Unbelievably dismissive doctor

[Upthebracket22]

I’ve been in a lot of pain over the last few days with a weird pain in my side- it feels deep inside rather than a muscle thing.

anyway just spoke to the doctor on the phone and he was unbelievably dismissive - basically the equivalent of shrugged his shoulders on the phone & said the equivalent of I have no idea, nothing we can do and made me feel like a total malingerer. I actually cried when I came off the phone.

Aibu to expect at least some standard of patient care. I’m in loads of pain but he ran thru a few questions and because I didn’t fit his answers, that was it. Nothing.

Does the pain stop when you’re sat still or lying down?

@LunchBoxPolice no and I told him this too but he didn’t seem interested. It’s almost like a stabbing spasm which is the only way I can describe it

I asked about it stopping when you’re still because I had a similar pain and the doctor said it was muscular because it only hurt when I moved.
can you try a hot water bottle on the area to see if it helps?
sorry your gp was unhelpful.

Sounds like Sciatica. Unfortunately there really is nothing they can do if that’s the case.

Yes. It seems to me that in MN world, you’re entitled and spoiled if you don’t accept the steaming turd standards currently on offer.

“You want to rule out cancer/ovarian cysts/gallstones and actually get a definitive answer to your problem? How dare you! The cheek! And what exactly do you mean by “loads of pain”???”

I changed doctors after something similar. It wasn’t serious but I knew that when the serious stuff happened I needed better support.

If it is gallbladder it will likely go away quite suddenly, but then come back another time. If that happens, keep a diary of the attacks. I found that helpful when getting my referral for gallbladder surgery.

Also watch out for bright orange urine followed by pale, almost white poo. That is a classic symptom of a gall bladder attack.

They can often diagnose them very easily by ultrasound.

He studied medicine, not health.

This is one of the daftest things I’ve read for a while.

It’s just not true they can’t do anything for sciatica. Plus, it doesn’t sound like that at all.

I had bad side,back and pelvic pain. At one point I had burning pains in my bones. Went several times to the gp as I was in tears with the pain. He told me it was muscular and what did I want him to do.....Even tried seeing a different doc but all she did was read my notes and agreed with him😶gave up after that. Whatever it was went on for over a year

Definitely go back and get a second opinion, request a different doctor and see if they can see you face to face. I think it’s all too easy for them to dismiss their patients over the phone. I mean I’m no doctor but shouldn’t they have physically examined the abdomen area at least?

unfortunately some GP’s are really bad, and reluctant to further investigate things. I once went to my GP when I was 18 with what I now think was symptoms of endometriosis (still undiagnosed, so just a guess on my part) and she recommended I get pregnant to resolve the issue… Like I was 18, studying in college, not in a relationship and suffer with anxiety. But yes a baby seems like a good solution… 🤨

I wonder how some doctors even pass their medical training sometimes. But you are not being unreasonable, and should fight to have this pain your experiencing investigated and properly diagnosed.

I was going to say gallstones. @Upthebracket22 - do you also get a winded/punched in the gut feeling? I was told I passed a gallstone (by gp) and had symptoms like you describe.

@Pemba I'm so sorry to hear what happened to your brother. :-(

This is why phone consultations are such crap. A doctor should examine you and palpate your stomach if you have pain. Old school GPs must be beside themselves.

@mamabear715 thank you.

@Pemba so sorry to hear this happened to your brother and for your loss :( this happened to my late FIL too with similar timescales. The GP fobbed him off with antidepressants after a colonoscooy came back negative, saying the dramatic weight loss and pain were manifestations of depression...

@horse

@Horseyhorsey3 dunno what happened with my phone there.

Thanks for your wishes. I am sorry to hear about your FIL, poor man. Anyone would think cancer was a rare condition wouldn't they?

Request it is marked on your file that he is unwilling to complete further investigation for the pain. I'm sure they will soon change their tune.

I'm so sorry to hear about your brother Pemba. Exactly the same happened to a friend of mine a few years ago.

Absolute and utter rubbish. Sciatica does not cause pain in your side. For a start, the sciatic nerve starts in the lower back!

persistent pain can't be examined or diagnosed in a phone consult; you need a face to face appt.
Ring GP reception and explain you need a FTF app for serious pain as DR was unable to help on the phone.

My lovely kind friend had this and turned out to be bowel cancer. Hopefully this is not the case for you however I would visit a and e or call an ambulance. These symptoms need investigation urgently 0