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Disinterested GP

  • Thread starter Thread starter debrasue
  • Start Date Start Date
Oldvatr said:
Hi @Brunneria I won't copy your rant again, but I agree with it. It makes me sad that HCP bashing is so prevalent in the Forum. Its an easy thing to do, and, yes, there are bad practices and poor staff that could do better. But there are also many who do the best they can, but still evoke ire here,
Many of their antagonists seem to be Newbies, and I remember being similar when I was DX'ed. The problem seems to be that there is no proper introduction process to give the info and support data that a newly diagnosed person requires.
I was a User Representative on the comittee that was formulating the Desmond / Daphne courses. One thing we pushed for was a small booklet similar to the startup advice given by Daisy1 here, that the GP could give to each Newbie, But the NHS shot it down as being too expensive and of being 'one size fits all'. So we still have this sudden brick wall.

This info chasm opens up, and stays as a barrier for possibly all future contacts with HCP's.

If GP's just gave out the details of this website, and forum then this woukd help, but that opens up access to the web, which is not an APPROVED source. My GP practice has a large notice warning against using the NET for info, especially WebMD and Drugs.com

End of MY Rant.
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I agree with what you say. @Oldvatr, but I didn't intend to generalise when I posted this thread; I was just sharing my own diagnosis experience.
Perhaps part of the reason why the greater number of GP-bashers tend to be Newbies is because - as in my case - this is the first time they have ever encountered a significant medical problem, and when they turn to their trusted medical adviser for support, he/she is found wanting.
I appreciate that GPs deal with a vast number of people every day and 10 minutes is barely enough time to dole out a prescription for hemorrhoids or an antibiotic for a chest infection. But an understanding of the shock and fear that a newly-diagnosed individual may be experiencing, along with a few minutes' basic support and an outline of the options available, would make a dramatic difference to that individual's perception of the condition and determination to fight it. Surely this, in turn, would ultimately benefit the NHS in the long run..
 
TorqPenderloin said:
I have a lot of respect for you for in taking all of this constructively. That's not always easy to do.
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Thanks, @TorqPenderloin (love the profile name, btw) - I appreciate you saying that. I guess it's true to say that one is never too old to learn, and I have learned a great deal over the past few weeks. And I don't see the point in posting a thread and then ignoring any opinion which doesn't match my own. Whenever I take a step backwards and avoid treating an opposing viewpoint as a personal attack, there's often a sound lesson to be learned from it! :-)
 
debrasue said:
I agree with what you say. @Oldvatr, but I didn't intend to generalise when I posted this thread; I was just sharing my own diagnosis experience.
Perhaps part of the reason why the greater number of GP-bashers tend to be Newbies is because - as in my case - this is the first time they have ever encountered a significant medical problem, and when they turn to their trusted medical adviser for support, he/she is found wanting.
I appreciate that GPs deal with a vast number of people every day and 10 minutes is barely enough time to dole out a prescription for hemorrhoids or an antibiotic for a chest infection. But an understanding of the shock and fear that a newly-diagnosed individual may be experiencing, along with a few minutes' basic support and an outline of the options available, would make a dramatic difference to that individual's perception of the condition and determination to fight it. Surely this, in turn, would ultimately benefit the NHS in the long run..
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Thank you for this. I too was a Newbie once, and I had much the same initial experience. That is why I tried to get the NHS comittee to understand how a Newbie feels, but they were all tied up with a fight for funding between Primary Care and the PCTs. Now there are no PCT;s but they got their money and golden goodbyes.

I hope you find the support you need.
 
Back in days when I was newbie diabetic...my GP didn't want to take it on advising me himself but sent me straight to the hospital with appointment to see diabetic nurse/dietician/doctor..and I am pleased that he did so. But..what hope do we have when those who are specialized are not giving right 'tools' for us for best possible results. (Yes, many do not follow the advise anyway or for long term...but I know there is many of us who battle on)
For yeeeears I did eat and do what I supposed to...and each visit my weight got teeny bit up and blood sugar levels were never in ideal range....hence more medicine..and again..
When you go over certain level of weight gain and high sugar levels...their attitudes change, they are not supportive anymore but hint of blame game will step in and constant questioning..."are you do doing 'this and that'...are you sure...you must....oh, what are we going to do with you..." :mad: You are given eating plans, diet advise..endless booklets for this and that...even in our local K.A.R.E.N course (similar to DAPNE..'I think)..we were practicing carb counting with KFC and McDonald's meals!!!! :eek::rolleyes: Food that was provided by hospital during course 'so called healthy options' were sandwiches, crisps and some fruit :eek:(I ended up taking my own food with me as I was never eating such a rubbish in first place!)
Last 20+ years all the education has been about LOW FAT...'nag nag nag'...(I'm sure you all know about the usual recommendations). It has never ever worked for me..eventually I did struggle to shift some extra weight, but it took few years. And the same still continue...'nag nag nag'...'take this pill it will help'..:rolleyes: Each consultation you see different doctor..each time they want to prescribe something different..and along the way there has been some grave errors with those medicines..shouldn't been prescribed them! Because of all the 'stuff' that I've had to deal with, I'm quite bitter about it and I do get easily angry about medical professionals...I want to trust doctors, particular those are calling themselves 'highly trained experts on their field'..but they get paid good money for doing their jobs, and they won't come up with anything better than all the 'magic pills and potions'. Over the years, every improvement for my conditions have most of the time been down to my own research and I have gone through trialling and learning from those resulting experiments.
To me HFLC experience so far is like I have been handed magic wand..during these years I haven't had such a improvement to my diabetes control..EVER! And not only that, I have few more kg to loose and then I'm VERY happy chick..(instead of old crow..;)), doc's can keep their false BMI ideas and if they dare to bring those ideal figures up again, I shall say few chosen words..
Ok...rant over..:angelic:
 
