GP initially refused to give me painkillers as she wanted me to use the pain as an incentive

[OvO]

to sort out my diabetes.

I have Type 2 diabetes, I know I need to do better and eat better etc. My last GP was really helping and I lost 2.5 stone so it’s not like I’m not trying. But still loads of room for improvement, I know that.

So I have had nerve damage pain in my foot for a few years (caused by poorly controlled diabetes) and I finally decided to see my new doctor (have moved house) to get painkillers.

The pains so bad I can’t sleep, I already have high dose co-codamol for back pain but it doesn’t do a thing for the pain in my foot.

But the GP said over and over again that she didn’t want to give me anything for the pain as it would just mask it and I needed to understand that it was a symptom I needed to pay attention to and I should use the pain as an incentive to get my diabetes under better control.

Then followed the Type 2 Diabetes Is Curable If You Try Lecture which is fair enough, it’s her job. But am I wrong to think that leaving me in pain is a pretty shitty way to try to force me to make the changes?

I honestly had to beg her before she’d prescribe gabapentin (so?). I explained over and over I was in agony and unable to sleep but she just kept saying to use it as an incentive.

I’m not sure if I’m being too sensitive. I’m pretty anxious about doctors and will go to great lengths to avoid them so can look for any excuse to not go back. I WILL go back as I know I need help with my diabetes but I’m NOT going back to see her.

So am I being too sensitive? Is she right and I should stay in pain as a way to incentivise myself? I can’t see how that works. I’m in agony and exhausted so hows that going to translate to making good choices?

This is my longest post ever, bloody hell. I’ll inderstand if you just skimmed it!

I think she's right OP. Covering it up will just let you ignore it and it's very serious isn't it? What is she doing to help you lose weight?

You do understand that she's trying to help you avoid an amputation? Sorry if that's harsh .

It is serious, so she should offer to help me sort out my diabetes. Leaving me in pain seems like a stupid option. She offered no help, no specialists, nothing. Just The Lecture.

She is right that you'll probably work harder to rid yourself of this pain and the lifestyle factors exacerbating it if you are conscious that it is there and it's affecting your general wellbeing.

Have you been given sufficient guidance to keep losing weight?

That sounds really tough and harsh, i agree.

It sounds harsh but honestly it sounds like you really need someone to be like that.

She's right- your pain would be better controlled if you managed your diabetes, why should she prescribe something that is ultimately going to cause further damage!?

This is one of the things the NHS are now focussing on. Using medication in ways to help people help themselves so painkillers for backs should be given short term to enable patients to move more, exercise, attend physio, etc. Your GP has given you a very clear statement, masking the pain is covering up the damage you are doing to yourself so please don't let this be counter productive

Join BIWIs low carb bootcamp on here and improve your health!

So my lying awake for hours in agony will suddenly make me a different person and I’ll make all the right choices and be healed?

I KNOW I need to do better but it’s hard to do better when in agony and when the GP herself makes no suggestions HOW.

I have Spina Bifida so that limits what exercise I can do. NO support or suggestions were offered on what I could try. Just 'oh yes, that makes it hard, doesn’t it' and a shrug.

thing is, there is not much the gp can do to help you, your t2d is probably the cause and only YOU can help yourself.
though I agree that you needed advice/medication for your foot issue,

congrats on your weight loss, that was a great start.

She’s right. You know she is. Sounds like a good GP.

I just want to bloody cry.

I know I’m a mess and need to sort myself out. I KNOW.

I can’t do that very well when I’m exhausted. I just can’t. I struggle because of my disability and I NEED SLEEP. I just want to be able to sleep so I have the energy to make these bloody changes!

I don’t want to ignore my symptoms anymore I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW how bad they are.

Danger is that if you are on high levels of painkillers, you could actually do more damage and not feel it.

