Sassin' Frassin' Doctors!

I'm sorry to hear that you're not having much support from your GP.

Exactly what did your Dr say when you mentioned the arthritis? I assume you mentioned you were in pain and asked for a solution? If so he/she really should have ran through the various options for you.

Grant

eunice61 said:

I am so fed up with the medical profession. I was diabetic for years and they wouldn't believe me, wouldn't test me for it. Not until the gov'mint decided to bang on about it. Now they're all over it. I had gestational diabetes, but all I got was "oh you're going to have an enormous baby". I didn't, and I was not treated for it.

Now that I am officially diabetic, the doctor seems to think it's a license to ignore any other medical problems I may have. Such as the arthritis. They just look at me as though I were speaking in, I don't know, Klingon, when I ask about it. The diabetic nurse will bring up depression at our twice-annual chats, and when I say yes, I have clinical depression, she nods and smiles, and changes the subject. Quite fed up.

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I can relate to this. The worse part of living with diabetes is dealing with idiot doctors who stop treating you as a normal individual and instead focus on the many potential complications that could happen. It got to the point where I would go to Emergency or a clinic, hide the fact that I had diabetes, so I could get properly treated. That's how my neuropathy ended up being a torn rotator cuff. I told my doctor I was kayaking when it happened but having diabetes it had to be neuropathy. So now when I injure myself (I'm very active) I don;t see my doctor and I conceal my condition when going to an emergency clinic I find treatment has gotten a whole lot better with this approach.

The other thing - I look young for my age, I'm in good physical condition, I've been living with type 1 for 50 years and this seems to tick off my doctor. Once he said - you're not immortal. And I replied, yes I know, I have diabetes, perhaps today will be my last day so I better make the most of it, (I then walked out of his office)

Anyway, I find some nutritionist are just as bad. Back before Carbs were identified as the enemy, I had an appointment with my nutritionist and I was to provide her with everything I ate for the past week. I'm of average weight for my size and that weight hasn't fluctuated much over the past 20 years. When she reviewed my meal plan the first words out of her mouth was - are you trying to lose weight - and I replied no this is how I normally eat. I eat what I need and humans tend to eat too much. She sure didn't like that response and accused me of losing intelligence because of my lack of carbs and I should eat more carbs - I scratched my head and got the hell out of there ....

Anyway Eunice61 - I could go on for hours (and enjoy doing so - 50 years of doctor stories) but I better stop now - I can totally relate to what you're saying and hopefully at some point in time you will find a doctor who is able to take a better approach to your health care. I only see my doctor once a year for blood work - any other visits caused by injury etc - I go to someone who doesn't know me. It seems much better that way.

eunice61 said:

I am so fed up with the medical profession. I was diabetic for years and they wouldn't believe me, wouldn't test me for it. Not until the gov'mint decided to bang on about it. Now they're all over it. I had gestational diabetes, but all I got was "oh you're going to have an enormous baby". I didn't, and I was not treated for it.

Now that I am officially diabetic, the doctor seems to think it's a license to ignore any other medical problems I may have. Such as the arthritis. They just look at me as though I were speaking in, I don't know, Klingon, when I ask about it. The diabetic nurse will bring up depression at our twice-annual chats, and when I say yes, I have clinical depression, she nods and smiles, and changes the subject. Quite fed up.

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Not that I share the same problems in the sense of not being listened to..the joys of being a nurse! It shouldn't make a difference but alas it does as soon as they know....but the thing you said about the nurse causing spikes in depression...I SO hear you. I know I have talked about it before and others are probably bored of me saying about it but that was exactly where I was at with the first ever visit to the practice nurse...I won't be going back and will ask to speak with the GP's only. So my point is really....I totally understand where you are coming from and just know you are never alone with any of this xxxx

Unfortunately these seem to be issues globally, especially the part about suddenly everything is all about the diabetes. Well, it's not.

Fletchweb, I like your attitude. You are very cool!! I've just had a nasty experience with a stupid Dr and to read your post was lovely!

My two diabetes GPs are good when it comes to illnesses other than diabetes but when they have treated me for my diabetes, common sense and knowledge went out of the window ("Eat a balanced diet" and "you're not T1 and therefore you are T2". I now see the diabetes nurse for my reviews. My last one was superb and had come from the hospital diabetes clinic. Sadly she has left but my current nurse is lovely; not so knowledgeable but learning and listens.

Simplest thing to do is say something like oh I didn't know there was a condition called "it's your diabetes" when or if your diabetes is blamed for anything and everything under the sun.

I can wholeheartedly relate to this, it's like every little niggle we have is solely due to being diabetic! However, on the flip side, I've just been diagnosed with tendinopathy - and I had no idea diabetes was a risk factor and has implications for healing until I stumbled upon an article online!

eunice61 said:

I am so fed up with the medical profession. I was diabetic for years and they wouldn't believe me, wouldn't test me for it. Not until the gov'mint decided to bang on about it. Now they're all over it. I had gestational diabetes, but all I got was "oh you're going to have an enormous baby". I didn't, and I was not treated for it.

Now that I am officially diabetic, the doctor seems to think it's a license to ignore any other medical problems I may have. Such as the arthritis. They just look at me as though I were speaking in, I don't know, Klingon, when I ask about it. The diabetic nurse will bring up depression at our twice-annual chats, and when I say yes, I have clinical depression, she nods and smiles, and changes the subject. Quite fed up.

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Not at all surprised. "Diabetes" and "care" are two words which don't seem to belong in the same sentence.

Got off on a bad footing with my GP surgery on the day of my diagnosis last week.

I'd booked a doctor's appointment to discuss blood test results at their behest (didn't know it was diabetes they wanted to discuss - wished I'd asked about the results first). When I got to the surgery I discovered an appointment had been made for me to see the nurse as well. I get to see the nurse first. I was barely through the door before she barked at me: "Take off your shoes and socks so that I can look at your feet!"

When I asked why, she said, "because you have diabetes". I was shocked and then very angry, and asked why was I not seeing the doctor first. She then started arguing with me about why I needed to see her first (and I lost my temper) and I shouted that if I am to be told I am diabetic I would rather have heard it from the doctor first.

Went in to see the doctor and burst into tears. He was absolutely brilliant and gave me some good advice and suggested I try diet and exercise first, which I was happy with. He warned me off the senior partner in the practice who is a diabetes specialist and "can be preachy and tends to rub people up the wrong way". (My husband is also diabetic and does not like this senior partner either). I made an appointment to see this nice doctor in two weeks' time.

Saw the nurse again afterwards, she apologised for earlier on, checked my feet, weight, BP and then lectured me about all the things I should and shouldn't eat (she talked utter rubbish - I resisted the urge to shout). Went home feeling still feeling shocked but feeling a little cross. Husband was brilliant. Told him to see the nice doc in future and not the senior partner.

Today I get a call from the surgery by someone practically bullying me to cancel my appointment with the nice doctor and see the senior partner instead. I held my ground. I can see trouble ahead...

Hi. You are unlucky as a good DN as I have had over the years can be better than a GP. You need to be aware that they have to follow NICE guidelines and there are 14 items I think (see DUK website) that should be covered at each review. Go along with the nurse where you can, ignore any silly diet advice and try to swing the conversation round to your blood/urine test numbers and what the target should be. These are factually based so it avoids opinions coming in.

I had to battle the GP blaming my diabetes for my depression it took being sectioned 3 times for weeks at a time and in the end I got a diagnosis of Emotionally unstable borderline personality disorder now my GP knows it's not my diabetes causing my mental impairment.