Very VERY angry with my GP!

[Weegiemum]

And I'm married to another one, so I am usually very sympathetic .....

For several years I suffered from recurrent kidney stones. Haven't had any for over a year, until last week, when I got a UTI, it travelled to my kidney and I have passed several stones this last week - also one today, still in there.

I have to admit that I have not always dealt with this well - I once took some medication from my husband's bag to try to deal with the pain and ended up in court when I confessed about it - got a probation order, which I served no bother and have never illegelly taken anything since (this was 4 years ago)

Today I went to the GP to ask about pain releif - looking for something like 30/500 co-codamol, tramadol if they were happy.

Instead, the doctor asked me what illegal drugs I was taking, wanted to refer me to the drug services locally, suggested that the vomiting in pain I was doing (in the surgery) was actually withdrawal, and said that they could not treat me.

I have NEVER taken an illegal drug. I am not a drug addict - I have occasional episodes of intense pain which are followed by me passing a kidney stone, which can be seen and sent to be analysed to prove it is a kidney stone.

I have seen a psychiatrist (for the court) who was convinced that I don't have a drug problem. I have provided numerous urine samples (witnessed - now thats a humiliating experience) to prove I am not addicted to anything. I've taken nothing stronger that normal OTC co-codamol for 4 years! (except when I was in hospital - and a scan showed stones!).

We moved house 2 years ago and I haven't had to see the GP in all this time - the one time I was in serious pain, I went to casualty and was admitted. So my new GP has never dealt with my stones and is making huge assumptions based on my notes which are out of date now.

I'm furious. My dh is furious. I am going to have to change doctors again, and that won't look good, but I cant walk back in there ever again, not for a sore throat or an infected toenail. He was very stroppy, very rude, incredibly arrogant, totally dismissive.

I don't even have the energy to complain.

Please tell me I'm not being ridiculous to be upset by this. I know I will always have to live with the consequences of my crime, but I feel I am being actively punished for it, and I am in a LOT of pain.

Stone passed through at about 5.30 pm

Hospital is, yes, an option, but I find hospital a very hard environment. the stones started when I was pg with ds, 7 years ago, and recurred when I was pg with dd2, 5 years ago. Since then they have been infrequent, and occasional, but I did have 17 admissions in 18 months for the pregnancy and following 9 months. I had an emergency air transfer with dd2 to a place with SCBU, as a doctor raised the issue that as an 'addict' mum, my baby would also be addicted. Funny enough, she wasn't - could that be cos I was taking painkillers for a reason ??? Oh yes!

It is not easy to get painkillers for acute ongoing pain that is not cancer related.

The problem is this is a very rare condition - recurrent renal colic is not normally as frequent as I had. I have been discussed at case conferences all over the UK!!! Am famous! (well amongst people who are interested in kidney stones - so not that famous!!)

The urologists I have seen are happy this is what it is. Unfortunately, the surgeons I saw a the very small district hospital where we used to live were very unhelpful as well (not specialists). This is in my notes.

I know I did something wrong. But it is being help over me now as something that I will always have to contend against.

I only want something to keep me comfy so I can move around, drink loads of water and pass the stone. I'm NOT asking for a daily supply, for anything other than a reasonable amount of pain releif to sort this out.

I am going to ask to see my notes.

Dh was investigated by his health board after I stole the drugs. He was totally exonerated. I am cross tha people think he could do such a thing - although I know it does happen!

Jeez, if I was in that much pain I would be stealing drugs if I got the chance! Who wouldn't?!

Hope you feel better now the stone has gone and that you don't get any more (fingers crossed)

Oh god you poor thing.
I vomited with pain with my kidney stones - it was worse than childbirth.

Do complain when you feel better, that gp sounds like an officious twat who needs putting in his place.

I had a hydronephrosis about 10 years ago which was operated on, and during each pregnancy, it reoccured. The nephrologist wouldn't do anything as it was pregnancy related, or rather made worse during pregnancy, and the only way to control the sheer pain was pain killers.

What I don't understand is why the urologist can't call/email your GP. It's much more expensive to admit you than to give you painkillers..

Alternatively, couldn't you call your Urologist and he/she could sent a prescription to your pharmacy?

I'm really sorry to hear about how much trouble you've been having Weegie - and glad to hear your stone has passed.