I'm T2 as well OP. It's utterly crap but the only person who can control my diet is me. My immune system takes the hit.... if I'm not eating really well, I pick up everything I come into contact with. If I'm eating well, I feel well and am well. I've learned the hard way.

Hi, I agree it does sound harsh but I have to agree she's trying to encourage you to relieve the pain by managing the cause, not just by masking the pain. Sounds like a good GP actually but horrid for you in the meantime. Sorry to hear you are in pain though and I hope you do get it under control. Did you happen to see the BBC programme about VLCDs being used as a means to shift weight quickly and reverse/improve things like non-alcoholic liver disease (fatty liver), type 2 diabetes etc? (It was called The Big Crash Diet Experiment and appeared to be scientifically based with Oxford University expert on obesity etc). A friend of mine has very recently lost 2stone+ since watching the show.

hopefully the gabapentin will help you get a couple of good nights sleep
then focus on diet.
gentle weight exercises
good luck!

It sounds harsh but...and i understand it as i am overwieght prediabetic .... if you have not addressed the issue in several years then not only have you damaged the nerves in your feet you could also go blind amongst other things.

Congrats on the weight loss .... 2.5 stone is great but getting to a healthy weight via a low carb way of eating might be the best way to control both the sugar levels and get weight down.

If i eat carbs with every meal I Am diabetic.... if i limit the carbs I am NOT diabetic.

Good luck, be proactive and show the GP you mean it.... and save your feet from infections, ulcers, gangrene and amputation.

I'm unsure about this. I know it's a little different but you wouldn't leave someone with toothache to teach them to brush their teeth better, or eat less sugar even when they come back time and time again with pain.

If your in so much pain you can't sleep how can you exercise or be motivated enough to sort out your diabetes? I don't think you can just expect someone to get their diabetes under control overnight when they are in a lot of pain.

On the other hand this has been going on for several years, and it's true that the pain will be better controlled if you sort out the diabetes and having a symptom like that which is obvious and very present can help people get things like diabetes under control. So I'm on the fence, maybe a short course but she should have offered some kind of help

I’ve lost weight. I am trying. I’m not ignoring anything.

Well done on your weight loss. Your GP Has prescribed the painkillers and yes she was harsh but try not to focus on it. Hopefully, your painkillers will work and you'll get some sleep. Everything feels worse when you are in pain and haven't slept enough. 

Of course you should be prescribed pain relief so you can sleep at night.

The right way to do it would be to prescribe a small amount to make sure you e.g. Only use it at night or when it is very acute. That would mean you still "feel the incentive" to make changes without Bein gin unbearable agony.

OP can't exercise or turn her life around if she's in constant pain. Harsh responses above!

You sound really low, sleep deprivation is horrible and chronic pain is so draining anyway. Just wanted to send some  OP. It's so good that you've already made a start with weight loss towards trying to control your diabetes, esp with another disability. Try not to get discouraged, it's the most important thing you could be doing atm. The GP sounds like she's trying to help and be responsible, I don't think she was wrong as such but I can understand if you'd want to see someone else. Maybe a very short term prescription of the painkillers could help you get some rest but I agree that you shouldn't be on them for long, there will be other health implications with that and the fact is that it does mask the symptoms of what is an incredibly serious condition and one that is within your power (however difficult) to make positive changes to.

being in not Bein gin! 😂

I am reading and taking in all the comments, some feel pretty harsh and I’m struggling with them.

My asking for painkillers was (to me) a positive step forward in looking after myself and making a better choice. Im in pain so I saw a doctor - that’s a big deal for me as I’ll stay in agony rather than see a GP usually. I thought being able to sleep would help me massively in daytime hours - I’ll have the energy to cook rather than eat something rubbish. I honestly saw going to her and asking for this was a good thing but it seems not?

But thank you all for taking the time to read my mammoth post and to post a reply!

OP

Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.

Well done on weight loss, I hope these tablets help your sleep but please be aware that she may not give you a repeat prescription so to really try with weight loss