Strange appointment with GP - should I have said I'm pregnant (again)?

[Blankel]

I had a GP appointment today for a UTI, I'm 36 weeks pregnant (so I'm very pregnant). I was asked to provide a urine sample on arrival. I said to the GP that I'm 36 weeks pregnant and I also said that my midwife had tested my urine and said there are nitrates and protein in there and that she had sent me to them for antibiotics. Then the GP asked for my symptoms and I told her. She then asked me to get on the scales, which I did and it said I'm 70.2kg, which she calculated as a BMI of 28 and told me my BMI is overweight. She then asked to measure my waist, which I said ok to, and it was 99cm. She told me my height to waist ratio was very high (my waist is just under 2/3 of my height) and that I should "work on that", recommending that I try to go for a daily walk and work on my diet to improve it - and that it might ease my symptoms. She then said to wait for the urine sample results and I'd get a phone call if I need antibiotics.

I feel a bit confused. I'm very clearly heavily pregnant so surely the whole issue of having a skewed height to waist ratio isn't a problem? Or am I missing something? Should I have reiterated that I'm pregnant? I didn't want to sound like an idiot...it was really obvious that I'm pregnant - she literally was measuring my waist so can't have missed my bump! Should I be trying to lose weight?

Are your GP practice some kind of weird anti-drug hippies? I'm pregnant at the moment and the doctor who recently prescribed me antibiotics said these particular ones are fine because they also give them to women who have infections just before/in labour.

Whatever happens I'd seriously suggest changing GP practice. If this isn't some giant troll windup I'd say they seem totally incompetent.

I also agree with PP - if you haven't been ill much before there's no reason why you'd know this but it turns out you sometimes have to fight like a demon to get the treatment you need. A few years ago I had an accident and when I phoned the doc about the injury they booked me in for 2 weeks later. When I turned up at the appointment and things had clearly got far worse and infected (needed care from a consultant and specialist clinic for months after) they asked why I didn't come in before. Well I didn't ask to wait 2 weeks did I! Apparently what I should have done is pressed for a same day face to face appointment. Basically the overstretched NHS works on a principle of "if you don't kick up an almighty fuss we assume you're basically fine". It makes me so sad and cross and it's bound to be the quiet, no-trouble types who end up suffering or even dying because they don't want to act like divas and demand treatment NOW. But that's the game we have to play.

I know you had your appointment in this case, but I think what you needed to do was say "the midwife is sure I have a UTI, they suggested I go to A&E but I preferred not to waste their resources, as you know this is very dangerous at this stage of pregnancy so I'd appreciate it if you'd put me on antibiotics urgently if possible".

Deferring to experts is what a lot of us were trained to do but sometimes you just need to say what you need and keep pressing til you get it.

x-post re the GP practice

Unless you're living on an island (possible) I'd really hassle to get onto the books of another one. Like so many things it can probably be done despite what the NHS website says.

Can't believe this still isn't sorted for you.

Are you sure the practice you attend are actually doctors?

Not to recognise you are pregnant, no information on screen, bad care given regarding a uti etc

I've had 5 kids and took antibiotics for all of them. I've had uti's for 4 pregnancies. I took antibiotics in the 3rd trimester. There are antibiotics that are safe for pregnant women. There are many medications safe especially for pregnant women.

Once a suspected uti is presented you should be sorted immediately, if a gp can't fit you in they usually sort medications over the phone or leave a prescription for you. They never leave you suffering especially when pregnant and especially when it's a uti.

As for your maternity hospital telling you to take paracetamol 😲 I'm in Ireland, we have such few hospitals, such few midwives and GPS and even we get better treatment than this. All my maternity hospitals has an a & e for things like this and the doctors on duty could prescribe.

Personally, as soon as l got told to wait days to see the GP in person I'd have contacted the original Midwife

You're falling through the cracks bigtime here, you know that, right?
I know a few people who have ended up hospitalised with sepsis through similar disinterest/incompetence, and they weren't even pregnant.

Hope the midwife gets back to you asap OP.
I have also had antibiotics in pregnancy and am appalled at some of the medical advice you've been given.

Good luck

I would complain, definitely. They sound dangerously incompetent. Hope you get sorted soon!

Astonishing how some posters willfully misread the OPs posts, so the poor woman has to keep repeating herself. RTFT people if you want to be helpful.

