Consideration from GP

Luckygirl
I hope you don’t think my spirited defence of GPs was in any way about you and your problem. It was about some of the sheer ignorance displayed by a few posters on here, and as the wife of a GP, who you sadly lost recently, I believe you will understand. As I said earlier, I think you should write down all your concerns and then make an appointment, preferably by phone, but with a different GP. I also said if it was myself, I’d aim to get the dental work done first, but that is your choice. It did occur to me today that doctors don’t like discussing matters to do with teeth, it just may be th at your GP heard ‘dental work’ and thought she didn’t know about it. I’m not excusing her, I sincerely hope my daughter would not respond that way.
For those who aren’t aware, GPs are currently under a lot of stress. They visit care homes with Covid19 patients aswell as dealing with the usual run of appointments. They have no idea if a patient who they need to see in person is bringing Covid19 into their surgery. Many of them have young children at home and they are deprived of their usual childcare. They are juggling children, looking after older parents, and working with the additional fact that they are also struggling to get sufficient PPE. Like all of us they know that many medics have died of Coronavirus and that they have left their families without a parent, often very young children, and some of those who have died are GPs.

GabriellaG54 - it was discussing the pros and cons that I rang for - GP refused to do this at all. That was the problem.

I would like to thank Missfoodlove on her informative description on how her hospital is dealing with outpatients during covid19 pandemic. Possibly, you could ring your hospital reception or someone there who could advise you about your conceens. For instance the specialist nurse. If she cannot answer all your questions then she probably knows someone who could find out.
As for your GP, if she has been okay in the past, I would be inclined to give her attitude a pass at this time. One of the hardest jobs a gp has to do is deal with death. Especially I should think, when they feel so helpless.
My husband died suddenly when I was 38. It was 6 months before he actually was told this fact. And that was by me. He was horrified and very upset about this.
I wish you well with all that you have ahead of you. x

i don't think 111 deal with this kind of thing.
they are for acute problems or out of hours issues.
ring the hospital department.

The thing you must remember is that doctors cannot tell you what to do.
They can tell you what's on offer and tell you the pros and cons but not give advice either way.
Your GP was telling you that it's your choice to make. Either go into hospital for whatever or don't go.
Doctor's do not want to carry the can for a decision that goes wrong, if they advised you to make that choice.
You know what other issues there are and only you can make the decision.
There is also the fact that your GP is probably worked to death. They usually have several thousand patients if she's part of a health centre and she might not have the time to go through the multiple questions you may have, nor the answers to them.
Could you ring a clinician on 111? They are medically trained and have more time to spare. They can ring you back.

it is a tricky one.
is there any interim lesser treatment you could have while delaying the injections to get dental work done first.
what about upping vitamin D and calcium supplements.
i think you need to discuss it all with the specialist nurse.
GPs often do not have the detailed specialist knowledge and experience to advise in detail, maybe thats what she meant.
i wish you the very best. hunker down. eat well. dont exert.

Incidentally a couple of months ago, before the Covid19 outbreak, my daughter came home absolutely thrilled because that day at work she had made the appropriate intervention that saved the life of a baby. This is what GPs do. It isn’t the first time her intervention was crucial to a life saving situation, but it was probably the most acute time.

...most GPs ere on the narcissistic.....
Frankly I find it truly disgusting that anyone should make such a vile suggestion.

clementine
Of course you’re right, GPs earn more than carers. However my daughter trained for twelve years to become a doctor first and then a GP. I don’t think anyone would seriously suggest that a qualified GP should be paid the same as a carer. I’m not in any way denigrating carers, they do a wonderful job and are, mostly, extremely dedicated to the care of those in their care. But I do think that achieving the necessary high grades at A level, six years at medical school, Foundation Years 1 and 2 in hospital, plus further training to become a qualified GP, deserves the recognition that it gets. In other words, we are paying for their expertise. It’s entirely justified and compared to other comparable professions, not particularly well rewarded.

Never loose your own voice Lucky. I tend to believe most GP's ere on the Narcissistic, and we "the patients" tend to feel compliant & obedient to their authority no matter how they treat us. Your own personal circumstances at this moment in time have left you vulnerable and anxious. Telephone appointments as opposed to face to face, have little favourable in comparison. Often it can be difficult to convey over the phone the true depth of how you are feeling, or for the doctor to pick up on it. Having said that, I don't think in your case it would have made much difference. Respect & courtesy works both ways Lucky, yet often, those in authority can act like little Hitler's. Medical receptionists included. A complaint to the practice manager as others have suggested, and this at the very least will help you feel a little better. Perhaps, if there is a next time this happens, and you're feeling stronger, you could try calmly voicing, " with all due respect Doctor, I don't feel you're listening to me, etc, or helping me, etc, as I would wish or expect, etc. If nothing improves, complain to the Practice Manager once again. You should always expect a follow up reply from the PM, and hopefully a positive outcome, leaving you with a more comfortable frame of mind Lucky. Don't despair, there are many kind & good natured doctors out there.

