Messed up with GP

[Ncc]

So a few years ago I stopped going to the doctors. If I get really ill, I go to hospital. Apart from pregnancy midwife appointments as well.

When this all started, I was living with my narc ex-MIL, I had an itchy rash on my hand which turned out to be eczema and I had some steroid cream for it. She took the piss out of me for going to the doctors for a rash and bullied me for it, said I was a hypochondriac and had munchausens. She would constantly bring it up. I don’t even know why I let this effect me, I shouldn’t have because her opinion means nothing. I think it was just because it was the first time she’d said something horrible outright to me. Anyway, I felt embarrassed and like I was an imposter going to the doctors so I never went again.

Several years later, I moved house and I’m not even registered to a GP anymore. I’ve got so many things on my list that I need help with and I don’t know where to start. When appointments are 5-10 minutes long and you can only speak on one issue, how do I decide what to talk about? Do I have to book multiple appointments? Are some of the things non-issue and I should just let them go if it’s been this long? I’m worried they won’t even take me seriously

• Extremely sensitive and painful lower back when touched since having a c section 3.5 years ago, affects my daily life

• Small lung capacity, worse in mornings or lifting things, I did have childhood asthma. Had a pulmonary embolism last year. Getting harder to breathe and do normal tasks.

• Excessive weight gain (3.5st in 12 months) for no apparent reason
• sharp pain when touched near my appendix or ovary (defo not appendicitis) was first noticed by consultant when I was in hospital last year and told to follow up with GP

• I think I have some type of post traumatic stress disorder. I went through an extremely traumatic childhood, physical, mental, sexual abuse & neglect. Homeless at 16 lived in hostels. Domestic violence. Endless trauma. I have flashbacks and I can’t sleep at night. Also exhausted, depressed, burnt out. Avoid places that link to my trauma. I’ve tried a couple apps, meditatiation, yoga etc but it was a trigger for me. Seriously affecting my quality of life.
• Was meant to follow up on pulmonary embolism and get tested for blood clotting disorders as they couldn’t find a cause

Which one do I prioritise?

Book a double appointment. Tell them you have a number of issues to discuss and therefore need a longer session. No need to prioritise 1 over the other...Some symptoms could be linked.

You poor thing, sending a virtual hug. With my GP they direct us to use E-consult in order to book an appointment, if you have that option I’d list everything you’ve put here as they may book you a double appointment or at least triage some of it on the phone first.

I’d start by combining the following the PE up and small lung capacity/ breathless.

E mail the surgery with all these symptoms would be what we are able to do. You then get a call back. You will need to register

Ask people you know which surgery they are registered with and if they are happy.

Go in and register as a New Patient.

I think then they will call you in for a chat/assessment - ask the receptionist.

If not, book a “double appointment” for two conditions - and take in your very well written bulllet point list above as a starting point.

History of pulmonary embolism / blood test/clotting disorder would be first on my list.

They might offer you a screening/new patient appointment with the practice nurse also.

As others have said either write your list on an econsult or book a double appointment. They'll priortise for you.

OP I am so sorry for what you’ve been through and I sincerely hope things are better for you now than they were.

It’s vital that you see a GP as a priority. When you register, it might be worth arranging a call from with one of the doctors as a starting point so that you can talk through what you’ve listed, see what they advise and go from there. On my practice website each GP has a little bio so you can get an idea of which one you might one to see (eg one who has a special interest in pulmonary problems, etc).

You have suffered extreme trauma - none of this is your fault and they will absolutely take you seriously. Best of luck to you 💐

Deff book a double appointment and go over everything. Like pp said, they could be linked.

might want to see, that should say!

You definitely need one appointment per issue. These are all big things and will take a minimum of ten minutes each to explore. Decide what impacts you most day to day and then go with that first. Perhaps mention on the first appointment that you've not attended for a long time and so have a lot of issues you need to address and so have booked a lot of appointments (just gives them a heads up and a chance to hear your list lest they come across something that they feel they need to prioritise).

I find eConsult brilliant for this. You write down everything, then they respond with what they think you will beed - long phone consultation, double face to face, separate face to face, multiple appointments with different members of the practice etc.

You will need to register. Ask a friend who they are with. Aim for a practice with multiple GPs, as they are likely to have more GPs with particular interests.

E consult if you say certain symptoms pain for instance they kick you off and say go to a and e. So you have to start again

Oh love all these are things you do need some help with, you’re not a hypochondriac at all, you deserve to feel well and have these things investigated and treated. I would ring your local GP and get registered & say you have a few things to discuss, you can make more than one appointment or a longer one if you need to.

It depends a bit how your surgery works but econsult or double appointment as pp have said, or if reception will only book you a single ,you explain to the GP that you have a list and they will either deal with the whole lot or prioritise what sounds most urgent and ask you to book appointment for the rest.

I'm a GP. Each surgery works differently but what I would find helpful is print out that list. Give it to me. You pick your most important issue. I pick my most important one and we arrange follow up for the others. As long as you are patient and realistic and appreciate it will take several appointments to go through it all I never mind a list like that. Good luck.