Why do I feel I am not being heard by my GP!!!

[Louby70]

I suppose this is a little rant from me. I am so frustrated with it all, all I want like many of us, is answers. not to be brushed off!!!!

I went to see my GP the other day, as my mouth for the past couple of weeks has gone numb, especially the tip of my tongue, at times it feels my mouth/throat goes so numb/dry & I have a bad coughing fit for no reason. My itching/electric shocks has become worse around my face/neck. I explained as this was the worst I had experienced, that my heels hurt like mad, its as if I am walking on stones.  My legs for 3 days were struggling to move as well, its as if I had done a marathon, they felt as if they were not there but very heavy as well. I had to really push my legs to work,  I even mentioned it is upsetting my daughter, as my daughter has really noticed I am dropping alot more stuff out of my hands & loosing my balance. She keeps asking mum what is happening to you. I just say its the tablets thats all sweetheart.

On the visit I asked her could she please refer me to see a Neuro. She then looked at the notes on her screen. She said right I will see if your iron level is fine, if its out slightly then we will give you iron tablets & go down that road. I asked well what if its okay, she did not answer the question but came out about me smoking, because the Neuro said my brain scan change was because of me smoking. Mmmmm!!!!

I agree to a certain degree smoking is bad for me & I will be the first to put my hands up, I will not smoke in my house because of my children. Yes if my iron level is slightly low that would benefit me taking iron tablets I agree, but in my opinion this does not cause some of my symptoms I am experiencing at all. Why can she not still refer me even if my iron level is slightly low??  Why do I feel I am being brushed off by her!!!!! I am so frustrated I just want answers!!!!!

Am I right for feeling this way???

Sorry for the little rant....

[Charley123]

Many of us have been through years of similar experiences with GP's & Neuros.  It seems to me that while being tested for iron levels is a good thing, what about all the other tests?  Is she testing you for anything else?  Your experience reminds me of my former GP and Neuro.  I fired them both and have found a new GP and Neuro that are willing to do all kinds of testing.  It's up to you as to what you want to do about your own situation, but I would guess that most of us here who have dealt with 'limited' GP's', would encourage you to pay attention to your gut instincts. Do some research, if you haven't done it already,and you decide what's right for you or not.  If it doesn't feel right, do something else.  I had to learn the hard way to be more responsible for my health care and I've never regretted letting go the people who could not help me.
By the way, don't worry about ranting here.  I personally cheer on the ranters.

[IceDragon]

i know how hard it is to get a g.p. to listen to u. i asked to see a neurologist when i started to deteriorate and in the end he reluctantly agreed, but a few weeks later when ihad to go back; i caught sight of a letter he wrote to the neurologist saying he was only sending me to see him to keep me quiet and that there was nothing much wrong with me, i couldnt believe it and when i had my neck/spine mri's done as they were ok he was very smug and patronising from then on. i changed g.p. after that but every time any of them looks at my notes thats the first thing they see is non conclusive mri's and the fact that i have scoliosis; right hand dorsal spine curve, which has been ignored for 26 years never looked except when it was found when i was 12. g.p.'s are only in it for the money: the more patients in and out the more money they get.

[Wobbly]

yes, sometimes it take quite awhile for the Dr to refer, they wait to see if you have other symptoms, or worsen etc... not fun and not a good place to be.

Hang in there, alot of us are in that same situation.. take care
wobbly
undx

[sllowe]

Hi there,

So, did the neuro state you had brain changes because of smoking and then send you back to your GP - to tell you this? Or, did the neuro explain the changes to you?  Since the neuro ordered the MRI, there should of been a follow up visit with him/her.

Maybe this will be your way back to that Dr. (though you may still have to move on from there) at least it may put you in a situation to press the neuro to dig deeper and not the GP.

just a thought, keep pressing and don't feel badly about it
-shell

[Louby70]

I was under the Balance Clinic & he sent me to have a Brain Scan  in Sept 08, because of the symptoms I was dispalying,

When I went back to the Balance Clinic in Jan 09, I was shocked to see a Neuro in the room & a training Neuro.

The Neuro did some testing on me & I remember one of the tests, where I had to slide my heels down my opposite shins, when it came to my right leg, it took me three attempts, I found it so hard to do.
He did pin test on both my legs, said right leg is displaying lose of feeling.
My numbness on my right finger tips he said I had slight Carpel Tunnel.
My reflexes are brisk.

After he did this thats when he said you have not got MS, He told me my results of my Brain Scan & said yes there are changes but I think this is because you smoke & that was it. Back to the GP!!!

Since then I had a horrible funny turn in my head, where I thought I was going to collaspe, my head felt fuzzy, sore very sensitive to touch. I felt drunk & started to sway alot more. Thankfully my head is feeling a bit better, still sensitive though.

Now for some reason my heels & legs hurt alot at the mo & my right leg is feeling more like it is not there but it is. My itching & numbness especially my mouth has got worse.

I can only get the GP to refer me to a Neuro, I cannot refer myself  due to this NHS we have, even then it takes months to see one.

I am just so frustrated in this, I just want answers to why am I going downhill. My children are starting to panic, both my little ones got into their heads bless them I had cancer in my leg, I had to calm my little boy down as he thought I was lieing to him to protect him & that I was dying, I have no idea where they got that from, they just said well you keep falling over alot Mum.  But the Doctors do not see this side & how it can really effect family members with being in the dark.

I really do not know what to do next......