Getting to see the Doctor.

[Julie Kathleen]

Hello everyone. My name is Julie Kathleen and l live in Norfolk. I am 55 and divorced.
I was first told l had diabetes several yesrs ago.
I wasn't surprised in fact l had been waiting for it. Doctor put me on Metformin.Really do not actually know why he did this because l did not have any problems at all with Diabetes so maybe he was trying to prevent them??Anyway l was fine for a couple of years but at the beginning of last year l didn't feel right. I was drinking 20+ litres of water a day and when l went for a wee it smelt very odd. The last thing was going to the opticians for a eye test as all of a sudden my eyesight got worse and l decided to get new glasses. They told me l had cataracts. However when l went to collect my new glases l could not see out of them. I wondered if they had given me the wrong glasses. It was confirmed they were in fact the right glasses and an eyetest confirmed that my eyesight was changing day by day because of the uncontrolled diabetes.By this time l had been trying to get a blood sugar test at my local surgery to no avail.Now l was desperate and spent a further 2+ months trying to make someone listen at my surgery. I asked the optician to write the doctor a letter to explain what was going on re my eyesight. Still to no avail. I explained everything to the receptionist and she wrote it all down on her screen to tell the doctor.The next day she phoned me and read out what the doctor said. "Go to A&E" l could hardly believe it. Eventually l managed to get an apt with another doctor. I had a very high level of ketones and my blood sugar was so high it would not even register on the machine. I had told them over and over again and no one would listen.l had to start a course of tablets which did not work then another that didn't work either. I now have to inject twice a day and take a tablet also. Pioglicasone?? My blood sugar is still high so l am assuming l need to up the insulin but have not seen her since before christmas and cant seem to track her don. Shall l higher it myself??

 

[AndBreathe]

Is there any reason why you stick with this particular practise? Do you have any options?

 

[RoseofSharon]

Personally I would change practice, and complain at the present practice. As for changing your dosage, it is best for you to discuss this with a dr or healthcare professional who either knows your case or has access to your medical records.

 

[dawnmc]

Very negligent I would go and sit in the surgery and demand to be seen. I would complain to the practise manager and write to your trust. You must read this forum regarding diet. Good luck.

 

[TorqPenderloin]

Please don't t take this the wrong way, but it would be extremely helpful if you could format your posts and separate them by paragraph. It became a bit difficult to read about halfway through and admittedly, I lost focus.

Just a small request to help us be able to help you.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Please don't t take this the wrong way, but it would be extremely helpful if you could format your posts and separate them by paragraph. It became a bit difficult to read about halfway through and admittedly, I lost focus.

Just a small request to help us be able to help you.

The Op has cataracts and very high bloods. English grammar , I would imagine, would be far from her thoughts right now !!

 

[Robinredbreast]

Hello everyone. My name is Julie Kathleen and l live in Norfolk. I am 55 and divorced.
I was first told l had diabetes several yesrs ago.
I wasn't surprised in fact l had been waiting for it. Doctor put me on Metformin.Really do not actually know why he did this because l did not have any problems at all with Diabetes so maybe he was trying to prevent them??Anyway l was fine for a couple of years but at the beginning of last year l didn't feel right. I was drinking 20+ litres of water a day and when l went for a wee it smelt very odd. The last thing was going to the opticians for a eye test as all of a sudden my eyesight got worse and l decided to get new glasses. They told me l had cataracts. However when l went to collect my new glases l could not see out of them. I wondered if they had given me the wrong glasses. It was confirmed they were in fact the right glasses and an eyetest confirmed that my eyesight was changing day by day because of the uncontrolled diabetes.By this time l had been trying to get a blood sugar test at my local surgery to no avail.Now l was desperate and spent a further 2+ months trying to make someone listen at my surgery. I asked the optician to write the doctor a letter to explain what was going on re my eyesight. Still to no avail. I explained everything to the receptionist and she wrote it all down on her screen to tell the doctor.The next day she phoned me and read out what the doctor said. "Go to A&E" l could hardly believe it. Eventually l managed to get an apt with another doctor. I had a very high level of ketones and my blood sugar was so high it would not even register on the machine. I had told them over and over again and no one would listen.l had to start a course of tablets which did not work then another that didn't work either. I now have to inject twice a day and take a tablet also. Pioglicasone?? My blood sugar is still high so l am assuming l need to up the insulin but have not seen her since before christmas and cant seem to track her don. Shall l higher it myself??

Hi Julie Kathleen and welcome. Either, go to A & E, phone 111, change GP's or practice and take someone with you for support. You seem to have been treated unfairly with contempt and should not be happening to a patient who so desperately needs help and support with your ongoing medical problems.
Take care and please keep us updated if you can.
Best wishes RRB

 

[Julie Kathleen]

Is there any reason why you stick with this particular practise? Do you have any options?

