GP made me feel like I'm crazy

[mrsprice84]

You may (or may not) have seen some other posts from me regarding health anxiety and some investigations for abdominal pain.

Anyway for the last 2 days felt not quite right, abdominal pain getting worse and kept going dizzy and feeling nauseous with tingling in face and arms.

GP (locus) examined me and did water sample, said have water infection. I asked about the tingling and feeling dizzy and have suffered with UTIs for years and never experienced this. He asked if I was an anxious person, which if he saw my notes will notice that on my last visit I confide in my GP and my recent anxiety issues. I said I was recently and he said "well you come across as very anxious, you've had lots of tests done which are fine and I'm not saying there's nothing wrong with you as you have a water infection but you are coming across very anxious"! I could've cried right there, I had my 6 and 7 year old with me and feel like a right fool.

Am I being unreasonable here for thinking he was in the wrong or maybe I needed that kind of firm approach??

I wasn't there so it's hard to judge this as I didn't hear the tone of voice in which it was said but as you've admitted that you're anxious, then the GO wasn't wrong. I think that when you feel anxious it can be hard sometimes to judge comments without feeling hurt or targeted. I hope you're getting some support for your anxiety as it is tough when you feel like that. From the point of view of your children, I think it's good for them to see that sometimes adults are anxious too but that they get through those times. It can only be a positive!

Anxiety does not mean time waster. You have very real symptoms and your problems are just as valid as anyone else's. He's right to mention it if you are displaying those symptoms. I hope you feel better soon.

I changed to a different GP after mine did exactly the same to me.
It turns out the symptoms I had kept going back with for years, and had lots of blood tests for, by the stupid GP.....did not include the one I actually needed. The new doctor did the right blood test and it shows a very high level of Rheumatoid arthritis indicator....It should be less than 8 and is 117!
I've now been referred to a Rheumatologist.
The symptoms had created so much anxiety in me that the first doctor put me on antidepressants months ago!

Your doctor should never talk to you like that.

What you describe can be symptomatic of anxiety. When we are anxious our oxygen levels go all over the place and that can cause very real physical symptoms, including tingling, dizziness and nausea.

Anxiety does not mean that you are "crazy", nor is it rude or inappropriate for the GP to comment on it.

Tingling and dizziness are anxiety symptoms caused by breathing a bit faster than we need to (part of normal fight-or-flight response to feeling scared). It's harmless and goes away when we slow our breathing down. Abdominal pain can also be caused by the same thing (along with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, "butterflies in the tummy").

Have you had any treatment for your anxiety?

Thanks all. I think I was just taken aback by the directness of the GP who I had never seen before. My blood pressure was also slightly high which he put down to me being anxious.

My frustration and anxiety comes from the fact that there are real symptoms, but because further tests have not shone any light on a diagnosis I am getting more anxious. It's a vicious circle.

I wish I'd have said that was the reason why I was anxious, but with my children being there I didn't want to get into it.

Thanks all though! :-)

But they were right about your anxiety, weren't they?

It doesn't sound like they implied you were crazy, but anxiety can make us very sensitive to a perceived slight. It can also manifest in the symptoms you describe.

Was there anything else said? Did they offer or suggest anything for the anxiety?

Anxiety causes real physical symptoms...

Just seen your update. Very frustrating but understandable about the symptoms and lack of answers making you more anxious.

If you go back, is it possible to go without your children so you can talk more openly?

Hope your UTI clears up asap - I'm always taken aback at how rubbish they can make you feel!

@FrancesFlute thank you, yes am going to go back without the children so can talk about things a little more. On reflection the GP was so right - I needed him to be direct with him, and, the feelings of craziness come from me...not that he implied I was! I just never want them to disregard any of my symptoms because they think I am anxious. My anxious mind is not a nice one.

Am now going to ring my medical insurance to self refer myself, which I should have done weeks ago and never did...this bloody beast will be tamed!!

Thanks so much all!

Anxiety doesn't mean 'looking' or even feeling 'anxious'. Shame your GP doesn't know this.

Yes he was pretty heavy handed in his approach, but it has triggered a response in you and a desire to address your anxiety so perhaps overall it was a helpful experience. No one's anxious mind is nice, mine is a bitch too and finds slights everywhere and it is exhausting. But we are not always seeing things clearly when we are driven by the anxiety, and also anxiety can bring up all manner of physical symptoms as someone else has said. I have been to my GP in the past convinced of physical symptoms that I wanted a blood test for, and he very kindly said he would test me but that he was unconvinced there was a physical basis for my symptoms. Annoyingly but ultimately soberingly helpfully, it was all in my head. Just because we think it doesn't make it right. Good luck with facing your own 'stuff' OP.

Thank you @Woollycardi it has given me a bit of a kick up the bum to be honest. My mum spoke to me yesterday and realised something isn't quite right with how I "worry", so I know it's time to get some help so I can LIVE my life rather than being scared, worried and upset ALL the time as this is not good for my two children!

Good luck to you too! 💕

Here's to living life!

Read a little about health anxiety, the characteristics and diagnostic criteria etc. Maybe look at a questionnaire such as the Health Anxiety Inventory - if you strongly identify with it then maybe it is health anxiety. If you think it's not you at all then chances are it's not.

Health anxiety is fairly easy to treat, insofar that therapy got it is routine and common of a therapist or psychologist. Your doctor should be able to put you in touch with the local NHS therapy service, or maybe you can self refer.

Hi mrsprice84,

Sorry to hear you have been struggling with anxiety. I hope you have found some support since your last post. CBT canbe good.

I have struggled with anxiety
for about 20 years. It can certainly cause physical effects, however, your symptoms should not be dismissed. I was in unimaginable pain (abdominal and body pain) and had fatigue, sciatic pain, dizziness, feeling sick, fatigue,. Rai. Fog etc and after 5 years of going back and forth to the docs, have been diagnosed with M.e./CFS. Ps I have also been gluten free for 2 years which helped with the IBS, PaiN
, fatigue and mental problems. Please readup on Gluten/Me/CFS to see if it sheds any light

P.s. he should not have treated you like that. Compassion Is what is needed. X

His point was valid, but he shouldn't have said it perhaps without suggesting a solution (though I suppose that's what locums can be like.) It's a good plan of yours to go in without the kids, so you can chat more freely. Best wishes for your next appointment. xx