Be Proactive about your health issues

Oh, how I wish we had known more and been more pro-active in the last year of DH's life. He kept going to the doctors with niggling little symptoms, and they treated each one separately.
Little did we know that they were signs that his cancer was spreading aggressively. It wasn't discovered until he was admitted to hospital with a massive infection, was scanned and told that the cancer was everywhere. He died three months later.

4allweknow. I must congratulate you and your husband for getting his prostate cancer diagnosed in time. My friend, who was a doctor himself! was subject to a mix up concerning the appointment for his scan. He had seen th Consultant who had diagnosed the cancer and had given him a form to take to the Scan department to book his scan. It was just before Christmas a few years ago. As we came out, a nurse came over and said she would take the piece of paper to the scanning department. Strangely my friend did not want her to, but she absolutely insisted. She said he would have a date sent him before Christmas. He didn't. We got to New Year. Nobody answered the phones. He kept trying. Eventually he got the department. They had never heard of him! He tried to phone the Consultant but couldn't even get his Secretary. There was such a long delay while departments tried to disown him. Eventually he had the scan. It was too late by then for him to have the operation! He had treatment but the side effects upset him a lot. He died.
I shall never know if it was because the nurse did not take the appointment request across.
As for us having to look after ourselves, for me this is nothing new. I have seen many different GPs now having lived in different areas. Some superb. Some scoundrels who should be sacked. I never know what to do for the best. One hears so many terrible stories and I have lost so many friends who would be alive if the doctor had treated them properly at the right time. Usually it was with Cancer. My dear Dad was not one to complain and was very respectful towards our Family Doctor, but he never went to the Doctor unless he was forced there. He always said "They won't be able to do anything." His mother had severe arthritis and was in a wheelchair until she died in 1946. I have severe arthritis today in 2019, and am a wheelchair user. Nothing has changed.

It is so difficult getting a doctor’s appointment where I live (5 weeks unless an absolute emergency!) that I tend to ignore symptoms as they might be better by the time the appointment is due.

Cannot agree enough. Husband who was healthy and active complained of pain when urinating aling with a backache. Next day he was passing what can be described as best burgundy. Contacted GP who advised drinking plenty of water, it may be kidney stone. Went out for a couple of hours cane back to find husband with temperature and in agony. Just took him to A & E who did find an infection but queried what had caused it saying rare in males. Antibiotics fixed it but I insisted DH go back to GP to question why as did Dr in A& E. Two years it took to diagnose prostate cancer requiring urgent surgery etc. If I hadn't persevered he wouldn't have had the past 13 years. I know GPs have to follow protocols but we don't, its our body and just in other aspects of life, health doesn't always conform to set patterns.

wishing you a speedy recovery from your operation Franbern.
As you say, GPs are under so much pressure and can miss things.
I had some groin hernias for years, kept putting it off, and at last was put on a waiting list for an op. After 9 months waiting they were getting worse, causing other problems, so I rang the surgeon and he agreed to get it done urgently, ie in 2 weeks.

I’ve always said ........’your life is in the best hands it can be ...your own’!

This year I have decided to sort myself out top to toe and just about finished now.

So

I started with toes, toenail fungus for donkeys years. 6 weeks of treatment and now clear.

Just done my bowl cancer screen - clear

Had blood tests for cholestral, kidney function, liver function, diabetic - clear

Blood pressure - high so have just spent 24 hrs wearing a monitor. I suspect it is stress as I’ve been dealing with a bed ridden incontinent querulous 101 year old mum and a sister who has gone into melt down over the difficult situation. Hoping to avoid drugs if I can. But I guess better than a stroke or heart attack.

Yesterday had a pre-skin cancer diagnoses on my face. It is something that I have had for 2 years and trying to clear. Now have a form of chemo cream to apply for 3 weeks and then should be clear.

Appointment booked for eye test. Time I had glasses I think.

Shoulder cuff injury done in April is definitely improving with help of physio.

That’s me sorted???

I write everything down I want to discuss with any symptoms. I’m a Nurse Prescriber/Practitioner and some of my training was similar to GP training so I can tell when a GP isn’t listening. I find that now everything is computerised and GP’s have gone paperless it sometimes seems as though they typing and not listening but they are 9 times out of 10, it comes with practice.

Many years ago I suffered with a sore throat for more than three months. The doctor at that time didn’t even look at my throat but continuously prescribed antibiotics. Next time I visited doc was on holiday and there was a locum, a young Vietamnese. He examined my throat and said it was caused by a hiatus hernia and hospital appointment confirmed this diagnosis.
I was suffering bleeding from the back passage and doc said it was haemerroids. However one night it was so bad went to A&E. It was anal cancer. Fortunately now in remission

I agree we don't always tell our GP what is wrong with us . We go in with vague symptoms and expect the Dr to know what we are talking about. If you don't see a Dr very regularly then they don't know you and can't always make an informed decision from what you've told them. I would say be clear what you want to tell them and if need be write a note for yourself. If you don't think they listened make another appointment and if possible be clear and concise in what you say. unfortunately men are not good at describing how they feel and tend to be vague and beat around the bush. Drs ar not mind and thought readers.

