can i have you help and thoughts

only49

hello everyone

I would like to ask how you all get on with your doctor and what does he/she do for you?

i asking because put it down to a gut feeling but not sure what they can do for me as i would love to be able to go to the doctor's and be reassured that she is going to do something and i don't have to just carry on and on with this OA.

I read on this forum of everyone's experiences and thoughts about there forms of arthur, and what's being done or what going to happen and to be honest it seems more than what i getting, ( oh you got to get on a bike that will help,) (you need to loose weight) i know all this as we all do and i sick of hearing it, all i want is to know that they can do something for me.

I found out that i fisrt went to the doctor about mu OA in 2008 and i know its 2010 but now things are different and i want there help, why cant i get it and what gave that doctor Tho*** the right to talk to me and treat me like that i a human being i got feelings dont you care you stupid doctor, oh she wants to get his head out of the clouds and help and earn his wages, it makes me mad.

sorry to rant but these people really do bring out the worst in me.

thanks for reading

tanith

I get on with my doctor fine but I think he has done as much as can be done for my O/A. I have had surgery on spine and a hip-replacement , I take anti-inflammatories and pretty much manage it myself now with the help of the anti-inflammatories. Until I think I need the surgery on my second hip I shall continue to cope.. I walk and swim, pace myself with all my tasks and on days when my pain overwhelms me I rest..
I don't see my doctor regarding my O/A very often as I don't think there is much else he can do for me and I don't want to waste his and my time... others may have a differing way of dealing with it but this is mine and it works for me....

angel1

Like Tanith, I rarely see my GP any more regarding my OA, Sylvia. She has always been really helpful whenever I have though. We both know that everything that can be done is being done, by both of us. At her suggestion, and after much research on my part, I had my TKR. She supported me fully throughout this, and was as delighted as I was, with the result.

She has since prescribed the meds she thinks are best suited to me. She is adamant that I don`t have anti-infamms, as it has been proved time and time again, that they increase my BP, working against what she has prescribed for that. This is a shame, because they do help so much, but she is doing it for my benefit, not hers, so I take her advice. All in all, she does everything she can, but, most importantly, always listens.

At the end of the day, if surgery isn`t yet an option, your GP can still offer you medication, visits to physio, or a pain clinic. Perhaps when you next go, you can ask about these.......Ange.

speedalong

Hi Only49, no complaints re my own GP ... Listens and explains, willing to experiment with pain meds, makes referrals quickly ...

There other docs at the surgery and they are variable ...

The receptionists are another story ... :roll: :x :roll: :x

Speedy

If you aren't satisfied ask to see a different GP at the surgery or change to a different surgery ...

:?: :!: :?: :!:

frogmorton

Hiya

GPs vary so much. My own GP is not at all interetsed in me I'm sure.

But as its a practise i avoid him as much as posss. We have a new GP who iS interested in arthritis, so I go to him.

If I can though I do nOT go alone. This makes such a difference to me and the way i feel I am treated. They respond to you diferently.

BY the way my sis (in scotland) used to get that response all the time. She has now lost 6 and half stone and still has her OA. She exercises all she can and they cant fault her, but the loss pof weight hasnt solved all her problems.

Main advice honestly is dont go alone.

Love

Toni xx

knitternsk8rgirl

Hi, seems like you're not happy with Doc right now. Me neither, I'm (semi-)seriously thinking of changing GPs. It's only a 2 GP practice, one male and one female Doc. Before Arfur I only used to go for contraceptive advice, but since diagnosis in 2008 have only seen the male GP, as the female one told me 2 "just get on with the pain and deal with it"!!

BUT, I went to see male GP last week re fatigue and could I see specialist again (last saw in 2008) and was not happy with the consultation at all. He wouldn't answer a direct question, just ignored it, and said I should reduce or stop taking the painkillers in order to reduce fatigue. I reminded him that I'd tried that 6 months ago for a couple of months and had been in a lot of pain. I wanted to discuss things and he wouldn't do anything but question me and then ignore any questions I had. It reminded me of school, and not in a good way. Surprised I didn't get detention.

I think I got better service when I wasn't ill! The good thing is I live in a city, so there are plenty of other GPs within a short distance, so I'm asking around to see what other practices are like. Is changing your practice doable where you live?

frogmorton

Hi KNItter

In our area you cant change surgeries - if you have aGP you consider yourself lucky :roll:

I was ok till i got this too.