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Dark Horse said:
Interesting initial research into whether pushy or rude patients are more likely to be misdiagnosed is analysed by nhs.uk/news:-
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2016/03March/Pages/Pushy-or-rude-patients-more-likely-to-be-misdiagnosed.aspx
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It seems human nature. If you have a patient who insists they know best, they know the best treatment, they keep telling you you are wrong, and they have a preconceived idea they try to push, you're going to spend more time thinking how careful you have to be, how you need to ensure you follow all the guidelines, as you know that's going to be the patient that reports you or tries to sue you. A lot less time listening, on both sides.
I sit down with mine, (occasionally now) we have a chat, we listen to each other, we agree on some things, we disagree on others, then we chat again, and find aa way we both agree. And if they don't know, they'll point me at someone who does.

MInd you, this was a few years ago, now, apart from support when if I ever need it, we're all happy to let me get on with it.
 
SunnyExpat said:
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It seems human nature. If you have a patient who insists they know best, they know the best treatment, they keep telling you you are wrong, and they have a preconceived idea they try to push, you're going to spend more time thinking how careful you have to be, how you need to ensure you follow all the guidelines, as you know that's going to be the patient that reports you or tries to sue you. A lot less time listening, on both sides.
I sit down with mine, (occasionally now) we have a chat, we listen to each other, we agree on some things, we disagree on others, then we chat again, and find aa way we both agree. And if they don't know, they'll point me at someone who does.

MInd you, this was a few years ago, now, apart from support when if I ever need it, we're all happy to let me get on with it.
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We have experienced this on a couple of threads here recently, where the OP refused to enter a dialogue and it was clear this lead to tensions in those posting. As it progressed, you could see that posters either became more incised, or they withdrew from the fray and gave up trying to help. Eventually the thread was either locked or deleted.

So, if you were one of those who started to feel hot under the collar and frustrated, then it is easy to see how GP's might react when faced with an antagonist in the consulting room.
 
debrasue said:
At what point did you decide I was a pushy or rude patient? LOL - love it! :-)
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I'm sorry if it came over that way, but I don't think you do from your posts on here. But then it's also fair to mention how many 'bad' patients (not yourself, but it must be a thankless job at times) from all walks of life the GP must see, and to be totally fair, he told you (badly) you had type 2, and you rang him back and told him you'd been on the internet and wanted to try your own method. Not a criticism at all, I did much the same thing, but I did go and talk to any and every member of the NHS that I could, and I learnt a lot from them, and together we agreed a route forwards.
 
Well it is the same in all industries. You listen to the client (the patient in this case) give you the solution they want and then interpret that into real requirements (symptoms) and determine the best solution for the current situation (diagnose and prescribe). The client always argues because they know best so you have to state your case. Now here is the crux. They have 10 minutes to do all of that. What a nightmare.
 
SunnyExpat said:
I'm sorry if it came over that way, but I don't think you do from your posts on here. But then it's also fair to mention how many 'bad' patients (not yourself, but it must be a thankless job at times) from all walks of life the GP must see, and to be totally fair, he told you (badly) you had type 2, and you rang him back and told him you'd been on the internet and wanted to try your own method. Not a criticism at all, I did much the same thing, but I did go and talk to any and every member of the NHS that I could, and I learnt a lot from them, and together we agreed a route forwards.
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Don't worry, @SunnyExpat - I don't take offence! :-)
And I agree with what you say. I haven't exactly vowed never to darken his door again - we've agreed to meet in 3 months' time for a review and, to be fair, at this stage he knows a lot more about diabetes in theory than I do, so I certainly want his opinion at that time, if he's prepared to give it to me.
 