I am the wife of a retired GP, now sadly deceased. I have no grumbles for GPs, as I understand their stresses; but sometimes they get it wrong, as in this instance.

Cygnet - thank you for your helpful suggestion about the ROS. My decision would ideally be to have the root canal work first - but of course I now cannot do that because the dentist is closed (except for emergencies). So it is very likely that the injection will have to wait a long time if I am to have the dental treatment first. But if I have the injection now (with possible attendant risks of exposure the virus) and the temporary filling fails (it has already been there a couple of moths), the only option under the lockdown will be extraction - just the sort of invasive dental treatment that you are not supposed to have whilst on Prolia.

It is a real Catch 22 and that was why I wanted the medical advice. Rock and a hard place spring to mind.

Maddyone" I would know that" having three GP's in the family, and hearing that their day to day practice has changed beyond recognition . Yes prior to this they all worked extremely long hours, one from 8 in the morning to 7:30 in evening and going in at weekends to do his admin. Another currently working part time in normal practice and part time in Covid Centre so yes I do know what I am talking about. I was in healthcare for almost 50 years myself .

Re working long hours for little pay, compared to carers I think they are substantially well paid.

A word of support for GPS from me. It shouldn’t surprise anyone reading many of the comments here, that general practice is no longer a first choice for many young doctors. Candelle and maddyone are right when they talk about days of twelve hours and more. It isn’t just the long hours, it’s the increasing demands.
Of course public servants must be accountable but increasing beaurocracy is stifling good doctors (teachers, nurses etc)
We are living in an increasingly complaint, litigations dominated world. So many people seem to be permanently outraged if their expectations aren’t met instantly. Luckygirl I stress I’m not Aiming any of these comments your way.

I make no bones about admitting that I am the mother of a GP so of course agree with maddyone: there is much ignorance about the work that GP's undertake.

Perhaps this ignorance is forgivable as most GP's do not shout about their workload to the general public - they just work 13 hour days - day after day without complaint.

If a GP's salary were to be averaged out it would probably be less than the minimum wage.

Please try to understand that these people are the backbone of the NHS, that they now undertake much of the work that used to be done in local hospitals and that it is purely their goodwill that keeps this part of the NHS going.

The above is known in medical circles which is why there is an acute dearth of young medics entering this part of the profession.

When I read of people suggesting 'go and complain' because the GP was not all smiley (would you be smiley if you had just told a mother her child was terminally ill) etc., etc.

Please, have some compassion for these people who work their socks off for you.

Having written the above, yes, there are, as in any field, bound to be good and bad doctors. If you are dissatisfied with your treatment, there are channels for you to go through, beginning with the Practice Manager.

Luckygirl, I can understand that you have a big decision to make, so why not make another appointment with a different doctor at your practice. Perhaps a telephone consultation would be best for you - the doctor will have all the relevant information in your notes and you can explain your conundrum and talk it through.

Everyone, please think of your GP as people who work long days for little pay and many do so for the love of their patients - the only thing that keeps them coming in to work. To shout 'complain!' at the first opportunity is doing us all a disservice.

GPs have never been quieter! And how have you worked that out? Have you sat in a surgery and counted how many consultations, phone appointments and video appointments each GP does? As if anyone actually knows what any GP is doing! This ignorance is really making me cross. And it is ignorance.
We have seen film of hospital A and E departments with few patients. I’m afraid that simply makes me think that many, many people make unnecessary visits to A and E. I understand that people are staying away from fear, but if they are having a real emergency such as a suspected heart attack or stroke, then they must go to A and E and access appropriate treatment. Also many wards are vacant as staff have been deployed to Covid19 wards, so there is capacity but no medics. Hopefully this situation will begin to return to normal very soon.
It would help enormously if people didn’t make up their own agenda ie GPs aren’t busy or GPs have never been quieter. It’s no wonder my daughter has often told me that many members of the public don’t like GPs, think they’re overpaid, and don’t do much work! All I can say is that those people are completely ignorant.

GP's have never been quieter, ditto hospitals nor have they ever been as clean or as safe. If you need to go , now is the tie to do it. The social distancing and degree of hygiene is second to none ( at least in my local one)

I am sorry you found your GP less than helpful, I hope whatever decision you have to make will ultimately be the right one for you .

