Just been to GP - saw "hypochondriasis" on notes...

[TolpuddleFarter]

Been to see GP about some side effects I have had from a medication I was on.

Looked at the computer to see "hypochondriasis (3)" on my notes, which obviously is three times where it has been flagged that I am a hypochondriac.

Does this mean from now on I will struggle to get taken seriously?

So medical emergencies can only be physical.

The usual praise is health anxiety these days I believe. But notes go back, so you are going to see older terms too.

There’s no need for more than that though.

Health anxiety is a disorder like OCD (there's an overlap with other forms of anxiety it is common in their with OCD, C/PTSD, etc) it requires assurance. It's not crying wolf. Anxious people aren't attempting to deceive.

In my experience, yes.

I had a dispute (unwanted) with a really incompetent GP. He was the epitome of the worst of the NHS, a raging misogynist and he made glaring errors.

For starters I went to him for help as I was unwell after having my son at 28 weeks. We both nearly died and I felt that the responsibility for all of it was mine because I was carrying him and felt I'd failed. I now know I was in early stage PTSD.

He put me on an anti depressant that made my symptoms worse. I was turned fully mad by it, paranoid, suicidal. Went back to him, he upped my dose.

Foolishly, I trusted him. Ended up nearly sectioned. Actually called to ask a GP to section me.

Older, far kinder GP said he would see me as the nasty one was away. Thank heavens. The tablets the other put me on where for alcoholics. He assumed my age of mid 20s meant my depression was due to alcohol. He never even asked me. He clearly didn't listen to what I had said was going on in my life at the time.

Complaint was made. He refused to admit fault, lied and said I had said I drink to cope (total bullshit, proven by specialist midwife and the head of Scbu who I saw daily for months). He also said I smelt of vodka and looked slovenly, like a drunk. I can't drink vodka. It makes me vom. So total made up fairy tales

After that, he refused to listen to my concerns once DS came home from Scbu. Including severe allergic reactions when weaning. Said I was "paranoid and over thinking" and "border line obsessive over ill health". Forgetting my son had a range of needs and illnesses. When we finally went above him and DS was seen age 4, in allergy clinic, the consultant said he felt he needed to apologise as I was right on each of his allergy triggers and had been told to expect a pushy mum after attention. He whistle blew on the circumstances. The GP left the practice.

We left the surgery and moved towns.
However, a few years back, as I don't see a GP unless desperate and I look after my health, I was very unwell. DH was concerned I had pneumonia.

I get told by GP he was "only seeing you to calm (me)" as I "understand you over think' and "are always ill and after appointments." Hadn't seen a GP in 5 years at that point which I pointed out.

Looked into my record when we all got the Covid NHS app. The utter bollocks that man wrote about me on my file. Apparently I was tested for drugs and alcohol while pregnant (lie). I am a hypochondriac who rings daily for appointments (lie). I make up illness for attention and then refuse to engage with medication (lie). I am borderline obsessive over my DS because my negligence whilst pregnant made him be born prem (lie. Placenta abruption made him early). That last one particularly hurt because of why I went to him in the first place.

If you've ever had issue with a GP then don't be surprised that's the cause. Some will do all they can to cover themselves when they screw up and boy did he.

Even recently trying to see a gynecologist for my endo and PCso has been a nightmare as one literally said I'm prone to over stating symptoms according to my records.

I'm currently making enquiries to have these lies removed.

😀😀😀

That’s clearly not what the PP said.

Anyone working a busy A&E shift is going to have initial feelings of frustration with someone who clearly does not need urgent attention, because it takes time from those who do.

I was just going to recommend magnesium. I take a daily supplement but also have the Better One spray which I put on my hands and feet at night. Works really well.

I think NFN would be a worse thing to see.

Meanwhile OP has preciously told a GP that they have health anxiety and states that they do indeed acknowledge that they struggle with this. Unless the GP is refusing to see OP (which doesn't seem to be the case) then not sure how having accurate notes is comparable to what happened to you?

@CoolSchool

Of course they can if a previously used word or term has a negative connotation. They do it all the time because words matter.

I would guess, for example, you'd prefer your post be characterised as straightforward and blunt rather than dismissive and unempathetic because one makes you sound non-nonsense and one makes you sound unpleasant. The OP would, presumably, rather be seen as someone who suffers from a form of anxiety rather than someone who invents catastrophes.

