To want to complain about this doctor?

[Sarah111213]

In March/April this year, I started having allergic reactions when I ate celery. It would make my tongue swell up and my nose run like crazy.

I went to the doctors and told them about my symptoms, and they said to carry Piriton with me at all times and to avoid celery. I asked for a referral to an allergy clinic because I was worried about the allergy getting worse but they said it wasn't necessary.

Last week, I accidentally ate some celery in a salad and went into anaphylactic shock. My DP had to call 999 and I was given adrenaline in hospital and had to stay in for two nights.

AIBU to want to complain about the doctor who wouldn't give me a referral?

Bump. I don't know whether I have grounds for complaint or not.

You poor thing no YADNBU

By all means complain. Let them know what happened, let them know you are not happy.

You have every right to write to the practice manager and complain. Go from there.

Just go to the Dr, the same one ideally and politely explain what happened and ask for a referral.

YANBU to be cross about the Dr not listening to you, but to put in an official complaint?

Just go back and get them to put it right and take you more seriously.

You had identified the cause of your allergy and were given sound advice by your GP. You didnt need an allergy clinic referral as you knew what caused it.

YABU to complain and YABVU to disregard the advice to eat it, even accidentally. (How anyone can accidentally eat it is beyond me, its foul stuff and taints any salad it is in)

Yes. Call PALS or whoever it is. YANBU.

Thank god its celery and not, like, wine or something.

sukie you would be surprised what celery is in for e.g it is in tomato ketchup and a lot of Italian sauces.

I agree with sukie. Your reaction was caused by something you knew you were allergic to. How would a referral have helped, or prevented it?

Unfortunately, if you have an allergy to something, you have to be very very vigilant about what you eat.

How would an allergy clinic have had any influence on whether your allergy would get worse?

I am sorry - it must have been a horrid experience, and perhaps you will need to carry an epipen, and be extremely careful about checking your food in future.

tbh I think the Dr gave you some initial sensible advice in terms of taking piriton which would be the first line against a food allergy.

I can see it must have been very frightening to have such severe anaphylaxis warranting hospital admission and adrenaline but tbh I don't think the doctor could have predicted such a severe reaction.

Have you now got an epipen to carry around with you just in case?

3littlefrogs - I should have had an epipen in the first place, but only an Allergy Clinic can prescribe one.

The celery was in the dressing on the salad, we think, because the host of the party where it happened said she was pretty sure she hadn't put any celery in the salad, and I don't remember tasting any.

I've got an epipen now.

I do feel sorry for you and it sounds awful. I feel YA a but U. From my experience of drs if you are worried about things you do have to be persistent and also I am not sure what else the hospital would contribute apart from saying avoid celery if your symptoms had not been very severe until that point.

I do find GPs quite frustrating sometimes and DH is one himself. I am trying to explain to him how different it is for me to go and see a GP to him doing so. They are often not prepared to discuss things with you.

For example our DS is allergic to egg although we think he may have grown out of it and if he has we would like to know - would make life easier for him especially at school. DH would like a controlled exposure sat on a paed ward just in case things go wrong - GP told me "that's not necessary give him an egg sandwich and see what happens"

I have persuaded DH to go to the next appointment with DS as I refuse to!

I'm so sorry this happened to you, how frightening for you both

Thanks, Ali. I have been referred to the Allergy Clinic for other things before now which had less severe symptoms but I guess it just depends which GP you get.

McSteamy - They do seem very laid back - I think a swollen tongue is quite a nasty allergic reaction, but obviously now!

I hope your DS has outgrown his allergy.

You should have been referred. the gp must be aware that subsequent exposures can provoke worse reactions...........I would definitely complain.

Thanks, diamondsandtiaras - that is why I wanted a referral because I was really frightened of going into anaphylactic shock. Apparently, that wasn't necessary because I could 'just avoid' the celery I was allergic to.

To the op.

Going into anaphylaxis is vvv scary. Have you subscribed to the ananphylaxis magam
zine yet? if not do so they are very interesting reads. They also have a text reminder service and they text you when your epipen is due to be replaced.

Make sure that if you use your epipen (IE before hand) that you can call up and get another prescription straight away rather than having to wait.

You are very lucky that you actually know what you are allergic to, I dont know what my allergy is apart from that it is in prepared foods and some takeaways.

I went into shock the other day i admit not badly to garlic bread.

Thanks for all the helpful advice!

I will definitely speak to the Practice Manager about it, because I think that refusing me a referral was wrong.

Why do people comment on threads on here when they clearly have no idea about the topic, though? The posts which say 'what would the allergy clinic have done' really take the biscuit.

Your doctor has in a way put your life in danger. Anaphylaxis is a life threatening condition. I would say you had grounds for complaint.

Thanks CLS - I am definitely going to speak to the Practice Manager but I'm no longer sure whether it warrants a formal complaint.

Some Doctors these days do not seem to be bothered about a patients care. I mean McSteamy i am shocked at what your doctor told you to do about your sons allergy to egg

My husband was rushed in hospital on Sunday night last week and the dr at the hospital were doing all the necessary tests, like ECG and they were planning on doing a Cardiac Blood test at 12midday to find out if his heart was damaged. He was taken to Medical Assesment unit where another doctor just said 'oh you have XXX and there you go a 2 week sicknote, there you can watch the World Cup now cant you' and sent him home even though his ECG was still inconclusive.

Sorry my hubby wasnt allergic to anything, he had heart problems that started as he was laid down in bed relaxing.