specialist vs GP. Gp says no...

PowerOn · 20. Jul 2012, 05:55

Hello folks,
Have not been around for a while as I have been trying to figure this one out and just can not figure it at all, thoughts very welcome!!!!
I went to an ENT clinic a few months ago and was sent for a barium swallow to check out a lump in my throat.
X-ray showed Spondylosis with an osteophyte in my cervical vertebrae (I requested dvd of same and osteophyte is very clearly visible) ENT said I should see a specialist about this so I eventually got a doctors appointment (long waiting time to see GP) got to appointment and was treated like a freak!!!
GP asked why I was there, I told her what the ENT said about seeing a Specialist for Spondylosis and got told, "the ENT said nothing about any of that in the report I got sent" then looked through computer notes, tutted in disgust and said, " everyone has Spondylosis and osteophytes it is a normal part of aging what do you want me to do it is just your age" etc etc etc really made me feel like rubbish.
GP had not read the report before saying I do not need to see a specialist and then without knowing the size of the osteophyte or asking if it was affecting swallowing etc she told me off!!!!!!!!!!!
Clearly the oes is affecting my swallow and is very uncomfortable or why would I have gone to find out what the lump was- the lump was the reason for seeing ENT not something that was found by mistake.
Are all GPs so ridiculous?
Are osteopyhtes common and everyone has a lump that is uncomfortable in their throat?
I really doubt it but am tired enough without a GP making me feel a complete fool, in the meantime my throat is uncomfortable and the lump is of course still there.
Problem is even if I went to a Specialist I doubt if growth can be slowed and I really don't think surgery to remove would be a good idea (shudders at thought of it) so I can't figure out if going to another GP is worth while if there is no treatment and surgery is out of the question the thought of someone fiddling with my neck is just not on.

I left the GP feeling dumb and angry as I asked several times to see a specialist and the GP was determined not to let me.

Just in case any one is wondering, I do not see GPs or Specialists often and the GP has no reason to treat me in that way.

I think I have seen a GP 3 times in the past year.

elnafinn · 20. Jul 2012, 06:25

Hi Poweron

Oh my goodness :x I would be absolutely livid and if it was me in your shoes, I would complain to the practice manager of your surgery. I did not think for one minutes that you kept visiting the gp. A gp knows a little about quite a few ailments but an ENT specialist is as the name suggests. You can ask for a copy of the letter sent to your gp by the specialist so you can read it even if the gp canot be bothered.

If it was me again, I would see another gp because I would wish to be referred to see a specialist and discuss things as ENT suggested.

You should never have been treated in this way and the practrice manager should be informed of the insensitive, could not be bothered attitude of the gp you saw.

I wish you well with that, write that email or letter now while you are feeling angry, I would, but keep it "polite" of course! :roll:

Elna x

mig · 20. Jul 2012, 06:29

Please dont feel dumb your gp should feel it though,they should not be allowed to treat people like that,unfortunately it happens all too often as some on here can testify,hope you manage to get something sorted.Mig

stickywicket · 20. Jul 2012, 06:36

I can 'hear' how anxious and muddled you feel, PowerOn, and it must be worrying having a permanent lump in your throat which makes swallowing difficult.

I don't know much about osteophytes except what I've heard on here and several people seem to have them. I guess, if you don't want surgery on it, it might not be worth having a blow up with your GP about it. but it sounds as if you don't have too good a relationship with the GP in the first place so you might want to consider seeing another in the practice or even changing to another practice.

Was it not your GP who referred you to ENT in the first place? If not, I can only assume it was a consultant and, if so, why not go back to him/her to discuss the results?

Numptydumpty · 20. Jul 2012, 06:36

It wouldn't matter how often you saw your GP or consultant, your GP had no right or reason to speak to you like that! What a nasty, rude and arrogant person she is.
Thinking of you, and wishing you well.
Numpty

barbara12 · 20. Jul 2012, 06:40

Oh PowerOn
Like Mig says you are not dumb...but your GP is, I left my GP after being with them for 30 years and more...he had seem me just a few times for routine things, but he was so pig headed....my new GP is much better...he doesn't always listen but he does get you to specialist..and he takes there word for whatever is going on.
So either change your GP or like Elna say you put in a complaint.
Sorry I cant help with the other stuff, but I do wish you well with everything x

PowerOn · 20. Jul 2012, 06:58

Thanks everyone, coming here to vent is a godsend!
The GP is part of a large group practise which is really difficult to get an appointment with, if there are no appointments free for two weeks we are told we have to call in two weeks time to make an appointment, I think that must be to not have people on the books waiting more then two weeks for an appointment.
I will avoid her in future even if I have to wait longer for an appointment.
I think I will wait and go back in a few weeks time as I know the lump is growing and ask for another barium swallow test as then the evidence will be clearly visible that the lump has grown.
It is a very difficult position to be in as I live in a small town and the GPs children are at school with mine as are other staff from the medical center. Making an official complaint would be very messy.
It really is a muddle as I can not imagine how they would get rid of the lump anyway.
I feel like emailing the ENT specialist and asking why he thought I should go to a specialist when the GP thinks that is such a bad idea.

