Need to have a moan - feeling fed up

kentishlady

Hi all. This is a bit of a saga but will try and be as brief as possible, so here goes.

As some of you already know, I suffer very badly with OA in my back and it has gradually been getting worse. I did a self-referral for physio in January and eventually got to see the physio at beginning of last month. She examined me and referred me for hydro. She asked if I had been to Pain Clinic and I told her I had 2 years ago. She suggested I should ask me dr to refer me back to try and sort out some pain reljef that works. My gp has tried various stronger 'pain-dullers' but I get terrible side effects and can only take paracetmamol, which quite frankly, are of no use at all with chronic pain, as we all know. Now the fun starts:

I phoned my surgery last Monday, 29th and asked for appointment to see my dr. First appointment available - 17th May!! She is the senior partner, extremely popular and is considered by many people to be the best dr there. Now comes the problem. She works part-time. Didn't want to wait til 17th, so asked if she cld possibly ring me as all I want her to do is a referral letter and give details of meds we've tried without success. Told not put in her book to phone me.

No phone call Monday or Tuesday so phoned surgery on Wednesday and told was note in her book saying she would call me Wednesday evening. No phone call! Phoned twice yesterday to check she had been given message and told 'yes'. Still no phone call! Phoned a short while ago. Told not in surgery today, nxt time will be next Wednesday 8th. Receptionist very apologetic and have now given her details of what I need dr to do for me please. She is excellent dr but admin is not so good! Feeling very fed up as will mean letter unlikely to get sent before end of next week which means have wasted 2 weeks. Meantime, my back is now so bad - a disc has bulged again just to add to everything else, and can barely walk at present.

Sorry for rant as I know lots of you have far more to contend with than I do, but pain level is going sky high and needed to 'talk' to someone.

Hope you are all having as good a day as possible.

Beryl

P.s does anyone know how May got on?

stickywicket

I can understand your frustration, Beryl. Your need is now, not in some indeterminate future.

In your place, I'd reconsider which doc I saw. I'm lucky in my practice because they're all good but I find I usually end up with one I don't know (ie new) because the popular ones are in such demand. However, that's taught me that younger ones can have refreshingly different viewpoints which often work out very well.

It's possible that you will wait for your preferred doc only to find that she wants to see you, face to face, after all so that will be another wait. Why not take what's on offer and, if it doesn't work out, you can still ask to see your usual one?

kentishlady

Hi Sticky. I know what you are saying. Have seen the others in the past when absolutely necessary but really can't get on with any of them and find them extremely difficult to talk to. The other point of course is that they don't know me as well as my own dr - but only from the notes on the computer. She is the most popular dr there and that's why it is so difficult to get appointment with her, added to which she works part-time! Have still got the appointment for 17th if I need it. The receptionist suggested I should keep it, just in case.

Hope you are as well as possible and have the lovely warm, sunny weather that we have down here in Kent.

Beryl.

constable

Oh Beryl, I am sorry that you are having such a bad time. As SW said, you need something now. Would it be worth you trying another one of the dr's as you only need a letter. Just explain to them how bad things are and you need this letter sent as soon as possible. Or, would the receptionist's give you a call if there is a cancellation for her. I do know what you mean though. At our practice we have the most popular dr. And she is always running around.

I do wish I lived even nearer to you. I could come round and help you. But I don't drive. My hubby does all the driving.

I really hope you get this sorted out before the appointment with her comes up. Sending you some big hugs of comfort your way.

barbara12

Hello Beryl
Gosh I wish I could help, I really do feel for you..having back pain myself...the others have given you something to think about, I am glad you are talking to us lot..at least it will take some of the stress off you..I really do hope you get some help very soon...sending some very gentle hugs (((()))) xx..

toady

That is so frustrating when you did everything you could; I hate making phone calls & chasing people, & when you find you've wasted your effort and someone hasn't done their bit it's soul destroying and takes energy you haven't got. I do sympathise. Such a pity your dr is in high demand, I dread mine moving on or something as I know I couldn't be doing with the other partners.. really hope things speed through for you now as quick as they possibly can.

kentishlady

Thanks for all your replies. It's lovely to have some support and really does help. Am pleased to report that pain has now eased (hope am not tempting fate too much but saying this), and am now feeling a little better in myself. Pain does funny (?) not sure that is the right word, things to you, but it's so lovely when it eases up just a little.

