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AIBU?

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Original poster

Am I an annoying patient?? GP / DOCTOR / NURSE QUESTION

63 replies

Sausagedog3 · 27/12/2022 23:14

I’ve had a problem with my skin for several years now. It started out of the blue and I had massive patches of weeping, oozing, scaly skin on my scalp, face and ears. I’ve posted about it before.

I’ve had countless appointments with the GP and nurses and everyone has been so nice and helpful, but I feel bad as I’ve taken up a lot of appointments. I was referred to dermatology but obviously with covid and waiting times it was around a year and a half and in that time I had countless appointments at the GP surgery because it kept flaring up again. We tried so many different antibiotic tablets, steroid creams, emollients and all sorts of shampoos and other things. We even tried antifungal tablets too. I tried hibiscrub, different elimination diets in case something in my diet was causing it, everything I could buy off the shelf. Some things helped initially but then it would just flare up again.

Once I was seen at dermatology (recently) they diagnosed it as psoriasis and gave me some stronger steroids which worked initially but then stopped. I’ve tried to get in contact with them to ask for another appointment as it’s flared up again but there’s a massive waiting list for appointments and understandably something like psoriasis isn’t urgent or as serious as other problems. I think I’m just supposed to go back to my GP again in the mean time. But I feel so embarrassed going back because I’m being that person who keeps coming back again and again. I’m also a massive over thinker and worry myself silly about nothing but I just felt so bad going back again and I didn’t want to be a frequent flyer that you always hear people talking about, but at the same time, it’s all flared up again and I’m really upset about it all. am I being a frequent flyer by going back again?

I could actually burst into tears- it’s all over the back of my head and my hair is literally soaked and tangled with liquid from the wet patches. It’s starting to move from my head to my neck and ears now too. I’m so worried because nothing seems to be helping it and I’ve followed all the instructions about applying the treatments. I just want it to stop 😢

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 27/12/2022 23:17

Have you been discharged from dermatology? Do they have a dermatology nurse you can speak to?

Halo1234 · 27/12/2022 23:23

It's affecting your quality of life and impacting you daily - of course you can go back. You are not going to be thought of badly. If u don't flag up its still an issue they will assume treatments working. job done. Let them know its still an issue. You deserve to have it looked at again. You and most definitely not being unreasonable.

tiredpuppymum · 27/12/2022 23:25

No of course not

MarmiteCoriander · 27/12/2022 23:27

It sounds awful OP and not something to dismiss. I would definitely go back to your GP. Or try contacting the dermatology department you were seen by, or going private if you can afford it. x

Splodgerbodgerbadger · 27/12/2022 23:28

Skin conditions can be really miserable. I have one that mostly effects my hands, I’m under dermatology at the hospital and I’m currently on my 4th lot of different tablets from them. It’s still not cleared from my hands. I’ve lost count of how many blood tests, nurse appointments, swabs and antibiotics I’ve had over the last 18 months.

I have been going to the nurses at my GP surgery twice a week to have my hands bandaged up just so I can function. I often feel bad going so often.

You shouldn’t feel bad about going if you need treatment you need it. It’s worth keeping on at dermatology. I have been given a nurse helpline number for the dermatology department at my local hospital and if I have any issues I can ring for advice. When you get another appointment it might be worth asking if yours has something similar. I find the nurses very helpful.

I hope you get something that helps your condition soon, skin conditions are horrible.

Original poster
Sausagedog3 · 27/12/2022 23:28

No, I wasn’t discharged, they said they would send out another appointment but understandably they’re really busy right now and it’s not an emergency so it will be a bit of a wait x

OP posts:
Lexi868 · 27/12/2022 23:30

Not at all- that's their job. As long as you are always respectful and kind (which it sounds like you are), you should be able to go in and see them as often as needed for your health.

Original poster
Sausagedog3 · 27/12/2022 23:31

I’ll post a photo of it below in the off chance anyone has ever had psoriasis like this and has any advice or experience of what helped them with it, I just want to have skin on my scalp not big wet scaley wounds! These are old photos and I’ve actually posted them before, I can’t get a photo of it right now as my hair is wet but it’s the exact same as in these photos anyway!

OP posts:
BestMammyEver · 27/12/2022 23:33

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

sausage767 · 27/12/2022 23:34

I’m going to go against the grain here. I assume your GP has exhausted all treatment suggestions for you, without being a specialist derm. I’m not sure what more your GP can do for you. If you need refills of things already prescribed, definitely pursue that. But I don’t think your GP is going to be able to suggest new treatment options for you.