OP, l do help the twitching improves and you feel you're getting the help you need on all fronts.

I think they do if it's relevant to the whole picture. I am obese. I don't find it offensive to be called that by a doctor as long as they are treating me with compassion and kindness. Not saying the OPs doctor isn't . I am just thinking the narrative around health anxiety needs to change as it seems to be treated sometimes like a character failing not a mental health issue. That's all.

But I do think it's good doctors have flagged the OP's issue . I hope they are offering constructive help.

Nobody is saying you won't be treated, they are acknowledging the truth.

I agree. Sometimes exercise makes my insomnia worse, because I then expect that I should fall asleep more easily and feel aggrieved that I'm awake. Feel like shit during the day, then wake up again as the sun goes down. Endless and boring cycle.

Sorry... I absolutely agree with you that health anxiety needs to be recognised and managed empathically as its a debilitating and horrible condition. And there are occasions Investigation is needed, I just didn't want readers with health anxiety to expect investigation as standard to allay their fears, which could have been taken from your post... that was not intended to dismiss or ignore your very valid other points regarding holistic care... apologies...

@BillyNoM8s I think that's a good point, if you just add in exercise without treating the anxiety, then you can end up a bit agitated, so I've found doing both something like meditation/using the Claire Weekes book as well as very moderate exercise works better, otherwise you become a bit wired!

She asked if having that on her record meant she will struggle to be seen or taken seriously hence I said in my experience she will. Because 15 years later I am still struggling to be taken seriously and I now worry that as a result, I could become seriously ill but with the rise of secretaries holding the key to being seen or even phoned, that is going to mean I'm easy to fob off because I make up how ill I am.

Don't know why you have to be so rude when I literally answered her question via my lived experience of how difficult it is.

Here, have a

Eh? I wasn’t the original poster you quoted 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶 get it right before being a dickhead

No A and e is not just for physical emergencies.
But you want my honest opinion? A and E is not the place for someone with severe health anxiety who believes that a 48 hr old superficial scratch to their face is a malignant melanoma and that they are dying of metastatic disease. I understand why people rock up at A and E because they are not getting the help that they need in the community but even if your able to put the persons mind at rest over this concern they will find another one and no one in A and E is going to be able to address the underlying cause of the person concern; health anxiety because it cannot be addresses in a 20 min (if your lucky) consultation.
Mental health provision in the community is sketchy at best and non existent at worst when you combine this with the difficulties of seeing a GP then its inevitable that patients turn to very overstretched A and E depts with their mental health problems but this doesn't make it the right place for them to turn too and staff do find it frustrating for both the patient themselves who are not getting the help they need and the fact that this will delay the treatment of patients who genuinely do need A and E.

Because you're projecting, OP is already anxious and it's not going to help when nothing that's been posted suggests they will treat her differently because of it. The hesitance to switch medications is reasonable given the reasons, as is the advice at this point in time. It's usually just a way to moan about doctors or to make an already worried OP more worried which isn't nice.

This is outrageous. I'm horrified by this but sadly not shocked as this happens so often especially with women's health.

I am angry on your behalf and sad for how you have been treated already having gone through so much. 💐

GodspeedJune · Today 12:09
You can raise this as something you aren’t happy with. They won’t delete it from your file, but a note can be added to it, or it can be hidden from obvious view

You can ask for something to be deleted from your file.

They should surely also discuss this with you. It is quite important because:
a. Will they take you seriously when one day you really are physically ill.
b. This in itself may be a form of mental distress which you could be helped with.

And you can ask for a copy of your notes.

Read the side effects of medicine. I always do. The one I'm on now mentioned amongst other things dizziness and yup I get the tipping forward thing disconcerting but documented on the sheet I got. So nope I didn't bother the GP.

An on duty psychiatrist in A and E would be ideal but they are overstretched as it is dealing with those in psychosis or mania or for other reasons causing them to be high risk to themselves or others. What is needed is more intensive outpatient support programmes for anxiety related things . IAPT may be useful for less severe cases but I do think treatment needs to be longer term than a few weeks of CBT. Often there is a deep rooted reason behind health anxiety. Trauma based therapy may be needed.

Ask to speak to your practice manager. Is that GP in a position to diagnose this, did you consent to any diagnosis? On was this diagnosis made? Have they suggested any treatment? Eg referred you into a psychiatrist or psychologist?

This.