To be annoyed at how I was treated at the GP’s

[Onionbhajisandwich]

Bit of a back story here - I’ve been unwell with a really nasty chest infection for the last month. I’ve been to the GP’s 3 times so far due to difficulty breathing and at one point I was coughing up blood. I had a chest x ray about a week into the illness (due to coughing up blood) which was clear and I was checked for a blood clot which was also clear. I’ve currently had 3 courses of antibiotics but am still really short of breath - climbing the stairs, walking from the house to the car leave me really short of breath - this is not normal for me at all. I’m 40, asthmatic but generally fit and well otherwise. This illness has really knocked me off my feet. The GP tried to get another X Ray done last week but the local hospital called me and said they had no appointments or capacity to do another x ray.

Yesterday I woke up and as well as being short of breath, my face hurt, around my eyes and right cheek and into my teeth so I assumed a sinus infection. When I blew my nose, it was pink / orange so I guess there is bleeding from somewhere. I generally have a pretty high pain threshold but the pain in my face along with the awful cough and shortness of breath had me in tears.

I called the GP’s, asked for a same day appointment, gave the receptionist all the details and she booked me an appointment. I attended on time, was called in and after I explained the previous issues, the person (wasn’t a GP - some kind of nurse practitioner maybe) asked me why I though a same day appoint was justified. I really was (and still am) genuinely unwell and as it turned out, he went to talk to an actual GP who said I did need another course of antibiotics. He wasn’t nice about it. I left the practice in tears.

The whole exchange has been going round my head ever since - not sure if he was out of order or I was just over sensitive due to being unwell? Not sure whether I should say something to them or just make sure I don’t ever get booked in with him again.

These are the questions the nurse who has access to her files should have been asking the OP. She’s been unwell for a bit and it isn’t unreasonable for her to ask for an appt.

You haven’t a clue about the OP’s medical history and MN is not the place for you you to give medical advice, neither does the OP doesn’t need a lecture from a random.

OP, it’s good to advocate for yourself and there are many times it’s hard to know if it’s serious or not. The bloke was having a bad day probably but it is reasonable to write a note to the practice re courtesy.

See how you go and insist on being seen again / call 111 if you need to.

Sounds like you are in need of a new asthma plan op

i think you were justified in wanting a same day appt - you felt really unwell!!
However i am a GP ( p/time) and i sometimes ask 'what was it about your cough/abdo pain/ear/eye etc....that made you call today for an emergency appt.?'
i don't mean it rudely , but it is a good way to get to the heart of what is worrying the patient about their symptoms that particular day, especially if it something that may be a more chronic looking picture of symptoms
that said i say this politely and in a very non judgmental tone ...never had anyone upset about it, and i do explain why i have asked .
could the nurse practitioner maybe have been trying to do that in a clumsy way ?

Both times I've had pneumonia have been totally different to each other. They were only identified with an X-ray. I'd do whatever I needed to get an X-ray personally. The second time I was off for 3 months despite early diagnosis.