Can't get an appointment with my Dr for 3 weeks!

[BumperliciousIsOneHotMother]

I rang my dr's sugery today to make an appointment with my usual dr and the receptionist said "yes you can have an appointment for the 6th february" .

Now it's not an urgent appointment I need. I've been recently diagnosed with overactive thyroid and am having regular blood tests to get my drug levels sorted. I am also having real problems with tiredness. I have a 6 mo baby. She mostly sleeps very well but if she wakes up I struggle to get back to sleep. Even if I get 8 or more hours sleep I feel knackered, I am vile with it and it is getting me down and making me panic about getting enough sleep every night.

Last time I went to the dr's and couldn't see my regular dr, I told the one I saw that I was feeling down and was worried about PND and she gave me AD's without a second thought, whereas I have seen my dr throughout my pregnancy (we have shared MW/GP antenatal support), she knows I get anxious and stressed rather than depressed and just need a bit of practical support. They have offered me an appointment (for a week's time with another dr but I would really rather see my regular dr, it would be more efficient and I expect better advice as she knows me.

What can I do? I know they save appointments for emergencies, and I don't want to pretend it's an emergency but am I being unreasonable to expect to be able to see my regular GP a bit soon?

Is it simply that your Dr is booked up or is she away on holiday?

I do agree that 3 weeks is a long time though. I don't know what you can do about it though - would you be able to have a telephone appointment? Our surgery is pushing those at the moment.

Booked up I think. I usually have prolem getting appointments 1.5 weeks of so but 3 weeks seems a bit ridiculous!

problem or (sorry feeding baby!)

Maybe your usual GP has some holiday in those weeks?

Our surgery ALWAYS tries v.hard to get you to see the same GP for good continuity of care - unless urgent treatment needed.

Could you make the 3 week appt, but have a phone consultation with another GP for intermediate help/advice?

You are not being unreasonable. It is much the same at our local surgery! I think with an overactive thyroid- book yourself an emergency appointment. Many people don't think twice about doing so! You certainly have a good enough reason to see a GP sooner, ask when your GP is in for emergency appointment. Pester power is the only way. Ask to speak to your GP-stress the urgency- lay it on thick. All the best- hope you get sorted soon.

Call and ask what days he/she is doing emergency surgery. When I had a chat to our receptionist and told her it was an ongoing issue but not urgent enough to see any old Dr she told me to call at 8.30am on that Friday. Low and behold he was on emergency that Morning and I got in to see him. I did have to explain a bit to the receptionist (well it is a triage Nurse) but it was worth it not to just be fobbed off.

If not call and ask to speak to the Manager and explain to them about the other Dr pushing ADs and your concerns. I suspect you might get fitted in. Unless they really are away of course!

Wishing you a good nights sleep.

Don't know what you can do other than bite the bullet and see another doctor. Perhaps try and strike up a relationship with another doctor so that you can see either one.

However, that doesn't really help the situation. I thought there were government guidelines on seeing doctors within a certain time. Or is that just any doctor, not the one you want?

Could you ask the receptionists to call if they get a cancellation?

Sorry that you are having to compromise though and not get the treatment you need from the person you want.

Thanks, I think I am going to ring up and not lie, but play up the "I'm a postnatal mum" card and ask reasonably if there is anyway I can see her sooner as three weeks of sleep deprivation is a long time when you are at home all day with a baby!

I might ask about the telephone consultation.

I just can't understand how she can be booked up for 3 weeks, I mean sure the majority of GP related queries are short-term illnesses?