I reckon we are all the same. Thing is I think we cost them money

Love

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

The trouble lies in the fact that GPs 'treat' arthritis. Treat implies cure and as we all know cures for arthritis don't exist. I'm sorry only49 but I guess your GP is doing all he/she can, it's just one of those things. Replacement operations may be a possibility once there is enough damage, until then it's a waiting game. Things will have to get much worse before they start getting better. You can manage it, you're a gutsy girl, you're a little terrier! Grrrrrrr! (You are also allowed off days when you want to be a little kitten.) DD

woodbine

only49 wrote:

hello everyone

I would like to ask how you all get on with your doctor and what does he/she do for you?

i asking because put it down to a gut feeling but not sure what they can do for me as i would love to be able to go to the doctor's and be reassured that she is going to do something and i don't have to just carry on and on with this OA.

I read on this forum of everyone's experiences and thoughts about there forms of arthur, and what's being done or what going to happen and to be honest it seems more than what i getting, ( oh you got to get on a bike that will help,) (you need to loose weight) i know all this as we all do and i sick of hearing it, all i want is to know that they can do something for me.

I found out that i fisrt went to the doctor about mu OA in 2008 and i know its 2010 but now things are different and i want there help, why cant i get it and what gave that doctor Tho*** the right to talk to me and treat me like that i a human being i got feelings dont you care you stupid doctor, oh she wants to get his head out of the clouds and help and earn his wages, it makes me mad.

sorry to rant but these people really do bring out the worst in me.

thanks for reading

Hello only49,

I know what you mean about your GP! I have OA in my back, hands and knees, and a trapped nerve in my neck. Though the pain is not usually severe (except when my back muscles spasm because of the OA) I find the constain aches and twinges from so many parts of me really get me down sometimes.
I realise that there's a limit to what can be done about OA, and that my GP did all the standard things when he first diagnosed OA- blood tests, back x-ray, painkillers, etc, I feel that he has very little sympathy or concern about my day to day struggles with OA, and the on-going effects as it worsens. (I'm 'only41'!) I take very few painkillers/anti-inflamatories as they upset my stomach, and I get no help from the Dr with this. He also refused to make me an appt with Occ health on the grounds that they couldn't do anything to help, so I self -referred, and they helped a lot!

A bit more understanding - especially about my likely long-term outlook would make such a difference. A chance to sit down with someone who really knows his/her stuff about OA and talk everything through would be brilliant. Seems unlikely on the NHS though.:roll:
Ah well - we must just keep plodding on I suppose

Naomi

only49

woodbine wrote:

only49 wrote:

hello everyone

I would like to ask how you all get on with your doctor and what does he/she do for you?

i asking because put it down to a gut feeling but not sure what they can do for me as i would love to be able to go to the doctor's and be reassured that she is going to do something and i don't have to just carry on and on with this OA.

I read on this forum of everyone's experiences and thoughts about there forms of arthur, and what's being done or what going to happen and to be honest it seems more than what i getting, ( oh you got to get on a bike that will help,) (you need to loose weight) i know all this as we all do and i sick of hearing it, all i want is to know that they can do something for me.

I found out that i fisrt went to the doctor about mu OA in 2008 and i know its 2010 but now things are different and i want there help, why cant i get it and what gave that doctor Tho*** the right to talk to me and treat me like that i a human being i got feelings dont you care you stupid doctor, oh she wants to get his head out of the clouds and help and earn his wages, it makes me mad.

sorry to rant but these people really do bring out the worst in me.

thanks for reading

Hello only49,

I know what you mean about your GP! I have OA in my back, hands and knees, and a trapped nerve in my neck. Though the pain is not usually severe (except when my back muscles spasm because of the OA) I find the constain aches and twinges from so many parts of me really get me down sometimes.
I realise that there's a limit to what can be done about OA, and that my GP did all the standard things when he first diagnosed OA- blood tests, back x-ray, painkillers, etc, I feel that he has very little sympathy or concern about my day to day struggles with OA, and the on-going effects as it worsens. (I'm 'only41'!) I take very few painkillers/anti-inflamatories as they upset my stomach, and I get no help from the Dr with this. He also refused to make me an appt with Occ health on the grounds that they couldn't do anything to help, so I self -referred, and they helped a lot!

A bit more understanding - especially about my likely long-term outlook would make such a difference. A chance to sit down with someone who really knows his/her stuff about OA and talk everything through would be brilliant. Seems unlikely on the NHS though.:roll:
Ah well - we must just keep plodding on I suppose

Naomi

hi naomi i didnt know you can self refer yourself,

valval

hi love my gp, well not under her realy but in the practice you can see what doc you want and saw her once and never changed she never tells me what to do but explains both sides and lets me decide meds and hospital .never pushes and lets me try anything i think will help before using meds even blood pressure let me try exercise and wieght loss dropping meds that might cause it all before giving into meds hope she as nice tomorrow when go to see her about blood pressure as shoulder bad at moment lol

elnafinn

My GP went awol about 18 months - 2 years ago - and no-one at the surgery will actually say what is going on. There are a few gps in the surgery that I will refuse to see. I phone, pop in to make an appointment and generally ask who is available. I am told and make my appointment, generally with the one that can see me the earliest. If certain gps are available that I do not wish to see, I ask who else is there and get around it that way.