I stick to it because it is the only one where l live.There is another surgery about 3 miles away but you have to live in the village. When l saw my Doctor who incidentally is the head of the diabetes clinic all he kept saying was " you was allright before Christmas (2014)" When l asked him why when he received the letter from my Optician and also the the letter l dictated to the receptionist to "task him" he said he only replied to go to A&E because he thought l said l couldn't see at all!! I was not told of the side effects from Metformin. I had the diarrhoea but was not told of the risks it can cause possibly to your kidneys and/or liver. I think this is wrong. Everyone should be given the chance to make an informative decision on wether to take this medication. Especially as this has been known since the 1970s. I now have kidney problems and the neuropathy has caused a great deal of damage to nerve endings. I can hardly walk because of my legs and my balance is so bad l have at times just fell over.

 

[Julie Kathleen]

I am so sorry to post again but really need help and advice and l am sorry if anyone finds me a nuisance.
I know that diabetics are prone to feet problems so was not really surprised when they got hot/cold etc.About 10 or so days ago my whole leg got very red. Very hot. And very lumpy and swoIlen. This was both legs.
I visited the Doctor as they were incredibly painful and burning. He looked and said he had no idea what it was.l had been looking up some of the symptoms so asked if it was cellulitis to which he replied no. He gave me some antibiotics and sent me on my way.
My legs did not get better so l went again a few days later as they were so sore l could hardly walk a couple of steps and the pain was spreading and also the swelling and lumpiness.
He said again he did not know and told me it was probably an allergy. He gave me some antihistamines and sent me away.
What do l do now?? The pain is worse and the redness and heat but l don't want to be a nuisance up the Doctors. Thing is---lt scares me cos l do not know what is happening and it is spreading.
I am wondering wether to go to the emergency surgery they have in the mornings.
Thing is you have to tell the receptionist why you want to see a Doctor as if it is not emergency you cannot go.There are no apts with any Doctor for at least the next two weeks. I am scared.
I am so so sorry if l am boring any members but even if l know it is one of the many effects of diabetes l would at least feel a bit better.
ls it Cellulitis? Is it dangerous? So worried.Funny thing being that if it were someone else in this position l know exactly what l would be saying
Any advice gratefully received and once again so sorry to run on but l really value being in this forum with all your know how.

 

[Julie Kathleen]

The Op has cataracts and very high bloods. English grammar , I would imagine, would be far from her thoughts right now !!

Thankyou.Very kind.

 

[AndBreathe]

I am so sorry to post again but really need help and advice and l am sorry if anyone finds me a nuisance.
I know that diabetics are prone to feet problems so was not really surprised when they got hot/cold etc.About 10 or so days ago my whole leg got very red. Very hot. And very lumpy and swoIlen. This was both legs.
I visited the Doctor as they were incredibly painful and burning. He looked and said he had no idea what it was.l had been looking up some of the symptoms so asked if it was cellulitis to which he replied no. He gave me some antibiotics and sent me on my way.
My legs did not get better so l went again a few days later as they were so sore l could hardly walk a couple of steps and the pain was spreading and also the swelling and lumpiness.
He said again he did not know and told me it was probably an allergy. He gave me some antihistamines and sent me away.
What do l do now?? The pain is worse and the redness and heat but l don't want to be a nuisance up the Doctors. Thing is---lt scares me cos l do not know what is happening and it is spreading.
I am wondering wether to go to the emergency surgery they have in the mornings.
Thing is you have to tell the receptionist why you want to see a Doctor as if it is not emergency you cannot go.There are no apts with any Doctor for at least the next two weeks. I am scared.
I am so so sorry if l am boring any members but even if l know it is one of the many effects of diabetes l would at least feel a bit better.
ls it Cellulitis? Is it dangerous? So worried.Funny thing being that if it were someone else in this position l know exactly what l would be saying
Any advice gratefully received and once again so sorry to run on but l really value being in this forum with all your know how.

I would suggest you have this looked at again, and if the emergency surgery is your mechanism for doing so, then so be it. The receptionist is not qualified to assess the urgency of anything, in my view. It is highly likely he, or she, is a well-meaning individual, following instructions.

 

[Stallen]

What kind of foods are you having? I had numerous issues that all improved and some that cleared up completely, sometimes a simple change in diet can help.

And 20+ litres of water is not advisable as its toxic in high quantities.

 

[khkwong]

U need to drink a lot of water because your body are unable to produce sufficient insulin to lower the BS level. The kidneys come into play and pass the extra sugar to urine and you start to urine very often.... so you feel very thirsty. .. you react by drinking more water.
Your kidneys start to feel overload n start to unable function properly... beginning of kidney failure.
To solve all this u hv to control your blood glucose. Now u are actually facing a medical emergency and u need to see the right doctor to help u to control your glucose level. Find all your ways to access to a specialist or at least a doctor. Tell the receptionist that if anything serious happen to u does she willing to responsible for it ?

