Faith in your GP

All your clothes???

We have a new youngish doctor at our surgery one of 6 GPs
I have been to him twice in the last 3 months and each time he has asked me to take all my clothes off to examine me. I have gone to him for my back. He seems very good and professional. I am not sure he request that with all patients but I have no problem with it. The other doctors seem to want you out of the door as soon as possible the new one (A man in his 30s)is much more laid back with no rush.

i had same problem lasdt year have them also practice nurse used to be terrible if i went EARLY for my injection, spoke to my fav doctor explained how bad i felt if i had to wait he actually put it on my notes every 10 weeks so no problem since,you can not overdose on b12 injections. some people when first found out they have it have injections weekly or fortnightly till there levels are ok then every so often after that ,so dont worry .

I like the young ones, they're qualified as doctors and at the practice for a fairly short time for GP training. They are interested in you as you've not met before and are aware of recent progress in medicine. Also at the health centre I go to they have the added 'safety net' of being able to instantly consult/discuss with a senior GP by phone. It seems to work well.
Some older patients feel their GP has lost interest in them and their medical issues. I so hope this is not the case.

When were you diagnosed? Maybe time for a review as not your GPs speciality? Remember the Name GENERAL PRACTITIONER..not experts in everything!I had Breast Cancer Dx in 2012...by time I finished Active treatment I knew more than my GPs..only one of the ne trainees was familiar with Chemo causing fungal infections in gullet.after me attending 2 senior GPs in practice, as he had done 6 months in Oncology as part of training!

Just asking won't do it. Take some documented evidence with you. The PA soc. Website is a good idea so perhaps download their advice?

Agree with Cath, my mum had PA and had her injections every 6 weeks, sometimes sooner as she was feeling the need. I think the problem today is not the Drs but the cutbacks and making savings. Have a blood tes if need be but argue your point about needing it more often and read up on it with the PA Society. Good luck

Prescription-Strength Doses
Prescription-strength doses can help with pernicious anemia. This autoimmune disorder occurs when your body attacks the lining of your stomach, resulting in a lesser amount of the enzymes you need to absorb B-12. Over time, pernicious anemia leads to a vitamin B-12 deficiency, ultimately causing abnormal red blood cells and severe neurological problems. Your doctor may give you a large oral dose or administer an injection of as much as 1,000 micrograms. Even at a dosage this large, your body only absorbs around 10 micrograms per day, making high doses safe, reports the Linus Pauling Institute.

www.medicinenet.com/pernicious_anemia/page5.htm

Hi Tiffany I also have PA, you cannot overdose on B12, too much does no harm , look at the PA society website, some European countries give it every month, and you can buy it over the counter. It seems only to be the UK that Gps restrict B12, everyone is different and the B12 use by the body is different from day to day and person to person, you should be able to have a dose of it when you feel the need, preferably before the symptoms return. Also you don't need to have your levels checked. Your GP should be treating your symptoms, I have mine every 8 weeks, sometimes after 6 weeks. The NICE guidelines advise every 8 weeks if you have neurological symptoms , soda you ever get pins and needles in your hands or feet or jumpy legs or any numbness in fingers and toes especially 8-10 weeks after your last injection? If so you need it 8 weekly, good luck

Drs are not infallible, they can make mistakes like the rest of us. Maybe you should go back and discuss your concerns with him.

We had a lovely young lady doctor a few months ago, she was very easy to talk to but they young ones don't seem to stay very long. The only reason I went to this particular dr was that he had treated me with my PA condition before. Maybe he was just having a bad day! I'll just have to make the most of these few months then cope with September when it comes whatever the blood test results are.

My surgery is a bit of a hit and miss affair - assuming of course you can get an appointment! The doctors are very pleasant but I don't have a lot of faith in them I'm afraid - and our local urgent care clinic even less

I have never had much faith in the GPs at our practice until a new one arrived. I have been to see her this morning about my anxiety issues. She is a lovely young woman - kind and caring. She chatted to me about my life and was sympathetic and encouraging. I felt instantly better after a chat with her.

It is not an overdose as such but the levels would be quite high and a blood test would suggest you were on B12 supplements so as you say give a false impression. It can take more than 4 months to drop lower than normal though. Our GPs tend to agree to 8 or 10 weekly if people are symptomatic. However it is always possible there is another problem and not the B12 so good to get a blood test to check other things - iron deficiency anaemia, thyroid etc.

I didnt think l would overdose, it was the first dr l asked (who l don"t usually see) who said that and l could overdose. I'm sure this isn't possible so l saw this dr who l've seen before and who had always been ok with me and he said the same thing, then agreed to try 2 monthly. It's also a known fact that you have to he off injections for at least 4 months to get a true result. I can barely go 3 months let alone 4. I just feel a bit let down plus the fact it was such a bad consultation as the dr didnt seem to want to discuss my symptoms or why l needed to ask for more B12 he just sermed very grudging and disapproving.

So you asked if you could have the injection more often than every 12 weeks even though another doctor had told you you would overdose if you had it more often than every 12 weeks?

Why did you ask if you thought you'd be overdosed?

It actually seems quite reasonable to me to try every two months until September and then have a blood test.

Its hard to explain really and relates to the thread on Pernicious Anaemia. If you read the post by Grandelly54 you will see how it makes us feel having to wait 12 weeks for something that makes us feel better briefly. So l went to ask if l could have my injection more often. I was expecting a rejection. I got '12 weeks should he enough as it can build up in your system' followed by silence, much typing on my notes, a deep breath then 'we'll try every 2 months until September then l want you to have a blood test'. The thing is, l'm 99% sure it doesn't 'build up in your system'. And you shouldn't be retested once you're diagnosed. I did say l didn't think you could overdose on it but didn't press the argument. l'd asked 3 months ago, a different dr who also said l would overdose if l had it more than every 12 weeks. So l'm not sure if this is a result or not. As far as building a relationship with a gp, l don't think that's possible when you don't go very often.

It really does depend on what they said. I think if you have previously had a good relationship, I would consider going back and saying:
I am struggling with [what you told me] because.....and I'd like you to explain. You may like to finish by saying 'I'm going to go away and think about that'

Another option is the practice nurse: they are often very used to explaining what doctors say!

Good luck!

Make an appointment and see one of the other doctors
That way you will have a second opinion.
Why do you think what the doctor said was not true.?
Is it a general thing or a medical opinion that you don't necessarily believe to be true?