I watched part of a programme yesterday which I think was called GPs Behind Closed Doors and was surprised at - what seemed to me the lack of knowledge. One woman described bloating, diarrhoea etc and the doctor said it was IBS and gave out a leaflet about services in the area - no mention of the IBS Network which has loads of information on the subject including ways of coping. Other patients too were handed this particular leaflet - one guy's partner had suffered a miscarriage and he had taken it badly thinking he could have done something to help. Again no charities were mentioned but this leaflet was given to him at a time when I felt he needed specific help. The straight forward removal of stitches, sore noses etc appeared to dealt with more easily.
I have to admit I have become far more proactive about my health than I ever have been and this in its own way adds its own stress

I agree there is only one symptom we should present with it seems.I have an advantage having been a Nurse all my life I often recognise things, and my Doctor is often glad that we agree on the diagnosis,he is a good listener too!

Sadly we lost a good friend last week because the GP/hospital didn't act quickly on his symptoms early enough.

My husband has been going back and forth to the GP with what he knew was a hernia since last year. Both doctor and the consultant he was referred to for an ultrasound missed it. He went back yet again in May when this thing became so big and uncomfortable and still the doctor didn't know what it was - he was referred for another scan and the same consultant took one look at him and said you've got a hernia!! Husband said I told you that last year - they don't know how it was missed. He's been referred for surgery but so far we've heard nothing so have this morning rung the GP and been told the scan results have no comments on them. I rang the urology department and was told to contact the GP to get them to gee things up so he can have a contact in the surgery department. This hernia is now the size of a large orange and even I can see it through his trousers - I've no idea how he's managing to walk although he can't do much of that!

I am amazed by how little Dr's take in. I have been accompanying my adult daughter to appointments for over a decade each time explaining that I am there because of her anxiety so I was somewhat surprised when the only GP she would see asked why I was always there.
She doesn't go anywhere by herself, her HV wants her treated because she recognises that she is verging on agoraphobia and she has sought help since her early teens when she was self harming. Yesterday, with the assistance of her support worker, she spoke to a new Dr by telephone who proceeded to prescribe her with anti-depressants for her post natal depression and will see her in 3 weeks. The Dr completely dismissed her history of anxiety. I think I probably know my daughter better than anyone and I can categorically state that she does not have PND (she has suffered before so I would recognise the signs). In fact, I can honestly say I have never seen her so content in many ways but her inability to go out without accompaniment , to make telephone calls, to even attend family events because it is too stressful for her, are shutting down her life to a great degree whilst putting great pressure on her husband.

As a holistic therapist,I’m always surprised by how many of my clients haven’t really understood what a doctor has said to them, haven’t questioned anything, and don’t know much about their prescribed medications, side effects etc. I understand how this can come about and it’s regretful that it does. But I agree with the comments here....you do need to take some responsibility for your own health....know where you’re heading treatment wise, and why, what you’re taking and what you can expect from the medicines. Don’t be frightened of seeking a second opinion at any time. This is all so hard when we are given minimal time with a doctor but it’s still so important. People like me are often accused of overlooking serious illness in our clients-In decades of work, I have never known that to happen-in fact quite the opposite-we often (although it isn’t our job to diagnose medically) pick up on warning signs that have previously not been recognised, sadly.

Yes I totally agree. I kept complaining about a pain on my right hand side just by my ribs. In the end the Dr said ok we will get a scan of the upper body. They found a lump on my ovary and a blood test showed a high risk of cancer. It was but it is all now sorted.

This would never have been found if I hadn't been given a scan. Still having the pain and its getting worse so I am now two years on having a another scan.

You don’t want it to go as far as this

Excellent advice Franbern.

I think part of our trouble is being old enough to have grown up in the "Doctor knows best" era, with parents who were very deferential. I suppose it would have been difficult for them to challenge a medical opinion or decision, in pre-internet times. I remember a family medical dictionary - it must have been woefully out of date but was really the only independent source of information available.

Wishing you the best of luck with your treatment.

Tidyskatemum you should always ask for more information if you don't feel you have enough and you can ask for more time to make a decision, too.

Today's doctors don't like telling patients what to do, but you can always ask them what they'd do if they were in your situation.

I think its good to have more input and you can always ask questions and ask the doctor to make the decision.

SueDonim - perhaps we don't always want to be masters of our own treatment when invariably we don't have enough information. Surely GPs can offer advice on the best way forward instead of simply presenting options, which is what our GP does and expects you to make an instant decision.

Sadly, I would repeat what sharon123 said.
Franbern and others very good suggestion! I will get round to it sooner than planned as I had not thought how useful this could be I was only thinking of my DH and AC.

Annep1 that's exactly how medics today are trained - to let the patient lead the consultation. Basically, they'll listen to your description, ask you what you think it might be, followed up with what outcome are you looking for and how do you want to achieve that?

The days of passive patients have gone, we must be active participants in our health.

Oh how I agree I cannot see how people let themselves be short changed regarding thier health care . We had a friend who was forever at the doctors about something and others complained about her . Turned out she was right and had cancer. If you wait too long for a hospital appointment phone them .

Good advice. You're so right that the GP doesn't look at the whole person anymore, especially at our surgery where you're only allowed to mention one ailment per visit.
My uncle was a gp long ago and he always used to spend time slowly taking every patient's blood pressure to give both him and them time to think and get a better picture.
I hope all goes well for you.