Faith in your GP

Medicine is an art as well as a science. It deals in making you feel better as well as in 'curing' you. And it doesn't often deal with absolutes - this treatment is good, his one bad. I'm remembering some tablets that were to be taken before bedtime. I have a morning routine, bedtime varies. Would they be useless taken in the morning, particularly compared with being FORGOTTEN at night? Oh no, just maybe slightly less effective. I take them in the morning.

Interesting post.

There's an equally interesting book by Dr Ben Goldacre, who notes that when a GP starts, after all his or her taxpayer funded training and education in hospitals and medical schools - almost all updates and further training are funded by pharmaceutical companies.

So 'refresher' courses, lectures, conferences, etc. may well be funded by manufacturers with a particular product to sell.

I wonder if GPs in practice are ever influenced by marketing rather than scientific developments, which may inform their opinions.

Doing extensive research/investigation for yourself is a good thing, and as someone else has said, maybe then take your findings to discuss with the GP

Of course gp's are swayed by many things - exactly the same as everyone is - and what works for one may not be the same for all. Beliefs are strong and often unchanged despite what evidence may suggest.

I've just read that kefir contains more vitamin B the longer it is left before drinking - but is it true? who knows!

Every PA sufferer I have ever spoken too says that every 3 months is not enough for the B12 injection. I dont kmow why Drs wont listen to the patients. We really do know how we feel
SPF

mumofmadboys. Yes all clothes including socks.

And you stripped off without querying this?

Anya. The doc told me that as i work out doors it is important to keep covered up if I am in hot sun in the middle of the day he looks at moles / weight /reflex / banging knees with his little hammer / cough / skin blemish. everything.

Anya. The doc told me that as i work out doors it is important to keep covered up if I am in hot sun in the middle of the day he looks at moles / weight /reflex / banging knees with his little hammer / cough / skin blemish. everything.

Surely you don't garden in the nude? Doesn't he even let you keep your underpants on?

Usually if you have to strip off a female nurse is called in as well - as much to protect the doctor from accusations as anything else. I would be uncomfortable. about taking everything off with a young male doctor on his own!

Wait a minute, gardenman - are you a man? That would make a difference!

There's a useful summary of treatment of PA and frequency of different types of B12 administration on NHS Choices. This might explain your GPs comments. I know it's all to easy to find yourself back outside the surgery door with questions on your mind, but try and be more direct in future and ask about things that don't make sense to you. Good luck!

My GPS diagnosed bursitis in my hip in spite of several symptoms , after years of tablets and being taken off them because of anaemia , my DD hauled me in to the surgery to see him , but it was a locum , who despatched me for an x Ray . Now I am waiting for a new hip , the worst hip the Surgeon has seen in while

I always assumed gardenman was male. What difference does it make?

It wouldn't make a difference if you are male or female, someone else should be in the room if you need to strip off completely.

I am still puzzled as to why you had to strip even to your socks.

I think railman made a good point. One of my sisters worked in marketing for a drug company some years ago and was horrified at how some DRs were swayed by the pharmaceutical industry.

I don't think any doctor can be always 100% effective! And GPs have a hard task - expected to diagnose a whole range of illnesses. At the end of the day, we know our own bodies better than any DR and we need to find a solution that works for us!

Pollyperkins!! If I was a lady I would be gardenwoman99 instead of Gardenman99.

Very, very happy with my doctor. Great practice and easy to get an appointment too. She treats the whole person and is very good, as are the other Doctors when she is not there. If I want an injection or I have a sore throat etc etc there are also 3 Sisters I can see. Cannot fault any of them. Sometimes a 'trainee Doctor' sits in with the appointment which is ok by me. They have to learn somewhere don't they.

I have never, ever, been asked to strip right down. Why did he ask that? Seems odd to me. I hope you were not alone together as that would be risky for both of you, if you are female. Are you male Gardenman99 because that might be ok but I think it is strange all the same.

Gardenman has said he is male. I think it's odd too though - not even underpants? Does the doc think you'll somehow have got over-exposed to sunlight in that area?

Ok gardenman , I was a bit slow there, sorry! But it still seems odd to have to strip off!
To go back to the OP , why does she think the doactor is lying and that therefore doctors cant be trusted!? Seems and extraordinary reaction. I have found different GPs have different opinions sometimes, but I always assume they are doing their best and if necessary ask to see a specialist.

Why are there men on here? I thought this was Gransnet, not Grandadsnet! Heaven forbid with some of the posts on here! Ha ha!

Gransnet's open to both men and women, and to people who don't even have grandchildren! Haven't you even noticed the Granddads' Shed thread...?

Going back to the OP's comment about whether or not to have in her GP: I've come to the realisation that doctor training in the uk is not great , at least compared to doctors in France, the US and Canada where I have first hand experience. I think it's a combination of accepted norms and practices in the NHS and the UK medical profession (maybe promoted or at least tolerated by the GMC) that over time have brought this about. I definitely feel less safe here in the uk in the hands of our doctors and the NHS. So sad to say but I don't have much faith in GPs though I am sure most if not all of them are good people trying to do their best.

Oh dear, looks like we're all doomed...