To expect my GP to care just a tiny bit how unwell I am??

[TiredOfCovid]

I’m mid 30s and have been suffering with long covid / b12 issues and now possibly fibromyalgia for 2 years.

The GPs just don’t seem to care.

I cried in the room today saying how much pain I am in, that I’m going to lose my job if I take any more time off sick, that I’ve got children I need to look after and there must be something that can be done - medication, anything?

She told me she had a stressful morning as couldn’t get her computer to work, said sometimes antidepressants help with long covid, offered no explanation of why my body isn’t absorbing b12 normally and said I’ll have to have injections monthly for the rest of my life and sent me on my way.

NO compassion at all - surely they should care just a tiny bit / pretend to?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/4812797-unexplained-b12folic-deficiency

I have Long Covid and struggle with anemia/low B12 too. After suffering some awful gastro problems in the summer after eating bread, I've gone gluten free and it's really helping!

Given that there is no cure for long covid and fibromyalgia, what did you want the GP to do?

Sorry but that's bollocks, fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disorder which can be treated with amitriptylene, gabapentin or pregabalin to help take the edge off the nerve pain.

Talking therapies don't treat it. At all. I should know.

You're right. I had to battle to get mine every two months (was every three months). I now pay for a private injection at a pharmacy every 2 months (alternate) so that I can have it monthly.

@TiredOfCovid keep changing GP until you get a satisfactory service. It’s appalling but like anything, sometimes you have to shop around. It sounds crass but it’s true. Sorry you’re feeling rubbish, find a new practice tonight and ask to be transferred tomorrow.

The B12 injections are the holy grail for some people. People pay privately to get them. I hope they help you

They see dozens and dozens of people every week - it’s what - 7.5 minutes per patient or something like that? They don’t have time for handholding if they want to work out what’s wrong and suggest treatment. They can’t do anything about job losses or feeding children - that is beyond their remit. You won’t get a better solution by mentioning it. Use the time with them to focus on explaining the symptoms as fully and succinctly as possible.

@Weepingskies, she hasn't come up with a reasonable plan for now as it doesn't address the main issue - pain. I can only assume you have no experience of fibromyalgia. I do.
@TiredOfCovid, ask for another appointment specifically to discuss pain management. There are clinics specifically for this in hospitals, but in the meantime you could ask to trial gabapentin and, if your sleep is affected, amytriptyline. If that GP isn't interested, ask for a second opinion (alongside the referral).
I'm only able to function due to the aforementioned, plus methocarbamol (muscle relaxant) and citalopram. I'm also allowed to take meptazinol for breakthrough pain (suits me better than cocodamol).

Thank you for the voice of reason, as opposed to the posters who know sweet FA about the subject.

Hi, please look into mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) to see if this might account for your symptoms. Lots of people with long covid are now being diagnosed with MCAS.

Sometimes a bit of empathy can go a long way, maybe try a different GP who might be a bit more understanding.

Sorry to hear you are feeling so awful. You should be under a long COVID clinic and they should be able to advise you on all of this. Not being able to absorb but B12 is something I hear all the time in LC, not sure why, but it is. I would request a referral to the LC clinic. Also a referral to pain clinic or neurology if the GP is not qualified to deal with your pain. Are you able to rest and pace? because if not, you may be making your symptoms worst without realising. Hope you get some help soon.

It really isn't their job to provide tea and sympathy. They just haven't got time. GO needs to give advice on what can be done to alleviate the symptoms you are suffering from. A support group would be a good idea.

Not according to FMAUK.

http://www.fmauk.org/information-packs-mainmenu-58/booklet-mainmenu-135/490-patient-booklet

I’m sorry you are having such a rough time. However, with no diagnosis of any chronic pain causing condition (possible fibro I took to mean only suspected), it is unlikely you will be offered any prescription pain medication by the GP until it’s been diagnosed and a consultant has recommended a list of possible ones in a letter.