This has really made me wonder whether I've had kidney stones in the past without knowing that's what it was, although it sounds like your pain lasts a lot longer than mine.

2 weeks after having DS, and every few weeks since then I get a crippling pain just under my ribs, front to back, which is unbearable, makes me vomit and is much worse than childbirth. The only way to alleviate it is to pace around the flat, drink gallons of water, and physically squeeze my abdomen.

It generally passes after 2 or 3 hours, and often subsides after a trip to the loo. I've been to the docs and he gave me antibiotics for a kidney infection I had, but never mentioned kidney stones.

Does this sound like kidney stones to you?

That really sucks weegiemum, can your urologist prescribe tablets? My DH sees a consultant for a chronic illness and they prescribe him a drug and then the GP signs a repeat prescription.

You've been treated badly and I suspect your guilt over what you did is stopping you fight your corner but you must. Is there nothing your DH can do ie talk to the other gp informally?

I would be raging!

WTF?!

Where does this person get off assuming such things?

I can only imagine if my GP jumped to conclusions like that because I've been on ADs and sometimes need sleeping tablets for horrible jags of insomnia.

YANBU.

My sister gets stones and they bloody well hurt to pass! I was with her when she had one and she has a majorly high threshhold for pain but was sweating and panting.

It was awful to see my own sister in such pain.

weegiemum, I know you say you don't have the energy to complain, but I think you shoul. BIG TIME.

how dare he make assumptions about you based on what? the fact that you once took some medication illegally?????
that makes you an addict who is on illegal drugs, that your husband supplies and that you're making your medical condition up??????

FFS, in what other situation would this ever be ok? really?
his behaviour is beyond bad and he needs reporting.

you have plenty of back-up to say that your condition is real, and that your pain is real.

your wrong-doings were YEARS ago and are irrelevant today.

he is casting aspersions on your husband, as a GP, which is a vile thing to do

you can prove you have kidney stones, you can prove you aren't on illegal drugs. he is the one with the problem.

I would be complaining, to the highest of the high, and cc-ing the surgery in on it.

God I'd be LIVID.
I've had renal colic and persistnat stones - one of which is still in-situ but thankfully not moving. I can vividly recall the pain and it is excruciating. You've obviously have paid a heavy price for resorting to using non-prescribed drugs but there is no reason why your medical notes should not reflect the reason for the use of the drugs. They should clearly state that the reson for the use has been clinically proven.

I am horrified that given a proven diagnosis of such frequent renal colic and resultant sones, you have this "label" in your notes, with all of the implications it carries. It is indefensible that they have point blank refused all painkillers. You should ask for a meeting with their lead partner and practice manager and go with your dh to sort it out. I wouldn't change practices yet, I would make sure that they rectify the notes first so that if you do eventually move, this "label" does not move with you. You need it documented in your notes the true nature of your need for painkillers.
I'm glad you've passed it safely, but it is ridiculous that you are suffering so much pain, when help could be provided.

'Gp kind of suggested that dh was supplying me, '

K, now I'm really pissed off at this unprofessional, loathesome excuse for a GP.

I really, really hope you get to change to another.

But in the meantime, I'd like to deliver a cyber slap to this person. With the girls' Tangle Teezer brush.

Weegiemum, I'm sorry I don't have anything constructive to say but I wanted to add my support on here. You have been treated appallingly and I do hope you find the strength to make a complaint.

Norky...have you been checked for gallstones as what you are experiencing are classic symptoms. Is aggravated by fatty foods - can you tie in your attacks to anything you've eaten?

Even though your dh was exonerated, if your current GP is suggesting that you are suffering withdrawal becasue your dh has been supplying you, then he is slandering your dh now as he is suggesting this your dh is "still" "supplying" you.

Whether you stay with this practice (and once you are pain-free and recovered, you should complain - both for your and your dh's sake), or go a new one one, you should arrange a meeting as smoggie (and I, ealrier) suggests, to go through your notes and supply or arrange for evidence to get them annotated to show that a reason was found for the pain - the ongoing, if intermittent, pain.

An addict would requiere a regular supply. The fact that yuo only have an intermittent - and genuine - need should proovide thme with reassurance - and, form your persepctive, should be treated appropriately.

As I said, if it's not the practice in Kilmarnock Road (and I hope it's not), then CAT me and I'll recommend a very nice doctor.

heymammy - DH reckoned it often happens after we've had a takeaway (me being too tired/lazy to cook every now and then) - so it's quite possible it's after fattier food than we regularly eat.

