GP marking abnormal results as normal??

[CreatingHavoc]

I had an echocardiogram recently, which showed mild mitral valve regurgitation. However, my GP has marked the scan as 'normal - no comment' on my records. The only reason I know about the mitral valve leak is because I read the report myself. It did say it was largely 'reassuring' but it definitely wasn't normal no comment. I'm really quite annoyed by this.

Similarly, but not quite as bad, they marked my pelvic ultrasound as normal, despite my right ovary being in the pouch of Douglas. This can be normal but given my symptoms, should have meant I had an internal scan booked (should have really been done on the day but the radiologist didn't do it 🙄) and further investigations. I ended up in A&E yesterday with my pelvic issues and the doctor there has confirmed this and advised me to go back to the gp and demand an internal scan and a referral to gynae. At this point however I'm wondering if I should change to an entirely different surgery :/

I keep getting this (with blood results for ferritin - 9 was ‘normal’ and then 11 was ‘normal’) I queried it and was told it’s only borderline as a level of 13 is apparently fine

@Fruitsaladandchips wow, 9 is pretty badly anaemic! That's awful. Maybe they're all the same and we have to read everything ourselves now.

Your ferritin levels can’t determine if you are anaemia or not.
Maybe leave the diagnosis to doctors. Are you a gynaecologist too ?
Or perhaps ‘read everything yourself now’ and see how you get on …

I think the point would be that the GP isn’t a gynaecologist either, so should be referring to someone who does have that specialism.

@olympicsrock you're being pedantic. Technically, we can't truly know if they are anaemic without the haemoglobin levels but with a ferritin of 9 they should absolutely not be marked as normal. Gynae wise, I'm following the advice of a doctor I saw yesterday, in hospital. Are you a doctor?

My gp keeps doing this with my kidney function test. I only realised because my rheumatology consultant nosed at my online results while waiting for me to get dressed and declared my kidney function from a year old test wasn’t good and had I had follow up. I said no, he said my gp needs to do better (I’m not seeing rheumatology about my kidneys) and to get it repeated. Got it repeated, results are worse and gp has marked them as normal again. I give up. 🤷‍♀️. Guess maybe chronic kidney disease just isn’t serious?

Yes I’m a doctor and a senior one . Not pedantic but accurate …
Low ferritin does not make you anaemic

I also know that A and E doctors are also not usually gynae specialists and I don’t think you should be so certain that you ‘needed’ a transvaginal scan the same day. Every GP has their individual experience and can ask for specialist guidance and refer on as needed.
An echo showing mild mitral regurg is neither here nor there and doesn’t need actioning or really any discussion.

Am 100% certain the consultant surgeon is probably more up to speed with normal variations in anatomy than either you or an ?ED doctor. Ferritin is not a marker of anaemia (and some of us are absolutely fine with a ferritin of 9). Mild MR is one of the commonest valvular findings worldwide. In the absence of any worrying features 'normal, no comment' doesn't seem unreasonable.

What is your kidney result?

@olympicsrock ah, that explains why you're so defensive. Not that I need to justify anything to a random gp online who knows nothing about my medical history but... It wasn't an A&E doctor, I was referred to orthopaedics for a spinal assessment due to them wanting to rule out cauda equina. My pelvic symptoms are far from normal. The doctor I saw was incredibly informative, a hundred times more so than any gp I've seen in the last several years. As he said, my symptoms warrent further investigations.

As for the echo, I have symptoms that could be caused by the mitral valve issue. Thankfully I've gone private for this issue as my symptoms were so bad. You sound like every other gp I've seen recently; condescending and jumping to conclusions.

@Greybeardy not sure what you're on about with the consultant surgeon comment. I do have worrying features. See above.

