Pregnancy and GP appointments

[Jen2608]

Hi,

Hoping for a little bit of guidance here as I can't seem to find a definitive answer anywhere!

I'm currently 18 weeks pregnant with my first child after TTC for over a year. My GP was about to refer me to an infertility clinic after several tests when I discovered I was pregnant (after actually deciding to give up for a while following some bad news).

Anyway, that part isn't really relevant, just wanted to give a bit of an introduction! I had my '12 week scan' at 16+1 two weeks ago, had blood and urine tested and received a letter from the hospital last Wednesday saying I needed to get treatment and to take the enclosed results (4 pages worth of gobbledegook as I'm sure you can imagine!) along to my GP. From what I can gather, I have a urinary tract infection, a low haematocrit count and high monocytes absolute count - all gathered from Google. My GP cannot see me until this Thursday - a full week after me ringing to ask an appointment asap. Am I within my rights to be pissed off about this?! I did try the 'but I'm pregnant' card but it got me nowhere! After lots of to-ing and fro-ing I managed to arrange to just collect a prescription for Amoxicillin from the reception but I haven't officially been told what I'm taking it for and if it's safe. In between panicking about not being able to get an appointment I rang the ante natal clinic at the hospital who said that any GP should see a pregnant woman as a matter of urgency no matter what (or words to that effect).

I'm just wondering if anyone can confirm this or tell me that I'm over reacting?! I don't want to make a fuss over nothing but I've never been in this position before so I dont know what's right. I'm seeing my doctor on Thursday so just want to know if I should be mentioning that I'm really disappointed?

I think some of it stems from being made to feel like I don't matter from the beginning - I've had to contact my midwife on 2 occasions - the first time I was panicking about not getting a date for my 12 week scan until I was 16 weeks and it took her 2 whole weeks to get back to me, then I contacted her last Thursday to ask for advice about my current issue and she only got back to me today. I feel very alone and insignificant at the moment to say the least!

Sorry for the mini essay - can anyone tell me I'm right to make a fuss or to pull my head in and get over it (in a nice way please, am feeling v delicate!!)

Thanks in advance x

The high monocytes/low haematocrit are essentially a red herring (especially if they're borderline). You have a UTI as confirmed by the hospital and amoxicillin is a safe antibiotic in pregnancy, provided you aren't allergic to penicillins. If you have your urine culture result it might say what it's sensitive to.

If you're at all uncertain, go to a walk in clinic - phone your local A&E if you're not sure where it is.

Unfortunately this is the netherworld of the second trimester in terms of care - it will get better the moment you can go to the maternity walk in at your hospital (which you may be able to do from 18 weeks).

Will your GP not speak to you on the phone? Tell them it's not good - this is a simple thing which needs doing, and it wouldn't take five minutes to tell you that on the telephone.

This is what I usually do.
Ring at 8am or whenever it opens. If they say no appointments ask for a GP call back that morning. Most surgeries offer this as a way of triaging 'emergencies'. I have never been offered this at my current practice but it has always been agreed to. Dr calls you, you explain what is happening then they either prescribe and you pick up prescription or if needed they have asked me to come in for one of the emergency appointments they hold back.

Ring nhs 24 and ask to go to an out-of-hours clinic, you should be seen by a doctor within a couple of hours at a clinic (it wont be your gp) near you. Say you have a history of infertility and are pregnant with a uti and your very worried, (say you have some stomach pain because of uti etc) and they should see you and give you some antibiotics that are suitable and at least put your mind at ease. You could take your notes with you and see id the doctor could explain them too you and if you need any more care

But rose why would the OP need to go to an OOH when she has antibiotics and an appointment for this week?

If necessary phone your GP surgery and ask the doctor to call you back ASAP but I don't see why you would need another appointment before Thursday unless you become more unwell. From what you've written the urine infection was picked up almost by accident as you don't mention that you were symptomatic. Of course if you have symptoms you may want to speak to your GP.

I have had amoxicillin in pregnancy prescribed by dh's and consultants or infections.

It can be hard to get hold of midwives - mine works one day a week at my gp and that is the only day she will contact me. Otherwise I have to phone the answer phone and a random one will call back but not urgently. Only done this once and was told to see a gp. If no gp slot gp to out of hours is only solution. Not great you gp wait is a week - that is what I would be unhappy with; we get someone that day but no choice!!