I have very recently seen a woman gp, for a non arthritis related problem and she was absolutely fantastic. She was extremely thorough, commiserated with me and when I get the results back from the bloods etc I shall ask to see her again.

I consider myself lucky that although I do not have the gp that I was registered with for years I am able to choose whom I wish to see. My gp, that was, has not actually left the practice. It is all a bit of a mystery.

As I have lived here for 34 years this month, I do know what many of the gps are like or hear from people who live locally, although new gps join the practice too.

Luv
Elna x

woodbine

only49 wrote:

woodbine wrote:

only49 wrote:

hello everyone

I would like to ask how you all get on with your doctor and what does he/she do for you?

i asking because put it down to a gut feeling but not sure what they can do for me as i would love to be able to go to the doctor's and be reassured that she is going to do something and i don't have to just carry on and on with this OA.

I read on this forum of everyone's experiences and thoughts about there forms of arthur, and what's being done or what going to happen and to be honest it seems more than what i getting, ( oh you got to get on a bike that will help,) (you need to loose weight) i know all this as we all do and i sick of hearing it, all i want is to know that they can do something for me.

I found out that i fisrt went to the doctor about mu OA in 2008 and i know its 2010 but now things are different and i want there help, why cant i get it and what gave that doctor Tho*** the right to talk to me and treat me like that i a human being i got feelings dont you care you stupid doctor, oh she wants to get his head out of the clouds and help and earn his wages, it makes me mad.

sorry to rant but these people really do bring out the worst in me.

thanks for reading

Hello only49,

I know what you mean about your GP! I have OA in my back, hands and knees, and a trapped nerve in my neck. Though the pain is not usually severe (except when my back muscles spasm because of the OA) I find the constain aches and twinges from so many parts of me really get me down sometimes.
I realise that there's a limit to what can be done about OA, and that my GP did all the standard things when he first diagnosed OA- blood tests, back x-ray, painkillers, etc, I feel that he has very little sympathy or concern about my day to day struggles with OA, and the on-going effects as it worsens. (I'm 'only41'!) I take very few painkillers/anti-inflamatories as they upset my stomach, and I get no help from the Dr with this. He also refused to make me an appt with Occ health on the grounds that they couldn't do anything to help, so I self -referred, and they helped a lot!

A bit more understanding - especially about my likely long-term outlook would make such a difference. A chance to sit down with someone who really knows his/her stuff about OA and talk everything through would be brilliant. Seems unlikely on the NHS though.:roll:
Ah well - we must just keep plodding on I suppose

Naomi

hi naomi i didnt know you can self refer yourself,

Hi - yes you can refer yourself. There are 2 ways to do this - at least there are where I live, I suppose it might vary a bit from place to place, though I knowe of others who've done it in different areas. You can either ring Social Services and ask for an appaointment with a community OT, or ring the OT dept at your local hospital. I rang Soc Services, but they arranged an appointment at the hospital, so I did a bit of both!
Soc Services tend to be the ones who will visit you at home if you need advice or equipment for use at home. I needed a thumb splint which is why I ended up in the hosp. outpatients OA clinic - they also gave me some advice and items such as a gripper for opening jars and things to help me with writing there, as well as suggesting hand excercises.
The numbers for both these should be in your local phonebook, or on your local council or health authority website.

Hope that helps!

Naomi

patriciamary

Hi 49. I had a one off apporintment with the rheumatology consultant and then he wrote to my GP. My GP would not tell me what he the consultant had written! GP told me to go home and not worry about it. I became really angry and demanded to know what the consultant had said and GP told me "not to worry its not cancer or anything". Eventually I demanded a copy of the letter and it said "OA in right hip and back also lumber spondylosis in back requires better pain management, referral to physiotherapy and possibly a tens maching could be ordered locally". He only noticed back because X-ray got base of back in film. After reading this went back to see GP and was told "consultant doesnt have to write prescriptions for better pain management and GP said no to physio, told me to stop smoking and try hypnotherapy. Consultant only looked at hip because that was all the GP had asked him to look at, but I have OA in both knees, right shoulder and both hands. There was another GP at the practice who was always really good to me so I decided I would only see him. First appointment with him and I was totally shocked by his change of attitude. He was no help and sort of agreed with the other GP. Then I found out he had just been made a partner in the practice. So its obviously budgets etc. Did consider fighting but decided I needed my energy to fight arther so moved to another practice. To be honest they are not much better but at least I get better pain medication. My advice would be to change your GP and hope new one is better if not then change again and again if necessary.
Regards
Trisha