How do you get the doctor to listen to you?

[thirtysomething]

I have an ongoing health concern that the doctor has acknowledged, but she never seems willing to investigate it further. Every time I see her she postpones a hospital referral for another few months in case the symptoms clear up in the mean time! It's really beginning to get me down as I go in feeling all assertive but end up coming out having been placated once again until the next time. Then DH gets miffed because he thinks I should have refused to leave until she took it more seriously! How do the rest of you get the doctor to listen to you?

refuse to leave
or ask for second opinion

could also put in official complaint on the lazyarse attitude

nice idea about lazyarse bit, not sure I could do that and stay on good terms with surgery though (they're always good at seeing the kids in a hurry)!

Treat it as a meeting, not an appmt

Speak slowly, don't squeak, no nervous titters

In your preamble, tell her how long it's been going on and how many "reviews" there have been in which you have hoped the symptoms would go - but just present the facts rather than comment on them

Wear something reasonably smart

sorry if all that's really obvious and you have already tried it

you need to book a double apptment.
write down your concerns, and have your gp go through them with you point by point.
ask her for a definative care plan not just a wait and see. If she still wants to wait and see aske her to help you understand why.

What you worried about if you dont mind me asking?

make double appointment. take someone strong (stubborn!) in with you, introduce them to dr and say they are here to support you. write down your problems/questions/issues beforehand and say to dr, i made some notes as i want to make sure we discuss everything that is disturbing me.

i have big probs in same area! - not to drop her in midle of it, but chapsmum has been bloody brilliant and was the person who got me revved up to sort it out! would advise - since she has asked you - that you tell her about it. i bet she will give you some top advice!!

Thing that made my gp listen more than anything, was going in with my husband. i wonder if the fact there was a witness made the difference!!

oh, and dont ask or beg for what you want. tell dr what you need!

you go in and when she says 'what's the problem mrs 30something'

say

"I have waited long enough for these symptoms to resolve themselves I would now like you to refer me to the relevant specialist"

Aww thanks MTPW

thanks to you all for some fab advice and making me feel a lot more empowered to go in there and assert myself! Think the double appt idea is superb - didn't even realise you could do that. Think it's all too easy to worry about seeming like a hypochondriac when you go to the doc's, especially as they're so wary of people coming in with their own diagnosis courtesy of the Internet!