I think I’m missing the point of the thread but… she told you to lose weight to fix a UTI?

She sounds bonkers.

That GP sounds insane

Until I had children I never really questioned medical advice. Then my first born had an infection around where his umbilical was at 2 weeks old. GP gave creams, told me to come back in 2 days, ended up at the out of office dr on the Saturday night as knew something was wrong, different antibiotic cream and follow up appointment in a week, went to see health visitor for routine appointment, she took one look and said A&E NOW and got me in a cab. A&E were so angry initially as thought I had been ignoring the seriousness of the situation. He was admitted straight away, antibiotics by drip. If I had continued to follow the medical advice he would have died. I really learnt my lesson.

This actually pretty much was the point of the thread - I wanted to check if I was missing something or going insane. But then, as the thread progressed, it turns out my original point wasn't the important thing to be focussing on at all.

Oh op you poor thing. You are clearly trying really hard but seem to be coming up against wilfully awful advice at every turn.

1. When is your next midwife appointment? Is there anyway you can get in contact with your original midwife and ask for advice?

1. Are you still feeling ill? And are you getting worse?

1. Longer term, please change to a different practice as they sound incompetent.

You're not alone OP.
I had a UTI at 21 weeks and the midwife and consultant were reluctant to prescribe antibiotics. I had blood and leukocytes in my urine so usually that's a pretty clear cut case. They sent it off and apparently it was clear. I had to wait a week until I had symptoms - pain and constant peeing before the gp agreed to antibiotics.

There is a uti antibiotic (nitrofurantoin) that you can't have late in pregnancy but there's alternatives they can prescribe.

NHS 111 didn't call back last night so I phoned my GP this morning and they gave me a phone appointment with a different GP. That GP phoned back and said that they wouldn't prescribe antibiotics at this stage of the pregnancy anyway because it's not safe.

I am really struggling to believe this. I was prescribed antibiotics for a UTI on the same day that my MW checked my urine sample at 38 weeks. They prescribed a broad-spectrum AB while waiting for for culture to come back precisely because the risk of sepsis at that stage in pregnancy is so huge. I cannot believe a GP would refuse someone in your position antibiotics and it's making me question whether the entire thread isn't just a huge wind-up.

But giving you the benefit of the doubt for a minute, OP, I think you're being way too passive and nice. Go to your maternity unit now, tell them you've got a UTI, you're 36 weeks pregnant and you're worried about sepsis, and don't leave until you get a prescription.

it's making me question whether the entire thread isn't just a huge wind-up.

Also reached this conclusion. If not, the incompetence, confusion and passiveness is astounding.

Hhmm it's not nice to doubt the OP but it is very convenient that we have an uninterested, selfish partner, an incompetent GP and a very passive pregnant woman. If only there was one assertive responsible adult amongst you all.

I'm not really sure how I'm being "passive". I saw the midwife, I phoned the GP for an appointment, I had a phone appointment, I filled out the form of the test, I did the test, I had a face-to-face appointment, I phoned my Maternity unit, I filled out the NHS 111 online form, I phoned NHS 111, I phoned my GP for another appointment, I had another phone appointment, I phoned and messaged my midwife. All in the space of less than a week.

Poor you @Blankel. You're getting a very hard time on here! Hope you manage to sort it out soon and you have a peaceful rest of your pregnancy!

I don't mean to be rude but you were very passive on the weighing scales being lectured about bmi.

I have a few relatives that are allergic to penicillin etc. They have been incorrectly prescribed it numerous times. You mustn't feel embarrassed to speak up when the doctors get things wrong.

Never be afraid to challenge dodgy medical advice with “the NICE guidelines say….so I’d rather be cautious and go with that if possible”.

Do you have an urgent care near you? I'd go there and get seen in person again. Or even A&E at this stage because it might be the only way to be taken seriously.

I had a UTI in each of my two pregnancies and was prescribed antibiotics each time, no issues. I think that there are some antibiotics which doctors prefer not to prescribe in pregnancy but there are several which are known to be safe. You've been treated very strangely and I would definitely be seeking another opinion ASAP.

Yes @SoftSheen it's concerning that numerous posters on here have been in the same boat and were prescribed antibiotics and even a doctor posted to say it needs dealing with immediately yet there's still no movement. The OP is now being failed spectacularly.