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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

I'm so p'off with GP I could cry

17 replies

memoo · 06/05/2009 17:27

I'm 19+5 and i'm in increasing agony with my back.

The pain has now spread to include my hips and I am very sore down below too.

After talking to people on here and in real life I was hoping I would at least get a referal to physio but no such luck.

Saw a different than usual GP who is close to retirement age. He made me feel really daft like I was making a fuss about nothing and basically said thats what its like when you're pregnant.

He prodded my back a bit and then gave me a prescription for some paracetamol. I asked him wether a support band would help but he told me that he didn't thing you could use a support band in pregnancy!!!!

I work as a TA in a reception class so I spend all day running around. Its becoming really difficult to work and I was hoping he might sign me off for a week but he didn't even mention it.

I feel really upset, I can't manage another 20 weeks like this

OP posts:

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cluckyagain · 06/05/2009 17:29

Go and see a different GP and tell them what happened OR ring your midwife and get her to investigate your options.

WowOoo · 06/05/2009 17:31

I have been told the same thing about 'that is what preg is like' and to some extent I agree (can't take strong painkillers so have to put up with pain)

Make another appt. Insist on another GP and insist on referral and if you really need it by then insist on a week off note (not sure how that all works)

Could you get referral from midwife?

By the way mine has eased a lot so it CAN get better!

Hawkmoth · 06/05/2009 17:32

It's SPD! Get onto your midwife and make sure you get an appointment with the obstetric physio. Get onto your hospital and try to self-refer.

Mine was nothing to do with my GP, christ, even the Obstetrician I saw in the delivery ward last week didn't know what the fuck I was on about...

My GP looked a bit blank, but he signed me off sharpish when I needed it!

Good luck!

Mummyfor3 · 06/05/2009 17:33

Referral to physio sounds more than reasonable. See another dr if you can or ask MW to refer you. Often the hospital physios are more experience with pregnancy probs.
Elastic pelvic brace may help, may not, however, sorry. Worthwhile trying, that's for sure.
Good luck!
FWIW, I had lots of problems with SI joints and lower back @ 5-6 months and was dreading having to keep going until delivery, when it all just disappeared, virtually over night, so probably was more a hormonal effect, rather than wt/enormity of bump .

Original poster

memoo · 06/05/2009 17:39

Its good to hear yours got better mummyfor3 and WowOoo. I think thats one of the things that worries me, getting to 40 weeks and it being so bad that I'm a wreck.

My friend said similar to you hawk, she had really bad SPD and said half the doctors she spoke to didn't even know what it was

I am going to phone my midwife tomorrow. She is lovely and I'm sure she'll take it more seriously.

OP posts:

ilovemydogandMrObama · 06/05/2009 17:41

My Obstetrician commented that a lot of doctors are allergic to pregnant women! My midwife did get me a physio appt for carpal tunnel that I'd always seem to get in pregnancy.

Am fairly sure a midwife can refer you directly...

Original poster

memoo · 06/05/2009 17:49

Your Obstetrician may well be right! This GP couldn't wait to get rid of me!

I'm starting to feeling angry rather than upset now. Why does being pregnant mean I should just have to put up with being in pain!!!

OP posts:

MrsExton · 07/05/2009 13:21

You don't need to see the doctor to have time off work, you can get a self certificate form from your employer or GP surgery for up to 7 days of illness. You may be able to self refer to physio, it does vary but where I am booked in anyone can access the obstetric physios

gscrym · 07/05/2009 13:23

I complained that I felt like I had been kicked between the legs at one of my midwife appointments and within a week she had me referred to a pre-natal physio. Phone them and complain about the GP to the practice manager.

KirstyJC · 07/05/2009 13:26

It's SPD, I had the same thing and it was greatly helped by a support belt. You should be able to self-refer to physio but you could phone your midwife and ask them to refer you over - mine did this when I called her and I didn't need to see her as well.

If your GP surgery has a physio you could also phone for an appointment, if not then phone local hospital and make appt with physio looking after gynae and pregnancy.

Your GP is way out of date!

My pain went the second I pushed him out. The belt stopped most of the back pain and was really excellent. My SPD started at week 17 and I managed to last OK until finished work at 35 weeks which frankly I didn't think I would.

And do take some self-certified time off!

Good luck

Iklboo · 07/05/2009 13:29

I had a GP say something similar - I kind of replied, 'as a man, how the f*ck would YOU know' only slightly more politely.
IME the older a GP is, the less clued up they seem to be

madwomanintheattic · 07/05/2009 13:31

i thought my friend had spd when she developed pain like this. her gp was equally uninterested. after two weeks i bullied her into back and bursting into tears and refusing to leave without a referral. she was then hospitalised for 3 weeks with blood clots.

honestly, if you are in pain, it sounds like spd, don't be fobbed off.

we spend half our lives railing against the medicalisation of reproduction, and when we really need some medical support, they won't listen at all! grrr.

herbietea · 07/05/2009 13:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

suwoo · 07/05/2009 13:46

I self diagnosed and self referred to a physio at the hospital in my last pregnancy. They didn't do much though, just gave me clear guidelines about 'what not to do' but even that helped. I am looking into wearing a support this time, but have it under control at the moment at 26 weeks.

I am a 'housewife' by day and have a fairly active job in the evenings which involves carrying tables, chairs and boxes and a lot of standing. Not at all helpful with SPD.

Fingers crossed you (and I) don't get any worse. Good luck.

Original poster

memoo · 08/05/2009 09:06

I went back to doctors yesterday, saw a different GP who has signed me of work but still no more helpful really. They just don't seem to have any idea.

Have just phoned midwife and left a message for her to phone me back. I have an antenatal appointment with her on Monday anyway. Can't wait to see her because she is fab and think she'll really help me.

Spent yesterday lying on my bed watching tv but its worse than ever today. Sometimes I can feel a clunking feeling at the top of my leg when I move it.

Thanks so much for all your messages. Feel a lot more assertive now. Don't know why but when I am pregnant I seem to turn into a big hormonal wuss who is incapable of standing up for myself.

OP posts:

ruddynorah · 08/05/2009 09:10

ask for a referral to an obsteric physio. we had one come to our antenatal classes and she had tons to tell us about posture, sleeping, excercises, plus she had lots of support bands.

MrsMattie · 08/05/2009 09:12

Bypass GP. Go straight to a midwife, tell her you have SPD and want an urgent referral to a physio. Some women's physio depts at hospitals allow self referral, so check that out, too.

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