Luckygirl can I suggest that ring the osteoporosis society free helpline? You can speak to a specialist nurse who will give you much more knowledgeable advice than a GP.

I have been on denosumab ( Prolia ) injections for five years following a fractured vertebrae and I wonder if that is the treatment proposed for you? If you google ‘ROS denosumab and Covid 19 ‘there is some useful information and the helpline number.

I know that it’s not a good idea to stop treatment once started because there can be a swift deterioration in the bones, so I suspect it would be better to have your root canal work done first.

I’m so sorry for your recent loss.It must be so much harder to make decisions.

I do appreciate that GPs are under stress and will not make a complaint. I will just not book with that person again, even if it means a longer wait.

One of the reasons that I am so sensitive about the issue of risking fractures is that it was a fall and subsequent hip fracture that caused my OH's sudden and unstoppable decline. He lasted a year before he died. A year of misery. I have already had several fractures and need to make the right decision about this. My DDs would be wholly frantic with worry if I fell and broke something - they cannot go through it all again - it is too raw at present.

Proffads - I am sorry that you are having these difficult decisions to make. I hope you can find the right way through this and get the right advice.

You are lucky your procedure has not been cancelled! Do you need it or not? You can ask questions at the hospital, Believe me, the specialist nurse will know far, far more than your GP. GP's are the Gate Keepers to specialist treatment. Luck you, you have a ticket. It's very much up to you.

Hi I'm new on here so I hope you don't mind me replying, but I had several similar experiences with my Gp's surgery until i told them I intended to make a formal complaint in writing to the Medical associastion they couldn't do enough for me after I did as they were reminded that without patients Gps are out of work!

Also to reply about Diverticulitis? I was diagnosed with that 8 years ago. Basically your diet must not include Skins, Seeds, Pips or insoluble fibre because this collects in pockets in your gut/bowel and as well as causing excruciating pain and inflammation the offending foodstuff causes polyps to grow which can block the intestine and cause serious internal bleeding leading to anaemia and potentially cancer. So you have to peel all fruits and vegetables and remove their pips you must not eat multi seed bread or cereals and not drink juice with bits. I have to be gluten free as well because gluten makes my diverticulitis worse. The disease can have very serious implications if you do not keep to these food rules you must read food labels diligently.
So you become more adventurous in the kitchen (or the person who cooks for you) its not all doom and gloom. Like others you learn to live with it x

GPs are just people doing a job,some do not do it well and some are just not nice people,the same as in any occupation.

Luckygirl I am so sorry for you recent sad loss. This is a time you need extra consideration and reassurance making the treatment you received totally unacceptable. Doctors are in a profession and as such should act in a professional way. I am amazed that (mainly Dr parents) are unable to accept that doctors in many areas are not busy, because they know one who is! Doctors, by their own admission, are certainly "very quiet" in my area - not just my surgery.

I believe I can empathise as I too have "conflicting" conditions that mean the Chemotherapy I am due to start next Thursday, is both advisable and ill advised. Then there is the consideration of actually going to the hospital itself. Try as I might, I have also been unable to get the facts explained to me. I will make my own mind up, as I'm sure you would too, once equipped with all the relevant information." Google it", I can practically hear you say, but I want the info to be accurate AND related to my particular medical history and circumstances. Surly a reasonable request!
Incidentally, all this going on whilst my beloved dog and constant companion of the last 12 years is dying of incurable cancer. She was diagnosed on the anniversary of my dear fathers death, just two days before I got my own cancer diagnosis.

Luckygirl
Having just read your explanation of the circumstances, I think I would put of having the injection for the time being. I think I’d aim to get the dental work done first, and by then the threat from the virus might well not be so great. Obviously it’s your decision, that’s just my take on it.

I would never disrespect our GP's. I am full of admiration for all of ours even though two of them misdiagnosed me over a period of 4 years. I find them approachable and extremely helpful.
All I was saying was that it is far easier to get an appointment these days than it has ever been for whatever reason. One of them told me they have almost no footfall in the surgery at the moment.

Why are GP's and pharmacies so unthoughtful when they reply to a civilised question. I understand that the present situation is challenging to them all, but nice manners cost nothing, and sometimes make a person's day. I phoned my local Tesco pharmacy this morning to pre-order my tablets and was told that we have to order our own at the moment from the doctors as they are too busy. I was told to email the GP surgery with he request, I told the person I did not know the email address for the surgery, and she told me to phone them up to get it from them, not very helpful at all. I phoned surgery and they gave me email address (would not take request over phone!), I came off phone emailed them and hopefully it will be ready for pick up from Tesco early next week. I know everyone is wary of this virus, but it costs nothing to be civil.