What (hopefully) minor things should/would you be seeing your GP for if you could, but aren't due to CV?

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

I have a nagging on and off abdominal pain on the right. Too high to be my appendix. Potentially my gallbladder.
I had an appointment booked after putting up with it for weeks and weeks waiting for it to go away. That got cancelled automatically before the lockdown and as it's not an emergency, I'm clearly not pursuing an appointment. But it's a (tiny) nagging worry for me that it might be something that needs looking into.

Sorry posted to soon. 5 days of the week but with lockdown I've only put my face on about 3 times in the past 3 weeks, so would have thought au natural would have been better! But no.

@thenewaveragebear1983 as a PP said, look into getting magnesium sulfate paste, apply it under a dressing - it should draw the splinter out..
Failing that and if there are signs of infection then head to A&E - they can remove there as another PP said, and they're the emptiest I've seen them in the past 4 years.. even when the doctors were striking. Not seen more than 4 people at once in my local one at any time recently

Our GP surgery put something out on Facebook today urging people to contact them for non urgent stuff, they have plenty of telephone/video calls available!

@zombiepara thank you I will try the magnesium paste. I would really feel bad going to a&e for a splinter though but it really is a whopper.

I probably should get my cholesterol checked... it was on the high side last time I had bloods done and my guess is I probably should be on statins by now.

Some of the things mentioned on this thread should be looked at. The whole NHS isn't shut down for all except covid.

I need a blood test to check my vit d deficiency has improved. It doesn't sound much but this is step one in the investigation into my fatigue and pain. I still have fatigue and pain so either I'm still deficient or it's not that. I've already lived with this for 2 years before anyone listened. Absolutely not urgent or emergency but I'd like to live a normal life again 😭

I would really feel bad going to a&e for a splinter though but it really is a whopper.

They'd probably rather deal with a splinter than an infected splinter.

A lot of people on here really need to seek medical advice! Don't decide for yourself it's not important enough, call your GP surgery and let them decide. They know much more than you about how busy they are!

Have had loads of unexplained bruising on arms and legs recently, I look like I've had a severe beating but no idea what's causing it. Was getting ready to make an appointment before this all kicked off but no point now as they can't do an examination. Just hope whatever it is doesn't get worse before lockdown lifted.

My daughter needs her ears checked, her hearing is dire!! Sick of having to shout everything lol her sister has a hearing aid so likely there is actually something wrong!

Fell of my bicycle a week ago and landed with my ribs in the handlebar. Been aching ever since. It’s ok if I’m perfectly still but other than that it’s killing. I believe though that even if I have broken a rib that there isn’t much they can do for it so I’m no worse off

I can’t use our shower at the mo (broke just as lockdown kicked in) so bathing daily and sitting in my own suds has kicked off my eczema, worst its been in ages. I would normally see the GP but DH had some cream left over from seeing a dermatologist for an awful eczema break out about 18 months ago, so I’m using that. It’s been very quick, so I think it might be on the strong side.

I had a telephone appointment a couple of days ago. The doctor said she had plenty of free time because nobody was calling.
I was asking her about restarting iron for my son. She said she was going to take some time to look through his notes, and realised from an old blood test for something else that he actually has thalassemia, not anaemia. I definitely didn’t expect to get more thorough treatment over the phone but there you go.

A lot of people on here really need to seek medical advice! Don't decide for yourself it's not important enough, call your GP surgery and let them decide.

This exactly. No one’s GP is going to thank them for saving up all their complaints to then cause a massive surge in appointments after lockdown. My GP is doing telephone appointments or face to face appointments if a telephone appointment isn’t suitable. They’re still doing smear tests, immunisations, midwifery appointments...

My Mirena is five years old and could really do with coming out. I would just leave it because I'm not planning on getting another one, but I'm getting much more regular bleeding. I don't want to take up an appointment to talk about contraception when the surgery is so busy.

@OnGoldenPond make a telephone appointment! Sounds like you need a blood test and to make sure there are no deficiencies or lurking causes for unexplained bruising - whole range of possible reasons..

@thenewaveragebear1983 definitely try the paste.. but if it doesnt come out, call the gp for a telephone/video call appointment.. and if need be then yes, a&e. You'd be surprised the ridiculous things people attended for pre-Covid.

@Prisonbreak there is very little they do for broken/cracked ribs.. just be aware of any shortness of breath, changes to your breathing, and unusual symptoms - if you get any of these..again..attend a&e incase there is a break and it has shifted/is now causing other problems.. if you need higher pain relief - call your gp - they can sort out prescriptions over the phone.. you may need something like prescription strength co-codamol or naproxen

I have some sort of hormonal issue going on.

I think it's been a problem for 18 months+ but I already had difficulty/couldn't visit the GP and this has made things worse! I'm not sure if I have PCOS or am perimenopausal (only early 30s, so hoping not) but I would need a blood test and possible ultrasound and neither of those can happen just now.

I had an X-ray which showed some bone erosion on my foot - could be from rheumatoid arthritis - was just about to go to GP when this all kicked off.

@OnGoldenPond , I really would book a telephone consultation for that. It really needs investigating soon and not putting off.

I really think most of your should call your GP without delay
I called mine the other day and got a call back the same day - swab test kit collected from the surgery, done at home, dropped off and returned to the surgery and results back in 3 working days. Also a U/S scan booked and now done. The healthcare system hasn't shut down.

Just phone! They’re doing so much by phone. I had a telephone appointment and a prescription sent straight to the pharmacy. It was so efficient! I also got straight through on the phone and phoned back within an hour.

I need to have a blood test/ X-ray on my wrists. I have really bad carpal tunnel in both wrists but because I'm only 26 and I've had it for years my gp wants to see if it's being caused by arthritis/ rheumatoid arthritis before they refer me for the operation. Never thought I'd be excited for an operation but my wrists and hands are so painful 😣

Chronic fatigue. It's never been officially diagnosed but when this is over I'm going to go to the gp about it because it's massively affecting my quality of life. As a single parent it is particularly hard to cope some days because of it

@Bluewater1 I don't think there is anything they can do for chronic fatigue. At least my gp told me that there isn't, though that seems to be her stock response to everything so perhaps it isn't true. Although you may need tests to rule out other things if that hasn't been done already.

OP you should contact your GP surgery. Mine is seeing people online and by phone. You don’t need to martyr yourself!