Durham / Teeside / Tyne & Wear Meet up and random chat thread.

[KaraStarbuckThrace]

Next meet up, Tuesday 4th September.
During the day, either Botanic Gardens in Durham or the Slug and Fiddle near the Gala Theatre in Durham City centre.

Now for some random chat.
DS sang a song about bolognaise today. And DD walked some more. But still prefers crawling and using my nipples as handholds on Mount Starbuck.

It was hideous walking back. Snow turned to sleet turned to icy rain. Thank goodness we don't need to go back in it!

still snowing like crazy! So deep now! S friend picked ds1 up for me while I minded her baby so we didn't have to both take the babies out.

I'm not leaving the house tomorrow unless I absolutely have to.

Indith- the boys will be 7 next year . And the girls 5 this year . That can't be right, surely? can you tell the birthday blues have hit?

The girls won't be 5, don't be daft!

5!!!! We used to live next door to a lovely elderly lady and she always used to say that I should put a brick on the children's heads to stop them growing up too quickly. I know what she means now.

Wise old lady that one.

They are just so.......so big! Dd developed a case of the runs this afternoon so I was legging it round the house following her to the loo while lugging ds2 under one arm and my friend's ds3 under the other as I had nowhere safe to put them while I dealt with large quantities of poo and even though the other baby is 6 months he just feels so tiny and small and baby like. Ds2 feels like a solid chunk of almost toddler now :(

Anyone know how to make a formal complaint about a gp?

This bastard coil is making an escape bid- I can feel it sticking out of my cervix- but apparently they can't refer me to Gynae without a scan to see if it is in the right place. Which will take a couple of weeks. I know it isn't in the right place because I can frigging well feel it.

I refused to leave the office until she sorted out an alternative plan so she's sent me to the gum clinic but given we already know the strings have disappeared, I'm not holding my breath that they'll be able to help.

She really didn't know her are from her elbow, took my history down wrong and didn't do the exam properly. It was a locum not my usual Dr.

No idea, I'd think you'd have to start by writing a complaint to the practice manager and escalate it from there?

Is there a local family planning clinic near you? I found them much more helpful when my implant was making me anaemic and I just wanted it out ASAP. Not that my surgery is bad, just that they don't have many people trained in such things.

Separate issue to you rightfully wanting to complain of course.

I have a friend who collates data on GP complaints for the GMC - this stuff can get quite high-up! Anyway, the NHS says:

"All GP surgeries have a written complaints procedure. You can find this at the reception or on the practice website.

If you don't feel comfortable about raising the matter with your GP or practice manager, you can complain to your local primary care trust (PCT). All PCTs have a complaints manager who can advise you about making a complaint. "

I think I'm in love with the Dr from the gum clinic. She was horrified at the gp as the bloody thing was apparently clearly visible poking out of my cervix. She managed to grip the end of it and yank it out bloody hurt it had teeth on it! I feel better already- it felt like I was sitting on a nail

The gp was dreadful, she didn't even give me privacy to get ready for the exam or get dressed again afterwards, even before we get on to her not listening to my history or performing the exam properly. And she complained about doing an exam when I was bleeding- bit hard to avoid when your cervix is being a shredded by an evil bit of metal

Very pleased the GUM Dr got you sorted.

Horrified at the GP! Some serious complaining needs to go on there.

I do need to stay away from dh until I can get a replacement. Although I did joke about getting him sent to the vets to be 'done' and he said he wasn't quite ready for that

Dh has been to the vets to talk about it. He came back having been well informed. Sadly part of the that information was the very tenuous possible prostate cancer link so we are back to square one.

Methinks a weekend of research is needed to show him the rather ropey figures for prostate vs the long term effects of hormonal contraception for a woman.

What's more important to him? His testes or your breasts and cervix? That's probably a tough call for most men!

Spiggy - would the gum doctor write something to accompany your complaint?

Take the pill for a month. He'll be down the vets asap after a month of hormones flying round the house

Lovely gum Dr told me I did totally the right thing in refusing to budge until there was a plan that did not involve me waiting weeks. She also put it in my notes that will be sent to gp. Am drafting complaint although dh may have to proof read as I've employed rather a lot of sarcasm

That's great, that is definitely much cause for complaint! Glad you are comfy now, Spiggy, so get to letter writing.

Meet up next week? Only days I can do really are Wednesday and Friday, are they any good for anyone?

Monday is the only day I'm free next week. free Tues the week after if it is acceptable to plan for cake 2 weeks running

Just been told to prep a 2 hour interactive session on my project. For a week on Mon. Relating it to our corporate plan. I didn't even know we HAD a corporate plan!

Oh dear my sister is turning into a bridezilla already...wedding isn't until July!

Just playing catch up. The best place to complain about any NHS staff (apart from me) is the PALS service, there should be an office in every hospital, there certainly is at Durham UHND.

Indith, excited to sew how you get on at Uni!

And to see! Looking forward to seeing next meet up time.

Hello golden! Wish you were starting with me, all a bit scary!

I can manage most days. Tuesdays more difficult as no car but possible.

Hello golden- nice to see you back again

Go on Indith- you can't just say that and not give us all the juicy bridezilla details

Oh she was complaining because one of her bridesmaids, the groom's sister, has booked her wedding for 3 months after my sister's . AND she hasn't got a venue yet so it isn't like she was restricted for dates she has just dared to decide to get married just 3 MONTHS AFTER my sister. That means that the bridesmaid will be in full wedding planning mode for her own wedding just when my sister needs her most and my poor sister is soooo stressed that her bridesmaid may not be able to give her all the help she needs.

I'm not sure what she is on about tbh, my bridesmaids were fab, they set up the reception hall on the day, decorated the tables, mingled and chatted to guests and made sure everyone had what they needed but I didn't get them to do anything before the day so I'm a bit confused as to what the major issue is .

Oh by the way golden, are you on facebook?

Yup, that is bridezilla. I bet you'll have some cracking stories over the next few months about what she gets up to.