Have kept the appointment on 17th just in case I need it.

Hope you are all having as good a day as possible and enjoy the weekend. Trust you are all making the most of the lovely warm, sunny weather we have down here in Kent. If not, will try and arrange to send it to you.

Beryl

bubbadog

I can totally understand where you are coming from Beryl, my GP only works part-time and it can be 3 weeks wait to see her! And we have a good relationship and she is the only one who knows the full goings on of my health. So it can be pointless seeing or speaking to another GP in the practice. The only difference is I can book phone consultations with her and she always keeps those with me. I'm so sorry you are being left hanging by your GP that is so wrong to do that to a patient. The 17th will come round fast just so bad you have to suffer till then.

lizzy100

i know its annoying and frustrating that noone seems to care about us being in pain. you have to push everything. its taken me a year of pushing and being so proactive and annoying these people to get anywhere. you have to ring every day, several times a day. if they say theyl ring in the morning, ring back at 11am and say they still havent rung, and just keep ringing, and theyl get sick of u and sort it out eventually. i know we shouldnt have to, but we do.

kentishlady

Thanks Bubbadog. Glad I am not the only one with the problem. I agree with all you say. My dr knows me the best. The others can only refer to noted but don't actually KNOW me. There is a lot of difference! The extreme pain has eased , am sure it was a disc bulging which was causing it as my bottom and leg were also affected - sciatic nerve probably (from past experience). I can manage, more or less, to potter about the house, (couldn't even do that last week), it's when I go out walking that the pain level decides to go mad. Did manage a very short walk this morning to the post box and have been pottering in my garden doing some 'sitting down' gardening, so will see what reaction I get.

Yes, I know what you mean Lizzie 100 about pestering people to do things. I do intend to speak to my dr, but it gets very wearing and annoying having to constantly pester them all the time.

Hope you are both having as good a day as possible and enjoying the sunshine.

Beryl

hileena111

Hi
I sympathise with you....I've had a referral to the pain clinic recently and it was quite a job to get it.
Could one of the other doctors not do it......bring your records up on the computer etc etc.....does it have to be your own doctor?
The quicker you get their the better
Good luck
Love
Hileena

dreamdaisy

Hello Beryl, how are things today? I hope that the pain has eased even more and that life is generally better. Constant pain does do strange things to us - it can affect our moods, our temper, our tolerance levels, and those who don't live with it have no idea how wearing and tiring it can be. Take care. DD

bubbadog

Hi Beryl, Just popping head in to see how are things today? Hope you didn't over do it over the bank holiday weekend! I'm suffering a little after messing around with the kittens I can't help it they are such fun!! My OH kept telling me off saying 'you will feel bad tomorrow so don't come crying to me!' I moaned to him this morning and he just rolled his eyes! So rest up again I'm doing today!! Hope you're feeling a little better today.

kentishlady

Hi DD and Bubbadog. Pain has gone down a notch from what it was thanks, for which I am truly grateful. Hope your day has improved DD. What a saga! I frequently find Itry to cut corners to save myself more bending etc, only to then drop something else and land up with more to do than originally planned. Have got to go out tomorro as have an audiology appointment and don't want to cancel that as it will mean another 2 month wait.

Take care both of you.

Beryl ((()))

dreamdaisy

Do you have a grabber? I find mine very useful but I use mine more for reaching things down than picking things up; whichever way it saves effort. I am pleased to read that pain has dropped a notch, that's a good thing, and I wish you well for tomorrow. DD