Post by hellsbells on Mar 2, 2011 7:16:10 GMT -5
So, with endo awareness coming along, I've got a real bee in my bonnet. I can't stick this ignorance ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm putting up the letters I've sent and received to my GP, it may inspire others to complain.
Here's the first one I sent last year:
Dear “”
I’m writing to explain my reasons for recently leaving your practice.
I saw Dr (Mr) Sh1thead several times during the course of 2009, starting around April/May, complaining of severe ongoing pelvic and abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, heavy bleeding and mood swings, lower back pain, hip pain to name but a few. I was repeatedly told it was nothing more than IBS. After a number of further visits, where I had also mentioned abdominal tenderness, I was sent for an abdominal ultrasound being told it would examine all of my internal organs. Only my reproductive organs were looked at. I returned to see the doctor to get the results of the ultrasound – being told ‘Everything is fine – there’s no problem’. Well there was a problem; I was in pain on a daily basis. I mentioned endometriosis to the doctor, pointing out this would generally not be seen on an ultrasound. He wouldn’t entertain the idea, being told again it was nothing more than IBS. I said I wanted to see someone else. He somewhat reluctantly began to fill out a referral to a Gastroenterologist, when I pointed out I wanted/needed to see a Gynaecologist – he told me this would not be possible, because my ultrasound scan was clear, this would be an ‘inappropriate referral’. During one visit to the GP I noticed a poster in the waiting room showing the symptoms of ovarian cancer – ‘the silent killer’ and was concerned when I realised my symptoms were also very close to these listed. When I asked the GP about this, he waved his and as if to dismiss it and said ‘Yes, yes, could be anything’ and that was the end of the discussion. What’s the point in trying to make patients aware of diseases and their symptoms if the GP won’t even listen to a patient? Thankfully, ovarian cancer is not the problem.
At this stage, with my symptoms worsening and getting no relief/help from my GP, I felt my only other course of action was to seek help privately. In order to get to a gynaecologist I had to spend £424 (normally £500 but thankfully there was a discount offer available) to have a health assessment with BUPA. Through was I was able to get a consultation with a gynaecologist, at a further expense of £200. By the end of the consultation he had taken my on as his patient under the NHS and Durham University hospital, and said he would arrange for an MRI on my back and hip, a laparoscopy and a hysteroscopy, among other tests. Finally someone who actually listened to me.
On Dec 22nd 2009, following a surgical procedure of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, I was diagnosed with Endometriosis. Should I have had to seek private healthcare at great expense to myself to get this diagnosis? Shouldn’t my GP have actually listened to me and provided the means to get the specialist knowledge?
I am extremely dissatisfied with level of care I have received (or lack thereof) at this practice, not to mention being £624 out of pocket, when I was right all along. This is in fact not the only incident or example of unsatisfactory care I have received at this practice. I could list a number of unsatisfactory consultations with both Mrs Sh1thead, and the Practise Nurse Biatch.
Thankfully, having a diagnosis means I know what I’m dealing with and I can be treated properly. My symptoms are now reducing and I feel I can deal with life a lot better. The situation of being in constant pain, not knowing why and getting no help from my GP led to a certain amount of depression, which I believe was linked to my pain and other symptoms. I shouldn’t have had to wait so long to get the help I needed, and I certainly shouldn’t have had to pay BUPA to get it!
I am still considering whether or not to take this complaint further.
I look forward to your reply,
Regards,
Helen Atherton
Here's the first one I sent last year:
Dear “”
I’m writing to explain my reasons for recently leaving your practice.
I saw Dr (Mr) Sh1thead several times during the course of 2009, starting around April/May, complaining of severe ongoing pelvic and abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, heavy bleeding and mood swings, lower back pain, hip pain to name but a few. I was repeatedly told it was nothing more than IBS. After a number of further visits, where I had also mentioned abdominal tenderness, I was sent for an abdominal ultrasound being told it would examine all of my internal organs. Only my reproductive organs were looked at. I returned to see the doctor to get the results of the ultrasound – being told ‘Everything is fine – there’s no problem’. Well there was a problem; I was in pain on a daily basis. I mentioned endometriosis to the doctor, pointing out this would generally not be seen on an ultrasound. He wouldn’t entertain the idea, being told again it was nothing more than IBS. I said I wanted to see someone else. He somewhat reluctantly began to fill out a referral to a Gastroenterologist, when I pointed out I wanted/needed to see a Gynaecologist – he told me this would not be possible, because my ultrasound scan was clear, this would be an ‘inappropriate referral’. During one visit to the GP I noticed a poster in the waiting room showing the symptoms of ovarian cancer – ‘the silent killer’ and was concerned when I realised my symptoms were also very close to these listed. When I asked the GP about this, he waved his and as if to dismiss it and said ‘Yes, yes, could be anything’ and that was the end of the discussion. What’s the point in trying to make patients aware of diseases and their symptoms if the GP won’t even listen to a patient? Thankfully, ovarian cancer is not the problem.
At this stage, with my symptoms worsening and getting no relief/help from my GP, I felt my only other course of action was to seek help privately. In order to get to a gynaecologist I had to spend £424 (normally £500 but thankfully there was a discount offer available) to have a health assessment with BUPA. Through was I was able to get a consultation with a gynaecologist, at a further expense of £200. By the end of the consultation he had taken my on as his patient under the NHS and Durham University hospital, and said he would arrange for an MRI on my back and hip, a laparoscopy and a hysteroscopy, among other tests. Finally someone who actually listened to me.
On Dec 22nd 2009, following a surgical procedure of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, I was diagnosed with Endometriosis. Should I have had to seek private healthcare at great expense to myself to get this diagnosis? Shouldn’t my GP have actually listened to me and provided the means to get the specialist knowledge?
I am extremely dissatisfied with level of care I have received (or lack thereof) at this practice, not to mention being £624 out of pocket, when I was right all along. This is in fact not the only incident or example of unsatisfactory care I have received at this practice. I could list a number of unsatisfactory consultations with both Mrs Sh1thead, and the Practise Nurse Biatch.
Thankfully, having a diagnosis means I know what I’m dealing with and I can be treated properly. My symptoms are now reducing and I feel I can deal with life a lot better. The situation of being in constant pain, not knowing why and getting no help from my GP led to a certain amount of depression, which I believe was linked to my pain and other symptoms. I shouldn’t have had to wait so long to get the help I needed, and I certainly shouldn’t have had to pay BUPA to get it!
I am still considering whether or not to take this complaint further.
I look forward to your reply,
Regards,
Helen Atherton
Really proud, that must have been difficult enough to put together without all the crap on top you go through anyway! Well done