I have a diagnosed chronic pain condition and I still have to be careful on how I broach pain relief. They are all trained on ‘drug seeking behaviours’ that indicate an opiate addiction. So emotional things like saying you are in so much pain, you’ll lose your job and kids will go homeless and then floods of tears while asking for pain meds…you’re waving more red flags than a string of bunting to them. It’s not fair at all, it’s what they are told pain med addicts act like.

As for those very real issues of job loss, bills and so on you should perhaps go to citizens advice or look up benefits and work and consider what benefits you would be entitled to in the event you did become too sick to stay in your job.

You are correct, a GP appointment is allocated 10 minutes.

It's no excuse, but the NHS is on its knees. So many patients, not enough resources, burnt out GPs and support staff.

This week so far two patients have threatened to kill themselves and told me it will be my fault if they do. One was because I couldn't immediately give them the paperwork they were demanding. It's only Monday.

Gabapentin has made a difference to my spinal pain. It's dulled it and touch wood no spasms.

My friend has those injections for anaemia was such an improvement for her. I've had folic acid for three months now I'm definitely less tired, have more energy.

Some really helpful advice on here @TiredOfCovid .

Something else I read recently that even a cold can cause the same after symptoms as long covid.

It’s more like 5-7 mins per patient. They are not your friend or vicar, they are professionals who see 40 odd patients a day. Doctors have empathy (but not sympathy or apathy - that would not be appropriate or professional). GPs are tired and stressed and over worked. They can only offer so much, they can’t fix your life. The treatment for a lot of problems that GPs see is actually lifestyle changes, especially for things like TATT, and that is not down to the GP to fix, that is down to the patient.

Have you at any point been referred to a long covid clinic?

It might be not be easy, or even possible to treat LC effectively, but at least you'd be in the right hands to get the best treatments for alleviation of symptoms.

They did their job, if you need more maybe a psychologist is better to help you

GP has never asked how I feel. Emotional or otherwise.

Fibro is more understood than the serious spinal condition I live with that ages someone.

Going to put my neck on the line a bit to say this as a (sometimes seemingly compassionless) medical professional.

I am not, OP, saying you fall under this category. However, there is a significant amount of the population who seem to think that their health isn't their responsibility and that they should be able to live fully within their comfort zone, and if their health suffers as a result, someone else should be able to wave a magic wand and make them better with zero effort on their part. These people become smart to the way that the healthcare system works and they begin to exploit it (consciously or unconsciously), rarely resulting in anything beneficial and simply fuelling a never ending cycle. They drain resources that, if they were to become genuinely accountable for their health, they could drastically improve with minimal input from healthcare professionals. Unfortunately one of the resources they drain is compassion (known as compassion fatigue), and subsequently someone who once would go above and beyond to help their patients no longer have the energy to do so for the vast majority of them, even some/most of those who are genuine. A lot of people will say that these sorts of people should quit if they don't enjoy it anymore, but many healthcare professionals have been in their field for most, if not all of their working life, and so have neither the confidence, experience or circumstances to believe they can get out of healthcare, so they stick with it to the detriment of themselves and their patients.

It likely wasn't personal to you OP, or as a matter of fact anyone who may have experienced similar who is reading this (unless you identify as the sort of person I described). Just explaining it from the other side to give some (not necessarily justified) perspective.

However, there is a significant amount of the population who seem to think that their health isn't their responsibility and that they should be able to live fully within their comfort zone, and if their health suffers as a result, someone else should be able to wave a magic wand and make them better with zero effort on their part. These people become smart to the way that the healthcare system works and they begin to exploit it (consciously or unconsciously), rarely resulting in anything beneficial and simply fuelling a never ending cycle.

Eh? What do you mean? Malingering? Hypochondria? Smoking/drinking? Drugs?

I know doctors are busy but mine is very caring and even rang up my husband to ask how I was after I was taken into hospital in an emergency. Not saying they will always have the answer as my condition is different and has a clear treatment but knowing they cared made me feel they would try their best to get my treatment right.