AIBU to be upset about this text from my doctor?

[Pinkwellyboots3]

Since my dad suddenly died in June I have been constantly unwell, I think it’s the stress and grief and the doctors have assured me this is a normal reaction.

I have had a constant cycle of mastitis, tonsilitis, chest infection and utis. It’s been HORRIFIC. I’ve had more antibiotics in the last months than I’ve had in my entire life and I’m sick to death of it and worried.

Once again, I’ve woken up with a throat covered in yellow puss, can’t swallow, temperature and feel disgusting, I filled out my form this morning and explained my symptoms and added a photo of my throat. I said I wanted to avoided antibiotics at all cost unless I really needed them as I’ve had several courses recently. I received a message back saying ‘as requested your antibiotics have been sent’ well, I didn’t request them. That I can get over. It’s the best part that got me.

FYI: You had 10 contacts with the practice since start of Sept, the average across the UK is 8 over the entire year.
All the best

isn’t that just so patronising? How can I help that I have been unwell so many times. Yes, that is a high number but I have genuinely and helplessly been unwell, 2 of those appointments were with the asthma nurse as I’ve recently been diagnosed with asthma too. Every appointment they have identified a bacterial infection which required treatment. I just feel so upset by it and it just feels so patronising. Am I being too sensitive? I feel like that’s just not professional… I am going to a doctor to literally do their job.

Perhaps because it's not a one off but another in a long line of recurring illnesses. She is perfectly reasonable to be worried and not leave it .

Of course, but that doesn't mean it's okay? There are patients who need that level of contact with a GP and patients who no doubt don't. It's offensive and potentially dangerous to send this message to the former group (if they are put off seeking medical attention that they actually require) and I'm sure totally ineffective to send it to the latter group. A complete waste of time all round.

Its a fucking shit policy. My mate went to the doctor 12 times before they finally took her pain seriously.
She died of cancer 2 years ago.

Google CENTOR criteria to assess whether you need the antibiotics. Its a guideline developed to assess how likely the sore throat is bacterial and not viral , therefore responsive to antibiotics. Highest possible score is 5. The higher the score the more likely the infection is bacterial.
Op-id score you at 3( sudden onset, pus on tonsils, temperature) possibly a 4 if your lymph nodes enlarged and you have no other cold/ cough symptoms. As such, the chances are your infection is bacterial.
Since today is Friday, I can see why you got a prescription but it seems that some more information about why would have helped.
Unfortunately repeated doses of antibiotics can wipe out your immune system which might be why you're catching every bug that's about. There are homeopathic meds which can kick-start your immune system- our GP surgery had a dr experienced in homeopathic meds which helped me hugely when I had post viral symptoms and seemed to catch every infection going. So if you have any access to homeopathic medicine, I'd recommend trying hat out to help improve your immune system.

My GPs once wrote an article saying that 4 across the year is average and that more than that means either very unwell or hypochondriac!

Sorry , forgot to add, I think that message from gp surgery is , at best,very insensitive. I would complain. Its just adding stress and guilt when you are feeling bad enough.

I would send them an email asking why a fully qualified doctor hasn’t found a more long term solution to your problem and if he had, you wouldn’t have needed so many appointments!

feel better op ❤️

I was going to ask the same. I’m sorry you seem to be going through a lot OP but don’t focus on this text, focus on getting well

OP, do make a complaint but to make sure they don’t label you as a problem patient, I’d not name anyone. The Practice Manager should pick up on performance issues for individuals within that.

I’d also request a full blood test screening as low iron, ferritin, Vit D etc can lead to poor immune response to infection and viruses. I’d (politely) request further investigations and support?

Yeah, I can see why you are annoyed.
I've had a tough year, too, stress wise, including a bereavement, and have just finished my 5th course of antibiotics since last August ☹️
Skin issue x 2, sinusitis x 2, chest infection..
I'm so fed up.
Some of it is due to peri (skin issues).
Do drs really think we want to be on horrible meds!?

Oh God, I would go apeshit if I got that from my doctor.

