To wonder why the doctor seemed so angry with me?

[Welshey]

Hi,

Had a bit of a weird one at a health clinic today. I had an ECG which showed I had a fast heart rate. I was asked to wait to speak with the doctor.

When I went in she was really curt with me. No niceties, no “good morning” or “how are you?”, etc.

She immediately said “explain to me why your heart rate is so high.”. I was really taken aback. I said I wasn’t sure, it might be linked to a medication I am taking. She said she knows what medications I am on and that doesn’t explain it, what else could it be? I said I didn’t know but I do occasionally get alerts from my Apple Watch. She asked to look at my Apple health app. It was over in what felt like a couple of minutes and she’s will be writing a letter recommending I’m referred to a cardiologist. Chucked me out of her office without so much as a goodbye.

I am really quite shocked. She seemed so angry with me. And now that I write this, she had no consideration about how I might be feeling either. Never had an experience like that before.

I spoke to a friend and she suggested maybe the doctor thought I was taking drugs and perhaps lying about it? FYI I have never taken any drugs in my life.

Some people are just nasty op. I would forget about it.

Some doctors are genuinely easy-going, lovely and are very much people persons, but there are lots of doctors who tend to have obviously poor social communication skills. Also I've encountered those who are superficially smiley, but if you go off script, the mask slips a bit and they get a bit frazzled.
I wouldn't take it personally. As long as a doctor is thorough and treats effectively, I try to let sharpness and lack of smiling not bother me. One of the most Doc Martinesque ones I had ever met fired off a list of questions without once looking me in the eyes and rebuffed all my cheery attempts at small talk, but she did quickly and correctly spot I likely had Vit deficiency and arranged blood test and appropriate treatment fast.

Very odd that it was a private consultation. Just about all of the doctors I have seen privately have been charm personified, they know on which side their bread is buttered.

Some doctors are arseholes who chose the wrong profession. It isn't about you, so don't let it bother you.

Baffled?

Yes Op - likely

and can you explain “invited” for an ECG… was it out of the blue or had you expressed concern and been referred for one?

Are you in the UK?

Yep! and the Op confirmed private

Probably thought you were taking cocaine.

Being a tired Dr doesn’t give you a free pass to be rude 🤣 how entitled are you! LOTS of us work with the public in differing capacities, and we would all be subject to a disciplinary if we received a complaint for rudeness!
Drs are not god. Just because you studied longer at uni it doesn’t make you any more important than anyone else.
Your problems are not your patients problems. They have come to see you to help them get better-which is what you’re paid to do. If you choose to work whilst unwell again, then suck it up, put on your best compassionate face and do the job you’re paid to do!

26
Sunday morning ie after Sat night

not unreasonable for her to make drug enquiries

I've had this. The ECG machine sends an alert which says you need to be seen by a doctor before leaving. It's because abnormal ecgs are a risk factor for cardiac problems. If I have an ECG in the GP surgery they never just let me out. Sounds like your doctor is just rude. Nothing to do with you.

Hospitals are open 24/7, not sure why you're baffled? I had an ENT appointment on a Sunday, does that "baffle" you too?

Lots of doctors become doctors because they are fascinated by the science of the human body and it's a well paid, well respected profession. I have never met a doctor who wanted to become one to "help people".
Every nurse I've ever met mention helping or treating people.
Many doctors care, of course they do. But many work hard as cart horses, bound by the hypocratic oath, but not necessarily with a warm bedside manner.

But totally unreasonable to do in a rude and accusatory manner.

@Welshey if it was a private appointment, I genuinely wouldn't pay the bill. If you have already, then complain.

I'd have just said 'probably because you're making me nervous'. And left it at that.
I was in hospital for 5 weeks and the amount of times the nurses would ask me that question. It's like, I don't know, you're the bloody medical professional, you tell me? Lol.
Please don't worry. She's referred you to cardiology and she was probably just busy and overworked. She noticed there was something slightly amiss and then tried to act on it.

Hi @Welshey

I've had a Dr ask me if I had any idea why I might be experiencing certain symptoms, but it was done in a nice way, and I just got the impression it was to help point him in the right direction, so didn't have a problem with it, but that sounded really rude.

I know Dr's are busy and under a lot of stress but when Dr's are curt like this with patients, it's really stressful and upsetting. You are going there for help because you are not feeling well. Most Drs are amazing but when you are spoken to like this it can feel like you are a naughty teenager coming out of the head teacher's office. Not what you need when you are ill and probably feeling a bit vulnerable.

If she's referred you, at least she's taken it seriously though, and isn't fobbing you off which is the main thing.

I hope you get it sorted soon, and please don't let her rent space in your head. It's her, not you xx

If you’re only 26 with potential heart issues she likely did think it was drug related as in many cases a racing heartbeat will be due to taking drugs. Doesn’t excuse it, but likely she’s snowed under, busy and seen it a million times at the weekend where it’s drugs.

Maybe I’m just bafffed at what people are baffled about. 😂

If this is the first time you've come across a dr with an attitude I'd take that as a win. Some people are just like this and others it's just an off day.

Tachycardia is really common in younger people. Anxiety, pots, svt, ist the list goes on its usually nothing seriously wrong with the heart

My sister‘s a cardiologist and has the bedside manner of Hannibal Lecter. She’s been known to tell people on first meeting them, „this is what happens when you eat pies and drink vodka for breakfast“. I wouldn’t overthink about it. She was just rude.
However it is NOT acceptable. I’ve made a complaint about a doctor before now and I think it’s important that treating patients as human beings is the norm!

Complain!

Mine too, and also definitely not an athlete 😬

OP, don't worry - suspect it was an off day or some external circumstance bothering the doctor. Certainly doesn't sound like you did anything beyond the normal bounds of being a patient. Hope you can get your health issues sorted soon.

I also think she might have thought it was drugs.
I had Carbon Monoxide poisoning at university and the doctor first of all accused me of taking drugs.

No matter how busy, it's inexcusable for a GP to treat a patient like that - she's trained in how to deal with patients - especially when you'd just been given worrying news. I'd recommend a complaint in writing to the head of the practice in the first instance. She shouldn't be allowed to do that to anyone else either. It's outrageous.