It was another GP in the practise who referred me to ENT as I went to see the GP about a lump in my throat, I think the oestrophyte was a surprise find.

earthspirit · 20. Jul 2012, 07:03

stickywicket has given the best reply on here.
ive got same tho not so bad and it was years ago i went to doctor about this problem swallowing. i was told that some people do have nervous afflictions about eating and swallowing.
i agree with not having op - if you can still get food into your stomach then perhaps best to just live with what you have. now i know what mine is i am not so worried about it - well not worried at all.

you could have a blow up with doctors make complaints have a fit blah blah blah but sometimes.................just letting it go is less head stress and effort. i am THE first person to stand up and fight for justice blah blah but i can think back over the years and can se quite clearly when i have just wasted time and effort. yea they can say sorry, do you really need the aplogy that much?

sorry if i sound a bit cynical but after being treated like a headcase for years in my undx condition i had the last laugh....not that there is anything funny about this barbed wire pain ensnaring my every joint every moment of my life. treating me with kids gloves they are now & my current doctors got my case down as one of patient neglect.

chill with this one!

elnafinn · 20. Jul 2012, 07:05

Hi PowerOn

I would turn the question around the other way if I wrote to the specialist saying that unfortunately my gp refuses to send me to a specialist and was very dismissive, although it has been suggested by you that I should. Have you any suggestions of what I can do. Also would it be possible for you to send me a copy of the letter you sent my gp.

Elna x

PowerOn · 20. Jul 2012, 07:19

Hello earthspirit do you have an oestrophyte affecting when you swallow? sorry not clear if you mean you have that or a nervous condition.
My concern is that the lump in my throat is clearly growing I can feel a big difference in it in just a few weeks.
The lump is now uncomfortable all the time.
Hi Elna I have requested all my notes from everyone especially after reading so many posts from others who say GPs notes just do not seem to be about them at all!
Will be interesting to see what the difference is in what is being said to you vs about you.
Maybe I will get lucky and the lump will stop growing, would maybe be worth going back to another GP and asking for a referral just to find out how likely that would be, although I guess growth rate is particular to each person.

elnafinn · 20. Jul 2012, 07:31

Hi PowerOn

I feel that you would like reassurance and quite rightly so and if I was in your shoes, so would I.

I would feel much happier if I was being monitored by a specialist in the appropriate field rather than my gp especially if my gp has this "could not care less attitude" about it and that really means he feels the same about me.

Elna x

PowerOn · 20. Jul 2012, 07:45

Hi Elna I think you have hit the nail on the head, I do need reassurance from a Specialist not a "could not care less, don't bother me" attuide from a GP.
I am definitly going back to a different GP and asking to be reffered to a specialist in Spondylosis if they tell me I have nothing to worry about I will be much happier.
Anyone else get the feeling GPs are like guard dogs protecting their budgets, letting patients get treatment or see Specialists is too expensive, better to tell them there is nothing wrong and get them out of your surgery?
Does everyone get told when x-rays show Spondylosis that is "just part of the aging process"?
Funny thing is my GP knows I do not take meds unless in a bad way as I have refused them in the past, and that from my medical history she should know I have a very high pain threshold (medical history shows I have had several operations delayed because I did not complain enough to show my appendix was near bursting and other things which were left late due to my not complaining) but then of course she clearly does not read notes even from Specialists!
Yep, time to make sure I never get another appointment with her!

kellerman · 20. Jul 2012, 13:28

Hi
I think you've answered a real question yourself. Yes...budgets although your GP doesn't pay for a refferal.
I had to do....a sit in...to get bloods done. I wasn't leaving until they were done and this Gp was keen to get home. They were done.
Some Gp's act like little Gods and its just not acceptable.
Yes...see the one who sent you to the ENT specialist. A lump that is getting bigger shouldn't be ignored anyway.
I certainly wouldn't even consider seeing some-one so ignorant.
Pester for an appointment. They'll soon get fed up. I wish you all the best. May

dreamdaisy · 20. Jul 2012, 13:49

From what you have said I think you need to pester - and perhaps try to stop being stoical.

I think one of the problems we all face on here is that we get so used to stuff being rough we tend to ignore things that really SHOULD NOT be happening. It may also be time to ignore the fact it's a small village and your children etc go to the same school: it's now the holidays and she if isn't doing her job properly then people need to know. I lost five years of treatment because my GP at the time told me that my fat knee would sort itself out and I, stupidly, believed her. We'll back you all the way in your fight. DD

PollySid · 20. Jul 2012, 14:00

The waiting times at your surgery are unacceptable. Is there not another surgery locally that you could go to. I we cannot get an appointment soon enough when we ring up we have to ring at 8am the next morning and they usually have spare appointments that they can offer. I'm not sure how it works but I can usually get in within a couple of days.
I agree that you should ask for a copy of the letter from your specialist then see a different GP.
I consider myself so lucky to have such an understanding GP.

specialist vs GP. Gp says no...

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