I'd have to sit on my hands to stop myself typing a reply along the lines of: 'Thank God you've finally twigged that I'm ill more than I should be. Does this mean you will FINALLY start doing some basic investigations to see what might be driving this? Tbh, I'm not sure what's kept you so long, but if you're actually going to now be pulling your finger out, I guess it's good news.'

But if you want to stay with the practice, a polite enquiry to the practice manager might be better, along the lines of: 'I was somewhat surprised to receive this message. Would you be so good as to explain what it means please?' and let them explain themselves in excruciating detail.

I've had one contact with my practice since 2019 so you can have all of mine.

It may just be a standard response, but I agree, it’s not fair or appropriate in your case. I’d contact the surgery and tell them so.

I’m really sorry for the loss of your dad, and I hope you feel better soon.

Might just be the system- Hope you feel better soon

Yanbu. The only way they should have included that in their message is to follow it with “is it possible there is something wider going on, let us know if you’d like to discuss for mental health support” or something.

If you are feeling strong enough I’d absolutely complain to the practice manager.

I’m so sorry for the loss of your dad 💔

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jessica-bradys-legacy-inspires-new-life-saving-gp-safety-rule

Jess’ rule means 3 appointments and they should be escalating now not trying to put you off.

Don't know why people are assuming it's automated - if it is that's even worse. What if someone had cancer or a degenerative disease, is it acceptable for them to get an automatic telling off because they need more medical appointments than average?!

Contact the surgery and ask that you don't see that doctor again and tell them why. I'm down at my surgery only to see a female GP because of issues I've had with two patronising male GPs who made me feel as if I was exaggerating/outright didn't believe me when it came to female health.

I've been back and forth to drs and hospital repeatedly the last month or so and they've been nothing but lovely. I'm even getting calls from the wellbeing team, I'd be upset receiving a message like that, totally uncalled for and they don't prescribe antibiotics unless you really need them. Sorry you're going through such a tough time and the loss of your dad 💐

Could you see a pharmacist instead? Some of them are amazingly knowledgeable and kind. My GP is a waste of time so I try and get advice from other HCP. Or perhaps go to urgent care ?

In my practice different doctors do the emergency list and triage every day so you can’t specify who responds to your request. I’ve had two snotty texts from the surgery, both times from the same doctor for different things. I wrote to him both times and he had to apologise, put amendments on my notes and my response lays on file. The problem is that if you are not their regular patient they respond to what is in front of them as they don’t have time to go through your notes so have no idea of your history. OP, I would talk to the practice manager and tell them how it has upset you. You can get an amendment on your notes that you haven’t been using the surgery inappropriately. I think it is important to put your side of the story.

So sorry about your dad OP. I lost my dad in the summer too. It is awful . I am constantly exhausted and feel unwell often too.
Sending you a hug.
GP surgeries can be very automated and not very patient centred these days. Definitely flag up your experience to the practice manager.
Hope you feel better soon xx

Thanks so much, I already used the pharmacy scheme a few times when I first started with the tonsillitis so they can’t help me anymore due to it being ongoing :( but thank you so much for the suggestion

I’ve never known a doctor to text anything. Are you sure it wasn’t the receptionist? Sending a routine message?
My DD has MS. Before her diagnosis at 17, she had years of unexplained symptoms and in one month period we went to GP three times and A&E twice. Fortunately no one said anything but I started to become a bear mother and started to push for more than ‘take some paracetamol’. The NHS can be brilliant, but sometimes you have to fight your corner.

To be fair, if your tonsils have yellow pus, that usually indicates there's a bacterial infection that would warrant antibiotics.

I do think that if you've had several courses of antibiotics recently though they should at least call you to discuss which antibiotics you need and offer a swab test for lab cultures. The last thing you want is to develop something antibiotic resistent.

I had a really bad case of strep throat after a bout of pneumonia that needed 3 courses of antibiotics and the doctors were very thorough at making sure that I was getting the right antibiotics as they understood antibiotic resistence.

The text about appointments though is patronising, and you could feedback/complain to the practice about how this impacts patient engagement, that way if it's manually sent, they might reveiw their practices, and if it's automatically sent they can collate collective information as I'm sure you're not the only person unhappy about this and decide to make administrative changes to their automated system.

Does automated have to be rude.