can't believe what my doctor has said

[golds]

some of you may know that 5 months ago I suffered a very traumatic ectopic pregnancy. It has been hard to come to terms with a. losing the baby and b. nearly losing my life. Sometimes I find it hard to understand, this is usually mid to end of the month when my hormones are at there highest.

2 weeks ago I had flu and felt low regarding life, so I went to the doctor and was a bit tearful. I remember specifically saying, that I was not depressed but felt I needed someone to talk to, who can help me put things into prespective, he said he would get in touch with someone who could help.

Last week I had a letter from the Mental Health Services giving me a appointment, I was suprised to see the word mental health but assumed, councelling came under the same 'umbrella', I went today to see this lady and ironically today I am feeling positive. She then proceeded to read the letter to me that the doctor had sent her.

The doctor had written that I was hysterical and in danger of harming myself and others around me and in need of urgent attention etc etc. I couldn't believe this as I am far from what he descibed, a bit down yes but not out of control.

Maybe, he thought he would hype up my letter to get me seen sooner ? the lady is writing to him to contradict what he has said and also is referring me to a bereavment councellor.

Do you think what he said is a bit out of order ?

I think he was probably trying to get you seen

I'm very surprised a gp would do such a thing. I'd be annoyed if it was me. Bereavment counsellor sounds a better idea IMO.

I think it is out of order but maybe he did do it so you would get seen quicker, which is a bit much. He should have reffered you to a bereavment counsellor himself. I Hope that the counsellor helps and that you feel better once you can talk it through. Hope you don't meet many more tactless health professionals

Golds, I think it is probably not worth stewing over (which will only make you feel worse). I think he was out of line (maybe he was having an off day?), but at least you were seen by someone who could give you some appropriate advice. I hope the bereavement councellor is a good one.

Take care, and try and pamper yourself if you can.

I mean at the end of the day, if I have been pointed in the right direction then no harm done, but I do think he was a little over the top, thankfully the lady recognised this and wrote a letter to this effect, its just the fact that it will be noted on my medical records I don't like. it has also made me think that next time I go to the surgery for whatever reason, I will choose a different doctor.

Do you have anyone in RL you can talk to Golds?

My friend's baby died in tragic circumstances and her gp has told her to contact Cruise bereavment. I try to counsel her as much as I can but she needs professional help. It'll be almost 2 years for her.

don't wish to alarm you but this is a bug bear of mine - by which I mean discrepencies between a patient's perception of a consultation and what gets recorded in writing by the gp. I am sure this is not what you are thinking about but this could actually have implications for you wrt financial products - specifically life or critical illness insurance. Were you, subsequent to this appointment, and in ignorance of the gp's letter, to fill in an application for insurance and tick a box saying - for example - that you did not have mental health problems you could end up with a technically invalid insurance policy. i am currently doing battle with an insurance company partly because of this kind of thing. Hopefully I'll win but I'd rather not be doing the battle. So yes, I do think you should clarify this. perhaps go back to your gp and ask what he had put in your actual notes

I'm sorry that all sounded very cold and clinical. I didn;t mean it to be. I do think you've done the right thing seeking help and I hope you are coping ok with things after everything that's happened (all of which is much more important than financial products, sorry)

I agree with hatstand on this one it is worth getting back to see this gpand asking for things to be clarified. Many years ago I went through a bad spell after the death of my granmother and other personal events. When I finally saw a gp and spoke to him I explained how I was feeling and in addition that I wasn't eating much as I had no appetite. I had counselling and things improved. However I later discovered that the gp had put on my notes that I was anorexic and when I applied for private health cover and the company asked for a medical report from my gp I was turned down and told I could reapply after 2 years provided I could show that I hadn't had any futher problems with any eating disorders!!

Oh hun,was wondering how you were getting on xxxx

Just to add my experience to what others have said. Yes I think the doctor may have hyped (sp?) things to get you seen sooner. I have been referred into the local mental health team here twice, the first time the midwife referred me after I had self diagnosed PND - her referral was for panic attacks and it took me 6 months to be seen when I was almost in the state that the doc described in your letter so was left to cope on my own. If you have the strength to do it, it might be worth looking at some of the suggestions here until you hear from the CPN.

You are in my thoughts,

H x