there was some mention of once she has this diagnosis, she won't have to knock on medical doors (well what if she does need to consult, what is this about ?!) .

OP posts:
Xmassprout · 31/12/2021 22:10

I know of a few people with pots and they don't all pass out when standing. I don't think taking BP on standing is enough to rule out pots but I'm not clinical. You could try another GP

Could you try increasing her salt intake to see if that improves her symptoms at all?

User48751490 · 31/12/2021 22:13

I remember seeing a GP years ago who said she would pray for me.

itsjustnotok · 31/12/2021 22:13

I’m really sorry OP but I really struggled to really understand your post.

Onehotmessiah · 31/12/2021 22:24

@topcat2014

How anyone clever enough to be a gp believes in religion is beyond me.
That’s out of order.
Onehotmessiah · 31/12/2021 22:25

Ask to see a different doctor if you don’t like/understand or agree with what was said. You can ask for a 2nd opinion, you don’t need to say why.

Onehotmessiah · 31/12/2021 22:27

@User48751490

I remember seeing a GP years ago who said she would pray for me.
Is that instead of, or as well as treating you? If it’s the first that’s clearly overstepping, wrong, absolutely awful. If it’s the 2nd it’s probably overstepping but likely was meant to be comforting.
EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 31/12/2021 22:30

Obtain a consultation with another GP.

Look at NHS resources for long COVID if that is what you're describing.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-long-covid/

www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/what-is-covid-19/long-covid/

Nomoreusernames1244 · 31/12/2021 22:32

How do you know that was the GP’s regular office? Ours all “hot desk” , they just work from any available consulting room.

Maybe it’s the practice manager who’s religious? Maybe a patient gave it too them?

Did you ask them?

Did you ask them to elaborate on what they meant by “somatic”? That just refers to the body and is very vague.

hedwigismyowl · 31/12/2021 22:39

My faith influences my beliefs which influences my values. And those values include working for the NHS, a service free at the point of delivery, because healthcare, and social care, should be for all and not dependent on the ability to pay.

So whilst I agree religious beliefs should be left at home, for me it runs deeper than that.

I believe in treating everyone equally, as you would want to be treated. It sounds corny but the reason I am in my chosen profession is to help people, which is what my religion believes.

Hugoslavia · 31/12/2021 22:44

I have to agree that I don't think that GPs should be displaying religious posters in their rooms. It could worry patients that they might be being judged for their life choices. Patients need to be made to feel as comfortable as possible and anything that inhibits communication with the Dr is not in the patients best interests.

Butchyrestingface · 31/12/2021 22:48

How do people feel about medical staff wearing religious adornments/articles to work?

Ie, crucifix, turban, hijab. Is it acceptable only if not visible? Obv not possible in the case of a turban or hijab so I'm thinking more along the lines of crucifix or kirpan. Not acceptable? Or totally acceptable to signal individual faith in a medical setting?

I'm agnostic but grew up in a religious family and community. Knew a fair few crucifix-wearing people.

ilssagain · 31/12/2021 22:50

To those saying that Christian stuff shouldn't be on display in a doctor's office I say tell your child's school to end Christian assemblies

Tell it to the government. Schools are obliged to provide a daily act of collective worship, broadly Christian in nature. That's the rules laid down by the government.
No point telling your school to end them,
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from acts of worship if they do not want the children to participate.
Patients going to see the GP should not be confronted with religious posters of any description - completely inappropriate.

me4real · 31/12/2021 22:51

Psychosomatic isn't the same as hypochondria. The person feels real symptoms, but they are psychological in origin.