 

[RoseofSharon]

I am so sorry to post again but really need help and advice and l am sorry if anyone finds me a nuisance.
I know that diabetics are prone to feet problems so was not really surprised when they got hot/cold etc.About 10 or so days ago my whole leg got very red. Very hot. And very lumpy and swoIlen. This was both legs.
I visited the Doctor as they were incredibly painful and burning. He looked and said he had no idea what it was.l had been looking up some of the symptoms so asked if it was cellulitis to which he replied no. He gave me some antibiotics and sent me on my way.
My legs did not get better so l went again a few days later as they were so sore l could hardly walk a couple of steps and the pain was spreading and also the swelling and lumpiness.
He said again he did not know and told me it was probably an allergy. He gave me some antihistamines and sent me away.
What do l do now?? The pain is worse and the redness and heat but l don't want to be a nuisance up the Doctors. Thing is---lt scares me cos l do not know what is happening and it is spreading.
I am wondering wether to go to the emergency surgery they have in the mornings.
Thing is you have to tell the receptionist why you want to see a Doctor as if it is not emergency you cannot go.There are no apts with any Doctor for at least the next two weeks. I am scared.
I am so so sorry if l am boring any members but even if l know it is one of the many effects of diabetes l would at least feel a bit better.
ls it Cellulitis? Is it dangerous? So worried.Funny thing being that if it were someone else in this position l know exactly what l would be saying
Any advice gratefully received and once again so sorry to run on but l really value being in this forum with all your know how.

Please use whatever means you can to get this checked out. Personally I'd be using emergency appointments or the local walkin centre. Please don't leave this to get worse and worse.

You say you know what you would advise if it were someone else, maybe take your own advice?!

 

[Julie Kathleen]

Please use whatever means you can to get this checked out. Personally I'd be using emergency appointments or the local walkin centre. Please don't leave this to get worse and worse.

You say you know what you would advise if it were someone else, maybe take your own advice?!

Yes you are 100% right. I would soon be saying it to someone else in my position. Probably take them up there myself!! He said it was an allergy. don't know how on earth it could be.l understand that people with diabetes do have feet and leg problems though?

 

[JohnEGreen]

don't know how on earth it could be.l understand that people with diabetes do have feet and leg problems though?

Yes and it seems one of the biggest problems is getting people up on them and down to the A&E

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Various things. As you may now realise the fact that you didn't have any symptoms of your diabetes is because it can be a silent killer so the GP did the right thing in starting Metformin. If this gives you bowel problems then do insist on the Slow Release SR version. As a diabetic you are entitled to a full diabetes check-up at least annually and the way to do this is to make an appointment at the surgery for this to be done. You need to find out what your HBa1C is and if it's high the surgery should be doing blood tests every 3 to 6 months - insist on this. Always if you don't feel well, have high ketones and high blood sugar then go to A&E. I assume you have a glucose meter to check your blood sugar? If not do get hold of one. Do you have excess weight? If so, what sort of diet do you have? The right diet is vital for most of us even when on insulin and this means keeping the carbs down. You surgery sounds pretty useless but as you say it's not easy to change that so you need to take more control yourself and use this forum to help.

 

[Sunflower8]

Please don't t take this the wrong way, but it would be extremely helpful if you could format your posts and separate them by paragraph. It became a bit difficult to read about halfway through and admittedly, I lost focus.

Just a small request to help us be able to help you.

I don't think that was necessary! She is only asking for help, she has been through a rough time and the least of her worries would be to format her paragraphs!!
People have various illnesses and deal with unimaginable situations on a daily basis, we should bear this in mind with make judgements.
I managed to read it Ok as I'm sure other people have.
Sorry this made me very angry!

 

[TorqPenderloin]

I don't think that was necessary! She is only asking for help, she has been through a rough time and the least of her worries would be to format her paragraphs!!
People have various illnesses and deal with unimaginable situations on a daily basis, we should bear this in mind with make judgements.
I managed to read it Ok as I'm sure other people have.
Sorry this made me very angry!

Not everyone knows how to use an Internet forum as well as you and I do. That's all this is about.

I NEVER challenge or correct peoples' grammar and I respect that people often have physical limitations that make it difficult to type.

However, she obviously put a lot of time into her post and wrote several paragraphs. I had difficulty reading it all and figured others might too.

My intention was never to question someone's intelligence, but posting on an Internet forum is a bit different than other venues. If any of you found my post rude, that was not my intention.

 

[amgrundy]

Hi, Yes I agree it made me angry too. I don't want to cause an upset but what the heck has how you write got to do with it? I would have thought it was all about what you are writing about that is the most important part, the poor lady is suffering, we need to support her, bet she was upset with your post I would have been.