Extremely rude doctor

[Picturesintheclouds08]

This is more of a vent than anything else.

In my GP practice you don't get a face to face, you get a phone call then a face to face if deemed necessary. That's fine, no issue with that.

You have to state what you are calling for to the receptionist so I stated stomach issues and period problems.

The doctor calls and asks how he can help.

I begin saying - I'm calling for Two things that may or may not be related.. one is a pain in my stomach, one is period pains.. he cuts me off right there and says .. I don't have time for a list of issues.

What's your stomach pain he asks - dull ache, coming and going, few centimeters to the right and below belly button, been going on few weeks. He says - it's just your bowels, it is very normal. I question that - I'm 36, never had this pain before.

Then I say - about my period - he goes - I don't have time to be talking about periods and all that, quickly give me the highlights. I could not believe the rudeness of him. Highlights - 12 days between a period, sometimes 7 weeks, extremely painful through to my back and bum - cannot physically move, blood clots, very heavy, would consider a hysterectomy it is that bad. (Took me about 30 seconds to give him that run down) Ok he says, i dont have time to deal with this today and you need to call back another day for a new appointment and request a female doctor.

I was gobsmacked at his rudeness. The phone call lasted under 5 mins. I understand they are under alot of pressure but his rudeness was terrible. I didn't realise you couldn't talk about 2 issues (that may be related) at the same appointment.

Always work out which GP are good at the gynaecological issues, generally speaking I've found the female ones better.

Unforgivable rudeness though. I'd complain.

But they might be one issue.

The appointment per issue rule is for things that are clearly unconnected.

OP this is outrageous and I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with it.

I would complain, it’s not acceptable for him to refuse to investigate issues because he’s a man, there’s no need for you to see a female GP just because you’re discussing a problem related to being a female. I have endometriosis and I have very similar symptoms, I get a lot of digestive and IBS symptoms because it’s spread to my bowel so it may be that.

Did you not challenge him at the time about his manner? How on earth would you tolerate such a revolting man!

Put in a complaint

PALS , shouldn't be practicing.

I've heard several times that doctors don't like people turning up with a list of issues. I do this myself as I have various grumbles but don't want to waste their time. It seems more time efficient if I can rattle through my issues quickly in one go than having multiple slots. I still stick with the 4 minute window or whatever it is you get as I rattle through them quickly.

is this a thing that you shouldn't cover more than one thing in an appointment?

Definitely complain and not just within the practice. He was very rude and dismissive.

@hotdiggetydog

Health problems can have more than one symptom. What if the abdominal pain and periods were related?

Medicine seems to be the only profession where practitioners can get away with being unprofessionally arrogant, rude and dismissive. Can you imagine a woman solicitor telling a male client that she can't deal with his divorce and he has to see a male solicitor? Just because she doesn't really fancy it today.

How incompetent is he if he can't deal with 50% of the population? Will probably get away with it too because theres a shortage of them.

Report him, rude arsehole. I wish I had reported the (female) GP who saw DS at a few days old when I broke down crying in front of her and asked for help with my mental health. She said, as tears streamed down my face, ‘I’m sorry, I just don’t have time for you as well today, you should have booked for a double appointment’. That’s it. No word of kindness or concern. I could have walked out into traffic or anything.

I’m sorry but definitely complain. No bloody excuses especially as A&e doctors manage to be lovely despite being on long shifts. I say this and I have a close relative who is a brilliant GP who wouldn’t dream of speaking to patients like that, stretched services or not it takes a certain type of attitude and arrogance to speak to people (women) like that.

I would call back twice, first about the tummy pain say you aren't sure whether it is your appendix or your bowels (it could be either or something else) so that they focus on that, as that could get serious quickly. Then phone another time about the period pain and don't just say "period pain" say "severe pain and irregular periods" etc.

Mine too - so you wouldn't go in with a sprained ankle and a dodgy mole, but agree that stomach pain and period issues is or may be a single issue. Also I'm pretty sure they teach the female anatomy to all doctors and not just the women! Terrible treatment

Fucking hell that's awful! When I had Ovarian Cysts, and was having regular scans in the run up to my scheduled surgery to remove them, the only make gynae I had asked me "are you sure it's not just back pain"...

I work in healthcare and would agree you should complain.
Apart from anything else if only female drs can deal with "women's problems" then they shouldn't have made you an appointment with a male doctor. I would ask the PM if there is anyway they can transfer you to a different practice - I know you've explained about the catchment but they must have a system for people who are off-listed or whatever.

Hi @Picturesintheclouds08 I think everyone upthread has given good advice about who to contact and I'd agree that it should be raised so that he doesn't speak to anyone else like this.

However I also wanted to say that I have had very similar symptoms to you which ended up with a referral to a gynae (fortunately I have private health care through work so it was fairly quick). I had tests and scans which didn't show anything abnormal so he recommended that I try giving up wheat while I made an appointment for a coil fitting. In the end I didn't need to have the coil fitted at all because stopping eating wheat made all the issues, including the excruciating periods disappear. Progesterone has a large part to play in your digestive system and as the levels reduce as you get older it can cause food intollerances, mainly to wheat according to my gynae,

Not suggesting you don't follow up and request a gynae referral and I absolutely don't know if it's this is the case for you but thought it might be something you could try while you wait for proper medical help.

Fucking hell, that’s truly awful. I would absolutely complain and if you ever have to call again, specifically ask that it isn’t this moron who calls you back. Phone immediately for a female doctor.

Have you had a smear recently? Could you be perimenopausal? I’d also request a blood test to rule out anaemia, CA125 test, maybe hormones depending on age. How are your bowels?
This could be a host of things, and from the location of the intestinal pain potentially, but not necessarily, related. Needs to be seen though. I’d give you an FBC bloods, perhaps FIT test depending on bowel habits, maybe a look internally depending on smear status and further symptom description.

Do not leave this. Get seen.

Yes I agree. I thought it made sense to bring both up at the same time as they may be related plus if I asked for Two separate appointments I can just imagine the response I would get, which would be along the lines of, discuss both issues at the same appointment 😕

I'd be tempted to complain to the General Medical Council. I know we are desperately short of GPs but some are still unfit to practice.

@Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov I am not sure if you are being serious or sarcastic. But I do expect a male doctor to discuss period issues. He is a doctor after all.

He's a prat and you should complain.

Bowel pains or obstruction could be caused by adhesions from endometriosis, as an example, so period and bowel problems absolutely could be linked and it would have been useful for him to have the full picture. Not as though you were trying to ask him about a sore toe as well as period pains. Plus you might not want a female doctor or mind either way. It's not for him to insist you request one.

That’s awful, he reminds me of the kind of arrogant Drs I can remember my mam and Nan talking about when I was young who dismissed anything vaguely gynaecological or period-related as ‘women’s problems’.

I think it’s worth a complaint, he could really put off somebody who desperately needs treatment or investigations with that attitude. Just because he is uncomfortable you should not have to request a female Dr.

Absolutely complain.

@HopelesslyOptimistic I did question him a couple of times and it was on the tip on my tongue to tell him he was being extremley rude but i was worried he would 'accidentally cut the call off' if i did call him out on his rudeness.