The GP should refer her to see a consultant or counsellor. Keep pushing for that. x

LaurenKelsey · 31/12/2021 22:52

@ParkheadParadise

I love the hymn On Eagles Wings 👼 Can't comment on your GP.
On Eagle’s Wings is beautiful.
ZenNudist · 31/12/2021 22:53

Barking

secular39 · 31/12/2021 22:54

@GeorgiaGirl52

I would rather have a doctor who believes in God than a doctor who believes he IS God.
Yesss 🙏🏾👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
me4real · 31/12/2021 22:55

I don't think the person's faith is relevant to her assessment @Drinkwinewithme . Someone can be a Christian or any religion and still be an evidence based consultant. If they are a registered doctor then recommending stuff that isn't in line with evidence-based guidelines would tend to be frowned on.

But you can always take her to see another one/change who she's under.

BlueCookieMonster · 31/12/2021 22:58

You don’t even know if that’s the doctors regular office, or even if the doctor even is a regular at the surgery, that doctor could easily have been a locum or a trainee GP rotating.

You’ve made a lot of assumptions based on a poster in an office.

AlfonsoTheGoat · 31/12/2021 22:59

@Hydrate

No religious paraphernalia ought to be in a doctor's office.
Interesting. So no hijabs or turbans.
rattlemehearties · 31/12/2021 23:06

OP please re-read your post and address the typos? That's why people think you're drunk. It's really unclear.

ParkheadParadise · 31/12/2021 23:13

I'm not in the medical profession BUT I wear a crucifix 24/7 I also have a crucifix and Rosary beads tattoo very visible.
Wonder if people make a judgement about me when I meet them.

RockinHorseShit · 31/12/2021 23:37

I wouldn't be comfortable with religious paraphernalia in a GP office either. Regardless as to whether you miss read it or not, when dealing with people from all walks of life, it's just not the place for it.

As for what was said, it really depends as above if they said somatic or psychosomatic.

DD & I both have POTs as a comorbid condition with both pernicious anaemia & Ehlers Danlos. Neither of us pass out. I've passed out twice & DD a few more times pre getting B12 injections. We never pass out now, but do get dizzy/white out as if we will, but lying down or even sitting & resting if you catch it early enough. Drinking lots of fluid & extra salt helps too.

15 is old enough for a tilt table test, but you'll need a referral to a specialist unit usually attached to heart clinic, as POTs isn't generally understood. We have to travel to the Syncope Clinic in Hammersmith in London.

POTsUK is a good place for information, so GP is right if they recommended that. They have fobbed you off though as yiu need a referral, at very least she needs a correctly done "active stand test" you can do this at home to check fir yourself with a BP monitor too, instructions on POTSUK diagnosis page.

Id suggest looking at the "Beighton Score" in images to see if she's hypermobile at all & ask fir a rheumatologist referral if she is hypermobile.

Id also insist of vitamin B12 blood tests, especially if there's any PA in your family, or if she's vegan/ vegetarian, heavy periods, has had covid,mor may have been messing around with those laughing gas canisters. This can be a cause of POTs & prompt treatment cures it, or if hypermobile too, then at very least it can improve things a lot.

I've a good link for explaining it to teens & school & I'll pop back with it, but she needs an official diagnosis to access treatment & help in school & any underlying causes treat & managed. It can affect much more than just dizziness. Thankfully some teens do just grow out of it & there's no underlying cause bar maybe hormones

RockinHorseShit · 31/12/2021 23:39

This is a good link. Dysautonomia is another name for POTs...

https://www.ehlers-danlos.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MAYOCliniccTeensDysautonomiaacopy.pdf

RockinHorseShit · 31/12/2021 23:45

I wouldn't be comfortable with religious paraphernalia

I should rephrase that.

Personal items such as crucifix, turban or whatever are perfectly fine. Posters on the wall are too in your face preachy & are another matter though

RockinHorseShit · 31/12/2021 23:49

I remember seeing a GP years ago who said she would pray for me.

Yup, me too, whilst refusing a referral for a medical needs abortion for my then petrified 23 yo self who had only recently recovered from some scary medical stuff & it was the last thing my body needed & telling me that life was gods gift & to be happyHmm. I had to pay to go private & really couldn't afford it at the time