Need help

Ask for a full medical if you are in the UK you may have to pay for it if you are under 40

Have you considered or looked into onlinetherapy?

Just because you have a mental illness, it does not mean, in any way, that you do not have a physical illness.  I am mentally ill and have had lifelong illnesses as well as, when I got older, auto immune illnesses, migraines and cluster headaches.  I was just dx'd with a blood clot in my right lung but had been misdiagnosed for 15 months because of my mental status.  I am a college grad, mentally very sharp (unless I am hallucinating, disassociating, or psychotic!) have learned to be my best advocate but it took practice, lots of maltreatment by docs and in the end, learning to fire those docs that don't listen, are abusive, intolerant or dismissive.  They work for you, not the other way around.  I also have my husband of 29 years that goes into each doc appt I have.  That alone minimizes bad treatment.  He also knows things about me when I may not have a clue or don't remember.  If I dissociate in a docs office, it means that the doc did something to trigger it by being a jerk or dismissing me, etc.  I ONLY have a mental reaction when I am triggered and if a doc does that, they need to be fired and replaced.  Something that can help you is to keep a journal of your symptoms, both physically and mentally.  When you go to a certain doc, write down your relevant symptoms for that doc the week before you go in.  Take your list out in front of the doc and have them address every single item you have on said list.  I believe that it is not always in your best interest to tell an doc that you have mental issues unless it is related to your symptoms.  There is a huge bias when mental illness is mentioned and you are way more likely to get a (wrong) diagnosis such as "stress, anxiety, etc"., once they discover a mental issue.  At 61,  I only bring it up to my shrink but I always have someone with me at other doc apps. Just in case I can't take care of myself, which rarely happens.  Folks don't realize that we, as patients, have a right to hire and fire both docs and dentists and find others who will treat us better, more humane and with dignity.  It is a real confidence booster for the patient to use the tools nobody ever tells us we have!  Research all your symptoms.  You may or may not find the problem but when a doc knows you do research, they are less likely to ignore you and give you the consideration and medical treatment necessary to help you.  Do not accept a statement such as, " I'm guessing that..." Ever.  Anyone can guess and we should never pay for guesses unless it is followed up by tests to find the true problem.  You could have stayed at home and guessed what was wrong for free and with the same results if they choose to not look further after their guess.  And on taking prescriptions blindly...make the doc write a prescription, go home and research it for the side effects, how it interacts with other drugs, supplements, and food you eat and then decide if YOU think it is worth taking, perhaps making you feel sicker or even causing death.  Not all drugs are bad but any one can do catastrophic damage if you are not very aware of side effects that could happen.  Get all your lab reports, hospital results, etc., and keep them to compare with past and future results.  This is being an advocate for yourself without having to be forceful if you are very shy.  I am shy but if I have a complaint about a doc or even his staff, it is very empowering to stand in your own knowing that you deserve better than you are getting and say something.  Be nice about it ( I am always very nice when I fire a doc one dentist...) and be sure to five them your reasons for your decision.  It could help another patient down the line and we all need each other to be stronger and more adept at being an advocate.  The days of "yes, doc, whatever you say" is over.  They are not gods and you are not less than they are.  Keep us posted on how you are doing.

I'm aware that I've stated I have mental health issues but I am physically ill too. It's not in my head lynne it's not a malfunction of my brain and I am not imagining pain .

My gp is sending me for a gallbladder scan. Failing that shows anything the next step is to check endometriosis as 're pain is glaring up every time I'm on my period it's just all over the place and hard to define where it's coming from.

After writing this post I rang and spoke to my gp and it seemed to work better over the phone than face to face.

Thank you 3KMRC for your reply

These stories break my heart. There are others similiar if you go way back in this forum. What terrible gatekeeping occurs. Im finding the UK a scary place to ever want to live. In in the USA and even the strictest insurance allows people to go to a gyn if they have woman issues.thats not even a gp specialty. Gp arent even specialist at all. I hooe you find it in you to find your voice. I really do. Explain to the GP theres no trade offs  dont get perfect health just because you have any form of mental illness, anxiety. It doesnt work like that at all. Shame on her. Shame! You deserve full exams and referrals to get the prudent care you are entitiled too. Her opinion on your health status is disgusting. Unless she comes with xray vision and has graduated medical school with numerous soecialities under her bely she should stoo being so cold and uncompassionate and profiling you. Something must change in your healthcare sysytem. Here too it has all become some form of buisness with little regard to the patients. Opposite of any reason one would enter the medical field to begin with. Find your voice! I know its hard and scary but you need you. Feel better and wishing you all the strength you need to get through this.God bless.

I am not in any way saying "its in your head"

I have had depression for 17 years all off a sudden in December I started feeling ill I thought I was having a heart attack or stroke I took myself to a and e twice as I live alone and I was terrified

Over the next few months I got more symptoms had to resign from work because I could not leave the house or function,eventually the doctor did tests  I had bloods ecg ct scan and endoscope. All came back clear it was anxiety I did not believe them had many a run in with my gp she kept telling me anxiety/depression are a package, my argument was but Ive gone 16 years and never had any anxiety and I was hospitalised 3 times with depression.

Anyway long and short of it I know now it is anxiety and trying to cope with it.

If you look back the thread I did say get a full medical but you decided to only focus on certain things

Good Luck

essexgirl...

Everyone has a right to see a GP and to be taken seriously. If you are not happy you can do a few things by a) raising an issue with the surgery and b) asking for a second opinion.

The process in the UK for things like this is very simple and you will be surprised how quick it will be actioned. Never feel you are being ignored or being looked over.

Of course - I dont know your history or issue - but at the very minimum get a full medical done

Any luck and on finding professional help yet?

Waiting on a reply from pals and waiting for my scan date too