Been to the GPs...

[Ladyem]

Following on from my previous thread I actually went to the appointment today to see if I could get any help for my anxiety, panic etc. My GP could not have been worse . He seemed irritated by the way I was describing my feelings and said "You're just describing things, not actually giving a reason for them", well if I had a reason for them I don't think I would be sitting in your office, Mate!

I told him that I have lost lots of weight and am having trouble eating as a result of the anxiety and he took this to mean I was anorexic, have been anorexic and kept saying how thin I was, how do I feel about these 'anorexic feelings'? Took me ages to convince him that I am not anorexic, but have lack of appetite due to the anxiety. Yes, I am very skinny, but hand on heart I am not anorexic. My weight is not something I think about, which is probably why I am at the point I am, I've just not really noticed how thin I've gotten and how much the anxiety is affecting me.

When I told him I was still BFing 8 month old DS he was not impressed as he said I couldn't have medication until I had stopped. So now I feel pressure to stop. I am only doing the last and first feed of the day, plus night feeds if required, so it shouldn't be difficult to stop - well for me, anyway. Not sure about poor DS - but it was just his attitude. He said that I'd be wanting to stop now anyway now that DS was 8 months.

Have been given a prescription for ecitalopram (is this the same as citalopram?) and have to go back 2 weeks after I start to take them (ie when I've stopped BFing) to discuss counselling.

Feeling very deflated as I was hoping to come out with a plan to get better.

You don't need to stop BF to start meds.

I'd suggest you try another GP, one with more time and sympathy.

Sorry he was so useless.

sounds appalling - def see another GP if you can

Is that right, BB? He said that there wasn't anything I could take (he was looking in some book to check) until I stopped BFing. Perhaps I'll go and see someone else, then. He is never very symapthetic and he took 2 phone calls while I was in there, one was someone asking how often to put cream on by the sounds of it, and he actually said "I don't really care how often you use it, just when ever it is needed!" What a caring man!

Thanks, littleearthquakes. He is a charmer! Called my daughter 'bloody-minded' once and said "I don't evny you!" when she was 2 and didn't want to be examined. She was just scared, but he made it worse and I was the most embarrassed mother in the world, thinking I had a badly behaved daughter!

Well done for still having the balls to want to go back and see a different GP after getting that kind of treatment.

I went to see my GP and although she was very kind and thoughtful in the way she dealt with me (I had to write down what I wanted to say as I burst into tears the second she asked the usual "so... what are we here for today?"). I was passed to the local mental health team who I could never get an appt with and never saw the same person twice. The last woman I saw there told me how stressed she was cos the other psychologist was off on long term sick and proceeded to say she would sign me off if I thought I had got better. She thought I was better and I was signed off. She did say to call her again if I felt worse but my anxiety stops me from doing this anyway...

Sorry for the long post but if you can, definitely talk to a different GP as it took me an age to get round to actually visiting mine and now I have got nowhere with the counselling I was signed off from, I am too defeated to go back to the GP.

hi ladyem sorry to hear about your gp, sounds like a very repressed man with no people skills, probably embarrassed by feelings but no excuse! . you could change practice if they are so rigid about who you see?
my gp prescribed sertraline when i was bf so i know for a fact that is wrong and would be a terrible shame to give up bf just for that, especially as it releases hormones that relax you etc. unfortunately i had to give up bf at 3 weeks for different reasons .
do try s.o. else or talk to your health visitor if helpful.
hope you feel better soon.

I am absolutely at this!!!

This kind of behaviour from a GP warrants a complaint to the practise manager in my opinion, that is absolutely appalling behaviour, and it sounds like you are not the only one at the receiving end of this kind of shoddy "treatment".

GPs are supposed to be trained in mental health issues. What a joke.

Seriously. I would write down everything you / he said / everything that happened in the appointment, as soon as possible whilst it is fresh in your mind, and complain.

I am honestly shocked. To be told you have to give up breast feeding as well! What a total idiot. I have several friends who have successfully breast-fed whilst taking sertraline (an AD).

Honestly. for you.

Absolutely disgraceful
This man has no idea what he is talking about. You are totally right to want second opinion.

Thanks for all of the replies! It means a lot to me to hear your views.

Right, I'm going to try to book an appointment with another Dr to see about alternative medication, so that the pressure is off to stop BFing. I'm tailing off anyway, but want to go at DS's pace, where as the GP asked if I'd consider stopping altogether straight away. I don't think 8 months is that unusual to still be BFing, is it? He just assumed DS would be on formula by now. I was almost apologetic when I told him, which made me with myself afterwards. I didn't expect that at all from a HCP.

Will right everything down so that when I feel stronger I have the option to put in a complaint. I just don't feel up to that at the minute, but would hate to think of others having to go through the same.

It seems that every where I turn for help I am being told "only once you stop BFing", where as I know of many women on meds or given dental treatment while still BFing. But that's another thread!

Paranoid - So sorry that you have been through that. I hope you find the strength to get more help. It's tough, though when the anxiety kicks in, isn't it. Sometimes takes me 10 minutes to pluck up the courage to ring the hair dressers

arcadia - I'd not thought about talking to the HV. I'll give her a call and see if I can book an appointment. If anything, it always seems to help having a chat! Will also ask about the Sertraline next time.

getdown & Kizzi- Thanks, I thought I was over reacting or being a bit sensitive. He was very quick to rule out meds while BFing, so I think he has little knowledge on this subject. I understand that if he isn't 100% sure, then he shouldn't prescribe, but it was the attitude that got to me. TBH, by this point in the consultation I was a bit tearful and was determined not to cry, so I din't say much, just took the prescription and said I'd try to cut down and stop BFing. Am with myself now for not speaking up or having the guts to question this.

Thanks again, Ladies, I am now armed for the next appointment!

ladyem just read your posts. If you haven't been to your appointment yet you could print this off to take with you www.cks.nhs.uk/depression_antenatal_and_postnatal/management/detailed_answers/choice_of_antidepressa ntduringbreastfeeding

Hi - some ADs can be used with breastfeeding - my friend had sertraline when breastfeeding... so like others I would go and see a different gp - maybe ask receptionist which one specialist in women's health/mental health so get one that knows the truth or can find out if he not know.

If you want to breastfeed, keep on! Go for it!

xstitch - thanks for the link, I've booked an appointment with another Dr for a couple of weeks time, so I'll print that off and take it with me.

Keziahhopes - Thanks, I'll ask about that AD when I go. Hopefully this Dr will be a bit more helpful and more understanding.