Am I the only one who finds that GPs are bloody useless when it comes to all things BF related? Rant alert!

[HelloBear]

I've had really bad pain in my breast for the last few days, I know it's not mastitis as I have suffered from it lost and know the symptoms. I am totally stumped by this pain and at times I am literally crying out in pain.

My DH said this morning that I had to go to the dr as it was silly me being in pain. I was reluctant as my previous negative experience of Drs and BF. But agreed to go.

Well today topped them all. The GP obviously thought I was a loon just along for a moan. His reply after I described my symptoms was: so what do you want from today? Pain relief, to know what it is or antibiotics?

Well I had not realised that visiting the GP had turned into a multiple choice exercise but going along with it i said pain relief. His reply then was: well what do YOU think it is?

I DO NOT FUCKING KNOW i said (not really, in true reserved English style I meekly said I'm not sure).

His final gem was to take paracetemal (though previously I had said that paracetemal dies not touch the pain).

When I gently suggested thrush he said 'oh no it can't be that'.

So here I am again tonight in agony feeling utterly deflated and angry at such a rubbish response.

He clearly thought I was a time waster. Which is laughable as I had to get a 7mo and 2 year old to the drs at 9.30am in the pooring rain. Yeah my idea of fun, not.

No wonder BF rates are so low!

Was this just a one off? Am I being too harsh?

[FrozenNorthPole]

Just wanted to say that my DH (who is a GP and knows a lot about breastfeeding because I have ranted and made him read a lot of books and websites) agrees that your GP's response was rubbish and you should complain. He also noted that the GP's consulting style was right out of the RCGP's exam book and wonders if the GP was a) young enough to be a trainee or recent graduate, or b) established enough to be a likely trainer of other GPs. Either way, he let establishing your 'ideas, concerns and expectations' get in the way of actually helping you. Poor show.

[SomeDizzyWhore1804]

Not BF related but similar- I get loads of water infections/cystitis and no cause can be found. I've had scans and tests and cameras and God knows what else. All this for about eight years now and I still have periods where I get a full blown UTI every single month without fail. Just to add to the problem I am allergic to most antibiotics that are good for UTIs so its a bitch to treat.

I've had some hilarious conversations with (mostly, it has to be said, male) doctors over this matter from "drink 2L of cranberry juice a day" to "do you always wipe yourself when you have a wee?" (Bloody hell- no, sometimes I like to drip-dry... Do me a fucking favour). Memorably I once had the doctor ask what I thought and when I asked if it could be "hormonal" and he said "well I don't like that word. It's not terribly scientific and I am a man of science." To which I replied "well I'm an English teacher so how about you tell me what scientific thing you can do, rather than asking my opinion?"

Absolute knob.

[HelloBear]

some I love your response to the GP but massive sympathies re utis.

frozen thank you and your DH for response. Now I've calmed down a bit I realise the poor GP was doing his best. BF is so complex at times and I guess there is no way a GP can know it all. But today what would have helped was for him to hold his hands up to that and for us to plan around that. For ex if I had been in his shoes

[Sparklyboots]

My GP prescribed drugs incompatible with bfing during a consultation in which I sat with my bf 9mo on my knee. She didn't ask but had been responsible for DS's so I thoght either she would remember or it wasn't relevant. Whhen the pharmacy turned me away (after a slightly awkward moment where they asked where the baby was - I was holding him at the time - and reacted with surprise that I was bfing such an 'old' baby - yes 9 whole months 'old' ) I rang the dr, who was very irritated that I dared to question her. She said it wouln't matter because he got most of his nutrition from the food - 'meat and so on' - he ate. At 9 mo old when 'food is (still) for fun'. I didn't even bother telling her that aside from the fact he only tasted and played with food as far as I could tell, we are also vegetarian. I just didn't take the meds.

[FrozenNorthPole]

HelloBear, yes my DH's key criticism of your GP's approach was that he didn't notice and/or admit to a gap in his knowledge and proceed accordingly. DH says that most patients don't mind it if he says he'll need to look something up, check it or ask someone else, and it sounds like this would have been the right approach in your case.

[leedy]

Oh argh, don't get me started on GPs and medication/BF - I've experienced the other end, which is refusing to prescribe anything. I nearly ended up weaning DS1 unnecessarily because some fool locum GP in my practice told me there were no antidepressants for PND compatible with breastfeeding. Fortunately I got a second opinion (which was thirded by my usual GP when he got back from leave).

[Jenijena]

Been there, got the t-shirt, changing surgery... My doctor told me about the writing to the head if the local midwifery service to stop sending 'her patients' to 'my surgery' with breast thrush, which he knows doesn't exist.

He also said to change to ff.

My symptoms did not involve a bleb, but were very deep pain. My milk was tested positively for infection, but it still took 3 x antibx to shift it. And a hell of a lot of paracodeine...