Help with GP and getting further treatment

Hi there,

I've been experiencing an increase in health problems in the last month or two and was hoping for some advice on how to handle my local GP.

I previously had substance abuse problems and in December decided to give up both drinking and smoking cannabis, a part of what influenced this decision was the exacerbating effects it had on my health.

I have been having trouble primarily with my head. I have in previous years been diagnosed with Sinusitis/Rhinitis and at one point had a corrective surgery that didn't take or improve my symptoms. For the last month and a half I have been seriously concerned about my head, I get pressure pains, tension and feelings of tightness. Throughout the last month or two I have been to my local surgery around 4 times to see if I can get to the bottom of what has been causing this but I haven't had much luck or help. I was given a nasal spray a month ago which has now been upgraded to a stronger one, fluticasone furoate, and after my most recent doctors appointment given blood pressure tablets. Every time I go to my Doctor I get different answers as to what the problem could be or the problems I present are ignored in place for something else. At the appointment prior to my last one I was informed a large lump on the back of my head I was concerned about was benign fatty tissue, 14cm in size, at my most recent appointment two weeks later the doctor has changed his mind and told me it is just a natural part of my head. I asked if it is normal for the shape of the head to change over the years he said it was not. Despite this being the area I experience the majority of my problems he does not want to recommend me to a specialist as he does not currently deem it necessary.

In addition to the back of my head I get an occasional feeling of tightness in my left and right temple, the bone/area on the left and right side of my temple feel enlarged/swollen and have increased in size over the years with the left one being particularly noticeable, when mentioned to a different doctors years ago he said he couldn't feel anything there which is frustrating as living in my body everyday I feel I can safely say I have noticed these changes. On the two occasions I have had a social drink with friends I have been floored for a day or two with dizziness and fluid discharge from my nose despite not having a large amount to drink. I don't know if it is related but I also get pins and needles in various parts of my body when I lie my side, primarily my left and right hand, I also experience occasional irritation in the back of my shoulders and armpits.

I also believe I have fluid behind my ears but every time the doctor looks at my ear externally they deem they look fine, currently I can only sleep on one side of my head as if I sleep on the other it causes my ear to be blocked.

I understand this is perhaps not a place to seek answers to these things but I feel like I am not being taken seriously by my GP and I am nearing my limit mentally. Every day I feel like a ghost wandering through each day until the next appointment grows closer, only leading to greater disappointment. I have been advised to take my new medication for blood pressure for two weeks to see if there's any improvement and then call my doctor to let them know, which I imagine will lead to another week or two wait for an additional in person appointment. All I want is for to be taken seriously and recommended to a specialist/neurologist as has been teased on a couple of occasions but never followed through with. I am doing my best to move on with my life and live healthily but I'm struggling to feel positive about my future whilst this is still happening.

In essence my doctor has given me a nasal spray, blood pressure tablets and told me to lose weight and I have been told I worry too much and that my mental health could be a cause of my symptoms. I am overweight but have been losing weight steadily however cannot commit to the gym as it worsens my symptoms and makes the back of my head feel worse.

If anyone could offer me advice on how to be taken seriously by my GP or anything I can do to get the treatment I'm seeking it would be greatly appreciated, ultimately I would like to be seen by a specialist, see if there's any fluid trapped behind my ears that could be drained or get given a course of medication that could perhaps improve my condition. I am concerned about the size and nature of the lump on my head and adverse symptoms and feel I shouldn't have to beg to be recommended to a specialist but I am at the end of my rope and can't face going another two months feeling like this without any hope of my life returning to normal.

Thank you to anyone that has taken the time to read this, I'm posting here as a last resort to hopefully find some help or assistance as when living with symptoms like this it can be hard not to imagine worst case scenarios when no concrete answers are being presented.

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