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.

You have literally no idea about my medical history! When an odd thing to say.

I know what you’re saying and yes it’s not acceptable but I have seen it first hand with oncologists and cancer patients, it’s not right but it happens.

@lottemarine I am so sorry. It is shocking.

She didn’t say it was a charity. She said she was ‘invited’ but that it wasn’t NHS. The charity you mentioned don’t send out invites and their screening isn’t free, it’s subsidised.

She could have been using it as a tactic - ie if she thought it was drugs and you were startled you would own up as your first response. Or it could be she was short on time. Or it could also be a cultural thing / personality thing - in my home country we are more laid back and do just speak to each other / strangers without saying hello etc. for the first 10 years of living in the uk I always reminded myself to say hello to people before I asked them a question.

Rude, unprofessional and unacceptable but unfortunately not unusual within the NHS in my experience. I wouldn't give it another thought to be honest, unless you happen to cross paths again. Best of luck with your cardiology appointment.

Yes it is and yes you are- you are sent emails once you sign up informing you when they have availability.
Sports clubs tend to block book them so you can be asked if you want to attend.
And it IS free .
It literally says it right here.
To be clear it’s Cardiac Risk in the Young

https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/screening/

Something similar happened to me, funnily enough when I was also 26!

I caught scabies (at work, I was working as a home carer for elderly people at the time) and then had a massive allergic reaction to the lotion I was prescribed to treat it. I had to make an emergency GP appointment in the week between Christmas and New Year to get it checked out and get a different treatment prescribed, and was seen by a locum who was so fucking rude to me.

His opening question was "Well what drugs have you been taking to cause this?" and when I explained what had caused it he said that wasn't possible and asked if I'd been out partying. I asked if he genuinely thought I'd been out partying with my eyes swollen almost shut, my whole body itching like fire and bright red/blotchy, and having not slept for most of the last fortnight due to the itching. He said he had no idea and that he wasn't prepared to prescribe anything extra for me. He seemed to think I was on the blag for controlled drugs or something!

I went home and cried, then ended up in A&E that evening as the reaction got worse.

People urging the OP to be kind and understanding towards the medic seem to be ignoring that the medic should be understanding that she ought to try and get on the level of her patient! Someone most likely without medical knowledge who might be worried or frightened. I thought such things were now covered in training. One catches many more flies with honey than with vinegar. I would complain about the way she made you feel OP. "Hello" costs nothing and we expect it as a minimum from almost everyone else. Why do the people tasked with helping us when we are most vulnerable get a pass?

Seems to have been overlooked on this thread that people who avoid doctors, dentists etc are often also traumatised by past experiences- and the attitudes of those they dealt with can be a huge part of it. It took my mum years to overcome a frightening visit to her childhood dentist (his attitude + something she saw). It took one short visit with an arrogant arse to retraumatise her.

No excuse! Loads of us have to work weekends. She will be being paid far more than most of us.

Exactly this. Don't be a fucking doctor then. Do a different job. Everyone knows that doctors have to work long and often antisocial hours. At least they get paid properly for it unlike retail or hospitality staff who also have to work awful hours and deal with the public in some of their worst states, but do it for minimum wage!

Ah that's interesting. I always find that private doctors are FAR ruder then NHS staff. Might just be my run of bad luck!

This is actually hilarious- working in retail gives you more life experience than ED or acute medicine? Do you give terminal diagnoses in retail? Discuss end of life care? Do lengthy consultations with people with limited English language, hearing impairments & learning disability? You clearly have no idea about working in healthcare! The NHS sees everybody & anybody - I meet a far, far broader range of people than I would in any other professional job I can think of.

I think having "bedside manners" is part of the job for a good doctor. If you don't like interaction with patients, be a pathologist.

I have has an experience like this. When I mentioned it to my GP she laughed and said the doctor had a bit of a reputation.

I totally agree, if only that were the case.

A lot of these things are a matter of tone... GPs quite often start appointments with "what brings you here today?" or "why have you brought DS here today?"
The latter can sound rude if you rush it or are tired.

Same with "what do you want me to do about it?"
I actually love it when a Dr says that because I've usually gone into the appt with a good idea of what I want out of it. But again could come across as rude or dismissive.

I wonder if the sudden direct question "explain why your HR is so high" is more likely to surprise people into blurting out "probably all the coke I snorted yesterday" than giving them a run up to the question so they see it coming. Maybe I've watched too much House...or maybe this doctor had!

So you want to know why your heart rate is fast and the Doctor is asking you why it’s fast. Surely your response should have been that’s why I’m here, for you to tell me 🤷‍♀️

This is not ethical. If you are working with patients whilst you have covid they should at the very least be informed you have covid so they can wear a mask if they choose.

I developed heart disease aged 32, a genetic condition not my fault. Investigations found a very blocked artery, Consultant came round afterwards and said 'well you've done a lot of damage for someone so young' I so wanted to say 'I haven't done anything it's not my fault' I didn't, but I've never forgotten her words. Sadly some Doctors just have no interpersonal skills. Hope everything turns out ok for you 🥰

20 odd years ago whilst pregnant I started bleeding heavily I wasn’t in the town I lived in I was 150 miles away, anyway I saw a practice nurse at my dads health centre her exact words were “all women have one miscarriage in life get over it and move on” I was 18 weeks anyway i was rushed to hospital and had lost a twin to my now daughter.that nurse’s hurtful words have stuck with me all this time and I think that’s what health professionals don’t realise is that their words can cause upset

She could have had a hangover herself

People like that are in the wrong job

I work with doctors. A lot of them are rude. Some sre nice but that seems to be the exception. It has gotten worse over the yesra. Have been observing my bfs health struggle lately and I have to say that zero doctors has impressed me with their knowledge, willingness to help or bedside manner. Unfortunately they just getaway with it and nothing you can do.

where I'm from nurses, physios and OT's have a psychological evaluation, interview with University psychologist and interview with a teacher to evaluate you before the spot in the uni is offered. Doctors have nothing. Obviously we have tons of nurses and physios etc. Who are twats so not a perfect system. But met more unsuitable doctors still