I have really severe heavy periods which my gp is aware of and I’m constantly exhausted and have hair loss and breathlessness. He suggested I take a depression questionnaire as said my issues ‘are likely psychological not biological’ but I’m sure it’s the low ferritin ? Do I need to ask for a second opinion? Sorry @CreatingHavoc to derail your thread ! I really think sometimes that gp surgeries are so busy they just mark off things as normal mistakenly ? I hope you can get some clarity and support

Yes, I'm sure your heavy periods are just psychological 🙄🙄🙄

I’m of the opinion to never trust any of them - always get a second opinion - especially if your first came from the NHS.

Thank god I didn’t listen to the useless cunt who as a specialist consultant tried to make out my issues were psychiatric in nature. Luckily for me I can spot a bullshitting shyster who is out of his depth and swiftly went elsewhere where I was finally diagnosed as having a neurological illness.

He cost me months of my life in pain and had the audacity to try and deny it when I complained. Unfortunately for him I kept very detailed records and all the documents they sent me and could prove it.

As for the doctor who commented - perhaps if GPs and other doctors did their jobs properly people wouldn’t feel the need to comb through their own results and “second guess the doctor”. Just a thought.

58.egfr

@Fruitsaladandchips I started off similar, low iron, heavy periods etc but everything has got progressively worse over the years and my whole pelvic region is now buggered. I can't even wee properly and I'm in constant pain. Never offered any tests other than bloods and standard ultrasounds. Never referred to gynae. Gp's have said many things like ibs/fibromyalgia/anxiety etc. Conveniently, all things that don't require any further investigations or referrals 🙄 The orthopaedic doctor I saw yesterday says I need an MRI so has referred me to the spinal team. Would have preferred one to be done in hospital yesterday but I'd been there 11 hours at that point and they had already ruled out cauda equina so I can understand why they didn't.

Making assumptions OP… I’m not a GP.
Also , orthopaedic surgeons are better known for their skill with hammers and power tools than general medical knowledge . Not sure why you think you should believe their gynae advice !

Thank goodness the NHS has a zero policy . Staff don’t have to tolerate abusive people who refer to them as C**TS.

Anyway … enjoy the DIY this weekend both of you .

@Msmoonpie I totally agree. There's not many GP's I feel comfortable with any more. They all just gaslight. There was one good GP at my surgery, fairly newly qualified but he left unfortunately. Might have to look him up and see where he's gone. The good ones are so rare these days.

Are the good ones the ones who tell you what you want to hear?

Eh up….ooh a senior one….is this like small dick energy or something 😂 who says “a senior one” = someone who is having to compensate for something?
And lol at being “a senior one” but then also throwing shade on orthopaedics like they’re beneath you.

@olympicsrock my apologies 'random doctor online'. The orthopaedic doctor, unlike 99% of doctors, actually listened to my symptoms and asked the right questions. He immediately suggested getting investigated for endometriosis, something I've been concerned about for ages that no gp has ever been interested in persuing. In fact, he suggested everything (and more) that I've been thinking I need, that no gp has offered.

I'm sure no one in mn is calling GP's/Dr's c@nts to their faces but, such is the level of frustration with the current system, we vent online. We'd much rather the people we entrust with our health actually listened and wanted to help. Maybe you're a great doctor, I really hope you are! I obviously don't know you from Adam but you don't exactly come across well on here.

@Youthinkyoureuniqueyourejustastatistic your reply gave me a laugh before bed, thank you 😄

Anything near 60 they mark as okay.

I would keep getting regular checks though once a year. Mine fluctuates between 60 to 80 but I have a chronic condition so get checked yearly.

No, but low ferritin (below 50 in women) can give you symptoms very similar to anaemia. As confirmed by excellent endocrinologist and the one GP at my surgery that actually knows what they are talking about.

Oh yay! Another arrogant and dismissive doctor. We definitely need more of those.

Thank goodness the NHS has a zero policy . Staff don’t have to tolerate abusive people who refer to them as CTS.

Yet you can belittle your orthopaedic colleagues.

You do sound like a typical doctor, up your own arse.