Any advice - what could be wrong with my son? How do we get help?

[jacksonlamb]

My adult son has lumps in his testicles, severe abdominal pain and sickness and a low temperature of 35. He's been feeling very ill for several months now. His GP has done blood tests which show a low white blood cell count, anaemia and low thyroid. He phoned them this morning to make an appointment due to worsening symptoms and the receptionist said he couldn't have an appointment as his blood tests were 'ok' and there was nothing more to be done. Where do we go from here? He's in London. I'm tempted to pay for him to have a private investigation as he's got nowhere with the NHS, but who with? What sort of specialist is needed? He doesn't want to go to A and E as the receptionist made him feel like a time-waster, but maybe he should. All suggestions gratefully received.

I get so angry when receptionists do this. Those blood tests are not ok and as your son's condition has deteriorated he needs to be seen.
Ring back and ask to speak to the practice manager. If you can, send an email/ do an online consult.
The only issue is that if your son is 18, he will have to do this himself as they may refuse to speak to you.
Receptionists are not qualified to make these decisions so that warrants a complaint anyway.

I would ring them back and ask for an urgent appointment, if they try to deny you an appointment, then ask to speak to practice manager. A receptionist cannot deny someone an appointment, not when they are having ongoing symptoms and no diagnosis found.
If looking to go private then I would start with a private GP and go from there, as the symptoms are very broad and there isn't any one discipline that should obviously take this on. Hope you can get some help for him soon.

Testicular lumps? Has the GP examined him?

He could be having a thyroid storm, OP. Straight to A&E.

I worked with many a receptionist playing clinician. I was a receptionist at my former husband's practice for years and was constantly mind blown by how many of my colleagues thought that working at a surgery's front desk meant they'd been through med school. Some really do believe that 'triage' means 'Oh! I'm the doctor now!'. It pisses me off no end.

Complain to the practice manager as well. Please do this. Because this receptionist will keep on playing doctor to the detriment of others.

But put all that aside for now. Your priority is your son and yes, I repeat, straight to A&E.

Severe abdo pain and temp of 35 = A+E immediately. He's hypothermic and this could be a sign of sepsis!

I would be bringing him to A&E immediately. I wouldn't give a shit what that daft receptionist said.

Severe abdominal pain and sickness - hospital (appendicitis? Gall stones? Sepsis?)

I'd call 111 or go to a&E, only because I know locally 111 (had been, not sure if they still are) able to book an appointment at a&E rather than you just turning up and queuing.

I'd also be writing (ok emailing) to the practice manager with a complaint - unless the receptionist is also a clinician they have absolutely no right to withhold an appointment on that basis.

Thank you all for your helpful replies. He managed to get seen by the GP yesterday. The problem is that they have already run lots of tests and not found an answer - some suggestion from them that it's all in his head. He pointed out that he doesn't want to keep losing work due to illness (he's self employed) and is in considerable pain. They have agreed to run further blood tests and refer him to a colorectal consultant. I'd have thought that an abnormally low white cell count plus extreme anaemia plus very low temperature warranted further investigation but what do I know! I do fully understand the pressures that the NHS are under but wish the GP wouldn't treat him as a timewaster. No one wants to feel ill every day.