Thereisnolight · 27/12/2022 23:34

You should have the lesions biopsied x

WhatLikeItsHard · 27/12/2022 23:35

No, you won't be labelled as "that patient". That looks really painful and sore.

Dermatology always seems to have long waiting lists. If you can afford it, I would pay for a one off private consultation. I know it's not fair and not an option for a lot of people. Sorry OP.

Original poster
Sausagedog3 · 27/12/2022 23:35

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Ah thank you anyway for the suggestion, I’ve already tried it and it didn’t help but thank you 😔 glad it worked for your friend x

OP posts:
Wowzel · 27/12/2022 23:36

Contact your dermatology consultants secretary and see if they can sneak you into a cancellation appointment

Original poster
Sausagedog3 · 27/12/2022 23:37

sausage767 · 27/12/2022 23:34

I’m going to go against the grain here. I assume your GP has exhausted all treatment suggestions for you, without being a specialist derm. I’m not sure what more your GP can do for you. If you need refills of things already prescribed, definitely pursue that. But I don’t think your GP is going to be able to suggest new treatment options for you.

No I actually know what you mean. Part of me was thinking the same thing- I don’t know what I want then or expect them to do😟they’ve already been really helpful with it all. I just don’t know what else to do. It’s such a wait for dermatology (not complaining, I understand completely this isn’t life or death) and at the moment I can’t even rest my head on my pillow because my scalp is too painful. I probably just need to be patient and wait for the appointment but I guess I just hoped something might help in the meantime but I was scared of being annoying/frequent flyer by going back to the gp for it x

OP posts:
Original poster
Sausagedog3 · 27/12/2022 23:39

Wowzel · 27/12/2022 23:36

Contact your dermatology consultants secretary and see if they can sneak you into a cancellation appointment

I’ll definitely do that! I was already on the cancellation list but I’ll call tomorrow and see if there’s any cancelled appointments with all the bugs and flu going about right now, maybe some people have had to cancel. Thanks x

OP posts:
RobertaFirmino · 27/12/2022 23:41

There is a lot more that can be done for psoriasis and you might even need DMARD or biologic treatment. The GP cant prescribe this, it has to be done by a specialist. Your poor scalp looks so sore and you shouldn't have to suffer like this. May I ask, do you get aches/pains in any of your joints at all or any nail irregularities? It's just that a rheumatologist might be of more use to you than dermatolgy right now.

In any case, you really must book another doc appointment asap. You aren't wasting anyone's time at all and you are NOT being a pain. You are in an active flare and it mustn't be dismissed or ignored.

BigMama32 · 27/12/2022 23:53

I would keep harassing the dermatology department, call to get an email address. From experience you’re much more likely to get a response.
GP is going to limited in why they can do for you for your psoriasis but may be able to offer something to help you get a restful nights sleep or manage the pain adequately. A re-referral can be done if you had been discharged from dermatology already.

Onnabugeisha · 28/12/2022 00:00

Did dermatology send any scales off for testing? You might have both a bacterial and fungal skin infection going on. And it might not be the usual local ones in the British Isles but something you picked up on holiday. Even if it is psoriasis, an opportunistic bacterial/fungal infection could have taken hold. You really need them to run some tests. I’d call dermatology, tell them it’s gotten worse and try to book an appointment as soon as available.

Karmakamelion · 28/12/2022 00:02

As a nurse I would definitely want you to keep coming back. We don't want you to be in pain and we don't know if you don't tell us. The "that" patients are the ones that kick off at you because their breathing is rubbish but carry on smoking 20 a day.... not someone who needs help and will listen to advice x

catandcoffee · 28/12/2022 00:06

OP you must not feel guilty about using the service.
That skin condition needs expert help. Dont let them fob you off with just steroids.
Does water make your scalp worse ?

SecretDoor · 28/12/2022 00:09

dermnetnz.org/topics/pityriasiform-seborrhoeide

Could be a severe form of seborrhoeic dermatitis. Try ketoconazole shampoo (nizoral is a brand) and do not use normal shampoos or soaps.
Consider topical steroids. Ask about oral antifungals - to be used for some weeks

NoSquirrels · 28/12/2022 00:13

It’s such a wait for dermatology (not complaining, I understand completely this isn’t life or death) and at the moment I can’t even rest my head on my pillow because my scalp is too painful.

You can’t sleep because you have treatment-resistant open wounds on your head. I’d say you need to make a greater fuss, to be honest. It’s not ‘just’ psoriasis.

Hotsweatymomspagetti · 28/12/2022 00:16

Have you tried any light therpy? Worked well with steroids. You will already know this but try not to stress the more stressed you are the worse it gets

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