I come across as a Basher of HCP's but I have every sympathy for them because of limited time, patients living longer etc etc... The pressure on them is huge. My ex best GP is quitting at 50 due to pressure etc. I do actually feel very sad that GPs are quitting etc. my stance isn't really to knock them because they have so many targets etc heaped on them too... I think this is actually what I lean towards that it could well be an easier option to give drugs than for the human race to now adjust lifestyles... Not actually the HCP's fault...
 
debrasue said:
At what point did you decide I was a pushy or rude patient? LOL - love it! :)
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I thought it was relevant to some of the points that @Brunneria raised - it wasn't directed at you (or anyone in particular)! Glad you didn't take it to heart. It's always difficult on forums where there are multiple postings, it often leads to misunderstandings.
 
Dark Horse said:
I thought it was relevant to some of the points that @Brunneria raised - it wasn't directed at you (or anyone in particular)! Glad you didn't take it to heart. It's always difficult on forums where there are multiple postings, it often leads to misunderstandings.
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Oh, I can SO agree with that - it has bitten me in the bum on more than one occasion! :-)
 
debrasue said:
I know it's been said before on here that GPs are often not very sympathetic to the LCHF approach for dealing with diabetes, but I hadn't expected to encounter such blatant disinterest as I did this morning!
I was diagnosed on the 1 March - via a terse phone call from him to say "You've got Type 2 diabetes, I'll put a prescription for Metformin in the tray for you to collect and ask the dietician to get in touch with you." (his exact words). When I got over my shock, I called him again a couple of days later to get some more information (numbers, etc.) and told him that I had done some research in the interim, joined this community, and decided I didn't want to go down the Metformin route at this stage, but preferred to see if I could make a difference through diet and exercise.
I went back to see him today to give him an update, showed him my readings for the past week (an early one at 8.3, two in the 7s, and the rest mainly 5s with one or two 6s) and told him I had lost 10lbs on the LCHF eating plan. He said "Well, there are lots of different ways to lose weight, so it's up to you which one you choose. Your glucose levels look about normal, but you really don't need to be testing every day - it's not necessary." He was rummaging in his bookcase for something when I left.
I still haven't heard from the dietician, but if he/she is going to have the same approach as my GP, I'll feel very inclined to just suggest that they "DO one!"
:(
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Well done for losing all those weight! I was diagnosed as Type 2 at end of Nov 2015 and my hopeless GP put me straight on metformin (500x3 per day), my blood test reading is 24 at that time which is super high and she just said take the medicine and come back in 3 months time!!!she said NHS dietician will be in touch, but I still haven't heard anything from them!!!

Lucky, I recently moved to Kent and have a wonderful GP near by, he spent a lot of time to tell me all the information I need to know and diet etc. and guess what this GP carried out few blood tests for me on the register meeting, the result come out yesterday saying I am a type 1 not 2!!!! no wonder those medicine not working at all... the previous GP really put my life in risk.

Anyways, please keep up all the good work! I always believe type 2 can be reverse!!!

All the best

H
 
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yycdordor said:
Well done for losing all those weight! I was diagnosed as Type 2 at end of Nov 2015 and my hopeless GP put me on straight on metformin (500x3 per day), my blood test reading is 24 at that time which is super high and she just said take the medicine and come back in 3 months time!!!she said NHS dietician will be in touch, but I still haven't heard anything from them!!!

Lucky, I recently moved to Kent an have a wonderful GP, he spent a lot of time to tell me all the information I need to know and diet etc. and guess what this GP carry out few blood test for me when I first see him and result come out last week saying I am a type 1 not 2!!!! no wonder those medicine not working at all... the previous GP really put my life in risk.

Please keep up all the good work! I always believe type 2 can be reverse!!!

All the best

H
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That's terrible! I'm so glad you have got it sorted now, though.
 
SunnyExpat said:
I'm sorry if it came over that way, but I don't think you do from your posts on here. But then it's also fair to mention how many 'bad' patients (not yourself, but it must be a thankless job at times) from all walks of life the GP must see, and to be totally fair, he told you (badly) you had type 2, and you rang him back and told him you'd been on the internet and wanted to try your own method. Not a criticism at all, I did much the same thing, but I did go and talk to any and every member of the NHS that I could, and I learnt a lot from them, and together we agreed a route forwards.
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I agree. I think it represents the difference between being a victim and just letting life happen to you, and being an active participant!
 
I was in the Navy when I was diagnosed as T1. I lost a load of weight and used a friends tester to find my sugar was 12. I went to the principle medical officer and informed him I may have diabetes. His response was "go outside and read the sign on the door" I read him name rank and job title. He said "just wanted to check, I am the one who tells people they have diabetes". A finger prick later and I was on the way to the hospital. One year later I was out. Not one person explained the desease, how to manage it, why I got it.
On the medical board the Admiral shouted at me because I suggested being kept in the Navy on my current rank for 10 years sounded descrimentry. I was 30 best years ahead of me. They were cold arrogant and unfeeling about me loosing a life I had grown to love.
 
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