so I finally made my GP appointment and she was...

[CaptainKarvol]

lovely.

No dismissing how I feel, did an internal exam (and an opportunistic smear), took a history and told me to make an appointment for day 21 bloods. I feel so relieved to be taken seriously.

Only worry is that my BP was very high - anyone got any good lifestyle tips for getting it down a bit? I don't want to end up like my mum on horrible blood pressure meds for ever...

Awww Great captainK - I guess like any profession they're not all bad - just out of interest is she relatively young? I would guess older GP's with older style training (like mine!!) are less understanding/accomodating

for lowering your blood pressure CaptainKarvol, it's basically improving your general health that you need to do. Eat healthily, cut right down on salt and sodium, take more exercise etc...
try www.nhlbi.nih.gov for more ideas.

Pinkmook, calm down on the generalisations, age and experience does not necessarily equal less understanding.
All ages can be lovely and all ages can be PITAs

and am pleased she was lovely CaptainK

well excuse me ! Other people have said similar on here and I hesitated before adding a disclaimer about generalisations - but thought no, most people will know what I'm talking about and are supportive and understanding - obviously not you.

this might help as well
see the section further down about lifestyle modifications
agree with DR about generalisations

Well i can say the same to them as i've said to you then.
doesn't make it fair, just because others have said it
you try hearing day in day out, people slaggingoff being rude about GPs and in particular older GPs who have a wealth of experience and knowledge.

Are you denying that older style training might not have included as much about fertility for the very fact not as much was known?

From my (obviously) limited experience of GP's I have PERSONALLY found older generation GP's much more dismissive of issues such as fertility. My own GP is absolutely lovely BUT very dismissive of my concerns about TTC and also told me a) women only ever ov 14 before their period b) modern pregnancy tests can tell if you are pregnant from 1DPO (!!) c) the blood tests that you can have (i.e day 2-3 and day 21) can be done on any day of your cycle!!!!!

Finally - a gynaecology nurse who I saw after he had given me this advice said - often older GP's are not as up to date on fertility stuff

I DID NOT SAY older GP's do not have a wealth of experience I said they may not be as understanding/accomodating about THIS issue due to differing training

Obviusly its a personal bug bear for you but I have had enought crap to deal with during this TTC lark without random people attacking for a perfectly un nasty post

Look sorry PM, obviously v emotive subject for you, so will clarify, didn't mean it to come across as personal attack.
hope things go better for you in future,but I still am apaininthearse pedantic about generalisations (although you did clarify and support your generalisation very well]]

Well thank you for accepting my clarifications.

I shall calm down now! Yes its a very emotvie subject for me as you can see from my experiences it was not a generalisation about older GP's as I said my older GP is a lovely man and very experienced just not too hot on fertility. And as was pointed out to me by (an older by the way!) Gynae nurse - older GP's often have not had the same training in these issues - God I'm repeating myself now I shall shut up, am very very hormonal today!

sends you a chocolate hobnob through the ether

Ha! gobbles said hobnob in one gulp!

virtually shakes hands with DR and wanders off to cook the tea........

Sorry Captaink for hijacking your thread too glad she was helpful x

thank you darlings! I don't know whether to tell you know - my GP is probably in her early 50's, so fits neither profile well, she's not especially 'old' or 'young'! She's just a decent human being (as far as I can tell).

All the lifestyle advice is great, and I'll be checking it out. Thanks so much for all your thoughts xxx