Years of difficulty with getting some form of medical help

GP's are good in what they do but are not specialists in any specific area. So, if you feel you are being fobbed off insist on seeing a specialist. 9 years ago my GP told me the lump on my throat was a goitre and we could "wait and see". I asked to be referred to an endocrinologist and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Two operations and a course of radiotherapy cured me. But if I'd followed my GP's advice it could have spread into glands close by and I might not be here. The endocrinologist told me most GP's will never see a case of thyroid cancer in their working life. There are probably lots of conditions they are not trained sufficiently to spot. So be persistent.

Well done Semiruralgirl.

grandtanteJE65

I simply do not understand why anyone puts up with this sort of thing.

Why don't you just change your GP if you cannot get him or her to help you?

I always have, but then I am a doctor's daughter and know it is possible to change doctors, dentists etc. etc.

Grandtante it is actually not possible if you live in my area only one surgery for over 20000 people and no surgery will accept you outside their area. Dentist do not exist only private ones who are not taking further patients.

During the pandemic I developed a pain in my breast. The GP referred me to a specialist and the waiting time was 13 months. At that point I lost all faith in the NHS and went private.

One good thing about eventually being seen by a neurologist semiruralgirl is that he'll be sending your GP a report. No excuse for any further inaction. You've been vindicated!

Good news grannysyb in my experience it's better to travel once a year (or whatever) to see someone genuinely interested in a condition that to waste time with people who don't.

You can ask to be reffered to the hospital of your choice these days. I have been suffering with a skin condition since 2029, my local dermatology department have been useless, so I asked my GP to refer me to different hospital, she said that they don't always agree to see you, but that she would try. I now have an appointment in October, I know it's a bit of a wait, butI also know that they specialise in my condition.

I understand your frustration and the feeling thst no one takes your plight seriously. Here in Northern Ireland the waiting time for Neurology is between 6 and 7 years. The system is a shambles.

Yes I'd imagine we all know that we can change gps.

When you are feeling so very low and unwell, often with nobody to even sit with you at the gps, or no means of getting there, just to be told you're "depressed" it's a relentless cycle that takes you lower and lower.

I simply do not understand why anyone puts up with this sort of thing.

Why don't you just change your GP if you cannot get him or her to help you?

I always have, but then I am a doctor's daughter and know it is possible to change doctors, dentists etc. etc.

I would be very interested to know what kind of neurological problems you suffer please as I too experience neurological problems after cancer treatment.
Thanks for your post

my findings on the NHS are also diabolical. I have been under respiratory for 4 yrs, and under gastro for nearly 2. Respiratory wont see me back until gastro have ruled out everything.
The wait time between appointments is months. I had barium swallow xrays in Nov 22, and then an endoscopy to confirm the findings of the xrays in April 23.
First appointment I got to act on those finding was Dec 23, and only got that cos I phoned and phoned and pushed to get seem. They gave me tablets, but the tablets did no good so pushed to get back. By this pint I had stopped eating as the pain was just horrendous every time I tried. I got seen in April this year, so told to up the tablets and they would arrange for another endoscopy ( very urgent 2-3 wks). After 3 weeks heard nothing so phoned again and got an appt out so waited 6 weeks, apparently waiting list for urgent is approx 6 months.
So went for the endoscopy middle of June but due to the swelling in my throat ( which is stopping me from eating which is what I need sorting) they could not get the camera down.
My instructions were then - contact gastro and see what they suggest. All I could see at the point was more months of waiting and having to phone and push and I have no fight left in me.
Ended up getting DD1 to take me to A&E as the only option I could think of was suicide and the only thing that stopped me was being unsuccessful and coming round and having to face people. If I thought I would have been successful I would have done it, it was not intended to be a shout for help, it was intended to be successful.
I appreciate I get supplements from the dietician to drink but I am hungry all day every day. I cough up mucus all day every day, and have become very reclusive because it is embarrassing to have to stop in the street and cough until you either about vomit or do actually vomit
Not a sob story looking for sympathy, but a true story showing how bad the system has got.
Still heard nothing from any of the people A&E contacted on my behalf. and it will be 3 weeks on Friday - maybe I am just too impatient.

I am so happy for you. Everyone knows their own body and sometimes we just need recognition for knowing something isn’t quite right. X

My heart goes out to you Semirural, so glad you’ve finally been heard. Some years ago I developed a rare condition and was being treated by doctors who were getting advice from a specialist but knew nothing about it themselves. I finally got myself taken to see the actual specialist and it was such a relief to talk to someone who was confident about what he knew and could answer my questions. I hope your life improves from now on.

I am not living anywhere near London but go to Guys once a year to see my specialist.
In future I suggest you go back to the London one. They are presumably better.

Apparently it is much more likely with women, and also with certain ethnicities, too.
Medical gaslighting is a term that is being used

Being fobbed off seems to be the norm these days.

Yes, I’m hoping W responds too.

That is a relief, I know!

There is another user here who has similar issues, and finally got validation only recently. I do hope she sees this and responds.

I know it sounds daft, but congratulations! (from someone else who was fobbed off for around only 1.5 years!)

Well done for your persistence. Many would have given up, like me!