Need a moan about my dd doctor and HV

[whatsaname]

I'm really fed up. I just nipped home for lunch and found a letter from my dd Consultant Pediatrician (sp?) saying that they were arranging a hip x-ray and I would get the appointment date through the post - "what's wrong with that?" I hear you cry... well...

When we SAW the consultant last week he said he'd see her in 12wks then decide about the x-ray which again is fine but I am so sick of DRs and health visitor telling me one thing and doing something else.

last month dd Health Visitor called me and asked why I hadn't taken my dd to the doctor about her legs when they had told me I should (in May), she (the HV) was quite rude and used a really disgusted tone... I had to inform them that infact I had taken my dd to the DRs in MAY and that the appointment was Oct xx.

A fortnight ago the HV phoned again. She asked why my dd had not had her MMR and started spouting about the importance of this before I had a chance to tell her that my dd had her MMR at 13 months.

I'm getting really fed up with them calling me about this-that-and-the-other. When I've never missed an appointment/injection or anything else for that matter.

Please someone tell me that they have had similar problems, I am starting to think that it's just me - I'm really fed up with it. It's also worrying that they seem so confused, surely the HV should have a record of when my dd has had her injections!

Don't worry the left foot never knows what the right foot is doing. Today I have had to apologise to ds1's speech therapist as the paed he saw last week has ciruclated a letter which looks as if I slagged her off to him. i didn't - I moaned about the appalling lack of resources for speech therapy. In fact I said to him about 4 times "I am not complaining about any individual therapist".

They also sent the letter to the wrong GP (we changed about a year ago) and also to someone who isn't remotely connectd to ds1. (someone who runs the loccal autism unit- he doesn't go there, he's never been there and there are no plans for him to go there).

Oh and I've also received in the same post on the same day one letter saying "don't forget your appointment" and another saying "we have cancelled your appointment". What a waste of a stamp.

Despite having moved 3 months ago, it appears our notes haven't arrived at our new doctor's yet, either that or they don't bother reading them. Ds has been called up for MMR as well and I had to phone and point out that ds had already had it. They hadn't any record of him having any vaccinations at all!

They don't bother reading them! They just expect you to tell them everything, far easier than reading a file!

Hi whatsaname if the HV is being too rude for your liking and for another one and explain the reasons why.
You have enough problems without having to deal with rudeness and inconsideration.

thats meant to be ask for another one (sorry)

It's just SO bloody frustrating... OK I would understand if I missed appointments or was late or didn't do something but I'm never late - it's practically a phobia of mine!

Anyway thanks guys, it's nice to know that other people experience the same things (espically letter about vacinations already received etc).

I would ask for another health visitor but they all seem as bad as each other (at this surgery - not in general). Whichever one (of 6) I see they're nearly always abrupted and rude, not just me that thinks that either. A friend of mine even refuses to take her dd now!

On the bright side I suppose I never really have to deal with them that often.

Didn't think this post would get that much interest - cheers guys, you've made me feel much better about it! Glad to know they're not just 'checking up' on me

What's the issue with your dd's legs, Whatsaname?

Don't get me started on HVs. Total wastes of time IMVHO. Rent a cliche, platitudes all the way.

Message withdrawn

Whatsaname if your not going to get another HV I would definitely put this one in her place the next time she phones or calls.
You dont need to put up with this.

Her legs - well there's another rant all-together.

I don't think there's anything wrong with them TBH.

But... when she first started cruising (at about 10 mnths) she walked a little odd (she never crawled either) anyway next time I went to get her weighed I mentioned it to the HV there. HV suggested I should take dd to the DRs - just to be sure. which I did the next day. He then referred her to the consultant - again, just to be sure.

So everyone so far seems to think there's nothing wrong with her but they all keep referring her elsewhere - JUST TO BE SURE. Nobody want's to take responsibility for saying she's ok!

The x-rays check that her hips are level and straight(I think). Not really worrying about that yet as I'm sure they'll come back clear.

Thanks doormat. Think I will say something next time, probably won't be able to stop myself.

whatsaname - I remember that! HV suggested I take ds to a doctor because his weight gain wasn't great and it dipped slightly after he was weaned. Panicked the hell out of us.

Took him to the GP and GP referred ds to a nutritionist and a paediatric specialist. Nutritionist took a look at what I was feeding him and said it was fine, so it was important to go to the paediatritian in case there was something wrong with the way he was digesting it (or something like that - was too busy getting worried tbh).

Walked into the paediatritian's office. He took one look at ds, saw colour in his cheeks and dimples in his elbows. Looked at dh & me and noted we were both slim people. Told us ds was perfectly healthy and we shouldn't have been referred as it was obvious he followed family traits and that it was very common for babies to dip slightly in weight just after they were weaned!

All that panicking for nothing!

i agree with the left not knowing what the right is doing and that hv/gp's can be a pain sometimes BUT my dd had dislocated hip and i have seen first hand older chidren in hospital as there problem wasn't picked up,so if this is what you think they are checking for-keep chasing it up, the sooner it's checked and sorted the better for you and your dd

chatee - yes basically that's what it is (I think) and I know it needs to be put right if this is the cause. That's pretty much why I'm going a long with it and not complaining (except on here )) I think it's improved alot since she started walking Iand so IMHO I think it's just one of those little glitches (IYKWIM)

Yep, I will echo Chattee re hips: I use a lot of chat boards for parents of kids with LLD (lower limb disorder) and lots are experiencing problems because hip problems weren't picked up early, when easy to sort out...
The chances are that your dd is ok, and very much hope she is...but better safe than sorry on this one! Good luck.

Blu - LLD sounds serious. I really wasn't worrying about all this but do you think it's worth me reading up on the subject? I hate not being prepared when I speak to health/doctor-people.

I'm probably anal but I really like to know what people are talking about before I get there.

whatsaname we get this all the time unfortunatley. But our HV is really good but the GP is crap. The paed, well dont like to talk about him None of them speak to one another. The paed doesnt even ring the school or look at her progress reports and it makes you want to scream...........aaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhhh

Blu, sorry slightly off post does your ds/dd have problems or had a problem???was it your post over the weekend with the trike???

Chattee, my DS has a missing fibula, short leg, small foot, various associated problems, so yes, that's why we were so excited about his trike

W'name SORRY, I didn't mean to scare you! LLD is an umberella term for all sorts of leg problems, so I see posts from parents of kids with hip problems quite a lot. It seems that the medical profession can quite easily miss hip problems early on...esp if they are very minor. It's highly unlikely that your dd has anything wrong, but if you do want to look up the kind of things they might be double checking for, the STEPS website is a good place to start:
www.steps-charity.org.uk Go to Chat and then discussion board or Hips. I think it's probably good that they're being conscientious, because hip problems seem much easier to clear up the earlier they are diagnosed. Must rush home after this post, but I'll check for any other q'ss you might have tomorrow.
Good luck and DON'T WORRY, all I was saying was better safe than sorry!

Cheers Blu. Will definitely grab a look at that website tomorrow, have to rush off now too!

You didn't scare me - don't worry! I've just never heard that term before. I think you don't really find these things out until they touch your own life in some way (IYKWIM)

It's funny because they asked when she was born if I'd had any hips problems (I was born with a clicking hip that was corrected by me wearing two nappies apparently) but they've not asked me since. Do you think I should mention this again? I wouldn't have thought that it was related though?!?!?

I must have missed the trike thread... I'll have a look for that too.

I think it's worth telling them, W'name...although they cannot find a proven genetic link, there are a high number of people on the various boards who say other family members have had minor signs of hips behaving differently. Good luck!