I'll have to pay another visit to the doctors, thanks for the suggestion

Glad the stone has passed hope you are in less pain now. I would now consider joining a new gp, and maybe go in to make an appointment and discuss things BEFORE you need pain relief next time.

thanks everyone for the support.

I am off to bed now. I really need to think over (and talk to dh) about what we do next, as this has to be addressed in some way, and we just cant let them get away with it.

Dh (lovely GP) is already in bed as he has had such a frantic day being nice to patients and listening to their concerns!

I am ok, though I think from the feel in my back, that there is another stone in there, and it might well pass soon - better out than in, as they say!

Norky - sounds more like gallstones than kidney stones to me - supposedly just about as painful. Go see about it - there is a lot they can do - more than they can do for me.

Am quite surprised at the number of you who have reported pregnancy kidney stones - its about 1:2000 pregnancies, with 1:10 000 being recurrent.

And considering I got pregnant on the Mirena coil (apparantly the only pregnancy reported with it inthe whole UK in 2003!) I have been really unlicky.

the only way is up! After a good night sleep (nicely aided by 2 quality glasses of chilled white!)

night night
xxx

thats unlucky

not sure what it would be like to be unlicky!

Please give it some thought and put in a response at the least, Weegie.

My sister has renal colic as well and it is so painful. She says it's even more painful sometimes than contractions and in hte past she's even had to have stones broken down by ultrasound to make them small enough to pass.

I'm nearly off to bed myself.

Luckily, my GP actually believes me when I say I have terrible problems with heartburn with this pregnancy so I'm just waiting for hte ranitidine to kick in so I can lie down and hopefully get some sleep.

Seeing as you've had my glass of wine I'll try some of this Sleepytime herbal tea.

nice to hear your GP believes you expat

We are going to complain. Its actually the suggestion that my dh is up to no good that gets me the most. My dh is too nice for that, I don't think I will ever forgive myself for damaging his reputation when I took his medecine box!

He is too nice to suffer for this.

Hope the ranitidine kicks in soon! I lived on Gaviscon when pg!!

I'm on both Gaviscon AND ranitidine.

Oooo, it's AWFUL with Struan because I'm all stretched out. My fundus is mega high and he's loving it way up there.

Some of his kicks actually hurt!

He also likes to wake me up in hte middle of the night (after I've had to fall asleep all propped up) with his hiccups.

No, I do NOT think you should just walk away and not complain.

It's unfair to both you and your husband and I agree with prettybird, it's slanderous.

It's also incredibly unprofessional. Part of their job is to read through the notes properly and use their brains to make an assessment, not assume that a patient is lying or inventing a condition or pain based on an isolated incident that occured in the past.

That's a failure in their duty of care.

And the suggestion that your notes be amended is another good one.

I'm just really pissed off that you are kicked when you are down and in pain AND this doctor would make such a slur on another one when he doesn't even know him!

Why can't you just go straight to your Urologist, who you say knows your history and bypass the GP?

because the urologist keeps referring her back to the GP for pain control and the GP doesn't want to prescripe pain meds for her condition, at least from what i can gather, IIRC.

of course, then you need to GP for the referral to the specialist to begin with.

Oh. Must work differently there. I have a nephrologist and don't bother going to my GP for kidney related issues.

I don't get it - it's in her notes about her kidney problems. Unless the GP didn't read them

Sounds like he's a lazy arse who finds it just easier to assume she's some junkie than use his pea-brain to try to work out a solution.

I think it does work a bit differently here in Scotland, however, depending on what your condition is.

For example, with DD1's dyspraxia, she sees her community paed and her and ed psych coordinate all her care. We just get letters through the post with days and times.

But with my AND this time round, the midwife just put me into the OB consult's monthly clinic and he then referred me to the psych consult. The psych consult prescriped my ADs, but I called my surgery to inform them of everything in case the ball got dropped somewhere.

I'd complain to GP surgery manager and local authority. Even if you were a druggie you have the right to pain relief. Make a big stink. I had gallbladder infeciton and gall stones which apparantly aren't as bad as kidney stones, and I remember crawling across hospital floor in pain at one point - deffo worse than childbirth

And buy some tramadol off the internet in the meantime.