GP accusing me of health anxiety

[veniceorna]

I went to see my Gp today - lump in breast. I've had a lump before but that was 2 years ago and a blocked milk duct. This one hasn't gone and it's been around for a few weeks. I thought the sensible thing was to get checked out

He agrees there's a hard lump as has referred me to breast clinic. Then, he said to me 'do you think you worry about your health? And probably look for things a lot that probably aren't really there?'

I said no... but I do get anything that needs looking at, looked at. As that's the general advice. He said 'yes but you have had a lot going on, are you sure you aren't looking for things?'

I wasn't sure how to reply so jusr said 'I don't think so'

In the last year I've had my gallbladder removed because of gallstones, (medically proven as seen), and investigations of my cervix due to heavy and irregular bleeding (again, proven as GP saw himself)

I also had a prolapse of the bowel sorted by surgery 18 months ago.

AIBU to think it's a bit unfair to ask me if I'm looking for things? they aren't in my head. Hence the bloody surgeries and medical evidence

I wonder is it a thing they have been trained on recently. I took my DS (13) to the GP as he has classic
migraines.

He asked my son about them and my son said the word aura and kaleidoscope in describing them. The GP accused him of using technical language he had got from the internet and said it was health anxiety. I had to v robustly point out both me and my husband had migraines we were treated for and that as my son had been to the GP a sum total of 3 times in his life, the last being 6 years ago it was hardly likely he had health anxiety.

I thought it was because I was a N Irish female and people tend to think that I'm a bit thick and my child wouldnt know big medical words. Never occurred to me it was some sort of new GP training. Complain OP.

Not the same issue, but I had a GP with a very similar bedside manner. I never made a complaint about him because I didn't have the headspace to deal with him at the time, and I've always regretted it. If you're able to, complain.

He clearly thinks it's worthy of investigation, or he wouldn't have sent you to the breast clinic.

You haven't been to the GP with problems that aren't there; you've been there with real problems. The man is a complete tosser and should be reported before he indirectly kills other women by convincing them to stay at home next time they spot something problematic that would be treatable if caught in time.

When I was younger, it didn't bother me whether I was seen by a male or female doctor. Now that I'm old, I would much prefer to be seen by a female doctor because she's less likely to think any serious women's issues are imaginary.

@DeclineandFall Medical types often seem to think that we're not allowed to know the words that they know.

I took a relative's pets to the vet a while back, and the vet explained to me that their gums were sore and red because of germs getting in — I said something like "They've got gingivitis?" because it would be easier for me to pass on a single word rather than a long detailed description, and the vet responded, "Yes, that's right! You have a medical background, do you?" Not in a hostile way, just surprised, like I couldn't possibly know technical terminology like gingivitis unless I'd been to university for it I mean, I could've said "gum disease" I suppose, but gingivitis is a normal word for me and was what came to mind.

You should buy him Kris Hallenga’s new book ‘Glittering a Turd’!

This really pisses me off.

Having multiple confirmed health conditions - or confirmed causes for investigation - is so obviously not indicative of hypochondria or anxiety!

I’ve often been made to feel like this by doctors as I’ve had a shit ton of issues…but they’ve all been confirmed by specialists and some have required surgery!

Please complain, OP. I always think of the vulnerable, timid folks who would lack the confidence to advocate for themselves - and be reluctant to seek treatment again - if they’d been made to feel this way.

I’m not a complainer but I would complain about this, this is why so many are reluctant to go to the GP.

Tbf my ex has persuaded many GPs he needs surgeries and has lots of medical issues.
Perhaps the gp is just saying you contact them a lot in between the other issues.

Same with opticians actually. I have high myopia, moderate astigmatism, myopic discs with peripapillary atrophy, and am at risk of retinal detachment and unrelatedly of retinopathy, for which I have screening. I'm also prone to false high readings on non-contact tonometry. In other words I got eye shit going on. Eye records don't always get passed on because it's private, so when I've been told stuff about my eyes, I pass that on to the professionals examining me using the terminology that was used by the other professional, to make sure I'm not communicating it wrong (except maybe I'd say "very short-sighted" rather than "high myopia", or just not mention it because it's obvious, and maybe talk about eye pressure rather than tonometry).

I'd say about a quarter of the time, I get asked if I have a medical background. Just for using words like retinopathy, which is written at the top of my screening letter every year, or for mentioning my myopic discs if they comment on the way the back of my eye looks.

@DeclineandFall this resonates with me. I had a tosser GP locum even suggest I look up a condition on the NHS website for "self care". I did and it said go in.

I don’t see how anyone can persuade a gp or specialist they need surgery or have a diagnosable chronic condition! To suggest so is ridiculous, frankly.

you know what, i feel like you because i have had so many operations.... my MIL had genuinely diagnosed Munchausen's, not by proxy, it was her that was "ill" for 40 years but there was never a need for surgery or anything on scans etc
I go and like you, there's a problem - i have a scan, there it is, have surgery - all good.
But people "joke" that I have a problem
(i do ... it's a decrepit body)

I'm kind of the opposite. My lovely and kind GP recognized anxiety the first time she met me, but didn't press the issue. She eventually gently suggested I read up about anti anxiety drugs. It actually took months for me to accept she was right.

OP, I think the fact that you saw a locum says it all. Most locums are not that good - if they were, they would have permanent jobs. There are exceptions of course.

I worked in a GP setting for 4 years and left only recently from what you have said you are not 'looking for health problems' if it's proven, and you definitely don't come across as I'd you have health anxiety although lots of people are suffering with it after COVID. We had one lady who did (one out of 6.5k patients) and you could hear it in her tone and the things she said and if she didn't get a call back asap she'd be back on the phone multiple times that day.
There are actual indicators of this and having proven health issues which need referring etc. This is not health anxiety, don't stop getting these things checked out because the Dr is making you feel like a nuisance, put it in writing to the practice manager or better still to NHS England (assuming you're in England!)