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No help or support from GP

Posted , 6 users are following.

wendy.a
wendy.a

I was diagnosed about two and a half years ago with PCOS at the age of 37, after suffering symptoms for many years. When I was diagnosed I asked the doctor, what route could be taken to help me with my symptoms, which is when she asked me if I wanted to have any more children. Being in an unstable relationship and lucky enough to already have 2 children already, I explained to the GP that it was not something I wanted. I was then informed that because I didnt want any more children, then there was nothing they could do to help me. The only advice I was given was to lose weight, which is something I have been struggling to do for the past 15 years!! Every possible slimming group, diet fad, even using orlistat, has been tried with no success. I resorted to the Cambridge Wieght Plan, which was successful, however being a single mother working part time, it did come at a price of £40 per week. Over the following 3 months I managed to lose 3 stone and also managed to maintain for a few months after finishing the weight plan. After finding my confidence again I started a new relationship, so once more visited the GP for contraception. After a few months I noticed the weight creeping back, even though I stuck to a healthy eating plan and exercised regularly. Yesterday I decided that I could not let myself get back in the rut of weight gain, as it was starting to affect my relationship, so I visited the GP, to ask if I would be a suitable candidate for metformin use (as I have read a lot of articles on the use of metformin with PCOS). During the consultation, I became very upset, however the GP was very unsympathetic towards my condition and when I explained that I have tried so many different things which have failed, her reply was 'you seem to have an answer for everything' she then proceeded to tell me that as I have no plans for any more children, then basically I am not entitled to any help. I left the surgery feeling as though I have been brushed aside by the NHS as I am not of acceptable child bearing age and I dont 'really need help' I just need to lose weight!!! If you have not experienced the symptoms of PCOS then I think that you do not fully understand the impact it has on a womans life. I feel let down by the surgery and I am contemplating moving to another, I was wondering if anyone else has had the same response from GP and what they did about it???

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • coggy
    coggy

    Posted

    Hello , as a practice nurse working in gp land and also a PCOS sufferer, I think your best option is to move to antoher surgery and get some support that you are entitled too! Your Gp sounds rediculously unsympathetic ! Your weight problem will be because of the PCOS and radical diets are not advised because the weight will come back on and you will be back in same boat. Have you tried accupuncture? I know its expensive but probably more good than paying out for diets. It worked for me and although I still have condition, I was able to get pregnant and a lot of my symptoms have reduced. I would def change GP's though and pref to a female ! you might get some reassurance that you deserve then . I wish u well x
  • coggy
    coggy

    Posted

    Hello , as a practice nurse working in gp land and also a PCOS sufferer, I think your best option is to move to antoher surgery and get some support that you are entitled too! Your Gp sounds rediculously unsympathetic ! Your weight problem will be because of the PCOS and radical diets are not advised because the weight will come back on and you will be back in same boat. Have you tried accupuncture? I know its expensive but probably more good than paying out for diets. It worked for me and although I still have condition, I was able to get pregnant and a lot of my symptoms have reduced. I would def change GP's though and pref to a female ! you might get some reassurance that you deserve then . I wish u well x
  • Piglet2007
    Piglet2007

    Posted

    Hi, I came off the pill in the October before my 30th birthday in the November (2010) as me and my husband were ready to start a family. from comming off the pill my cycles were pretty regular for about 4 months, although a bit longer than a normal woman, then after then cycles were fewer and further between so I went to my doctors, after several blood tests for hormones, infections etc I was refered to what I thought would be someone who could help in a town which was a 40 min drive, but didn't mind as I thought it would be worth it to be treated. I have been back and forth to this hospital, initially diagnosed with PCOS, I was advised to start taking metaformin due to glucose resistance (I think) and advised to put on weight as my bmi was like 2 under the 'normal' bracket, which was nothing really. so I started eating more, and with the metaformin highdose this made me very ill, untill I explained my symptoms to the dr and she advised me to stop taking them, I also had more hormone blood tests and a ultrasound. Since then I have gained half a stone and 1 dress size larger round the waist. when I went back they didn't even weigh me again ( as previously she said that I couldn't be prescribed hormone tablets as I was not of a healthly 'child bearing weight') My husband and I realised that the doctor that I was seeing was not even a doctor, just the PA, as everytime we asked a 'difficult' question she had to go out of the room to answer it! I was refered to have a HSG, at another hospital an hour away, which I had this week and revealled everything was normal. I really hope I get some help when I go back in a few weeks as me and my husband are getting fed up with the lack of treatment, and having to travel this far, when there is a bigger and presumably better hospital in our own town! I also have in the back of my mind that it took my mum 10 years to concieve, and she had regular cycles. Anyone able to help me, or have had similiar experiences?
  • coggy
    coggy

    Posted

    Hi Piglet

    Are u in the UK? If you are , ask to be referred to specialist. How did they diagnose PCOS? What is HSG? have u tried acupuncture? it worked for my infertility!

  • Piglet2007
    Piglet2007

    Posted

    Hi coggy, yes I'm in the UK. I believe that I will be referred to a specialist after my results of hsg in a few weeks. Hsg (hysterosalpingogram x-ray exam of uterus and fallopian tubes. Not nice at all). I was diagnosed as pcos following blood tests and high testosterone levels and something to do with my glucose resistance. I haven't tried acupuncture yet, not really a fan of needles, though if it works it would be worth it.
  • coggy
    coggy

    Posted

    Hi Piglet, I not a great fan of needles either but acupuncture needles u dont really feel - honest!! Yes I had a hystersalpinogram too , but its was ok. Sounds like you are in the system so thats good. I must admit Id still suggest trying acupuncture though - after 6 unsuccessfulful IVF cycles I got pregnant !!! Hope its successful x
  • Piglet2007
    Piglet2007

    Posted

    Thanks coggy, I might give acupuncture a go. 6 IVF's until you got pregnant, any tips for staying positive ?
  • felttip86
    felttip86

    Posted

    I am 25 and have also had a bad experience of support from the GP! My doctor told me over the phone that I had PCOS! I found out I had it from coming off the pill and not having a period for 1 year. I had a regular period before that. I have always had heavy painful periods and have to take pain killers due to the back pain. I have bad hair growth on my chin sad and other places. So horrible. It is a horrible thing to have and I agree quite impossible to lose weight without wearing yourself out! I exercise a lot and eat healthily and I never lose weight, bar a few pounds and then it goes on again sad Very frustrating. I am hoping to have children in the next few years, will trust in God then if it is right I will be able to.

    I got really down about the hair growth on my chin area and went to the Gp. They offered me no help after dianette didnt help except to go and have more laser treatment at my own cost. I have had laser before and it came back just as bad as before. Has anyone else had laser and it come back the same? I am currently having it again as couldnt manage it anymore and it seems to still be coming back.

  • Piglet2007
    Piglet2007

    Posted

    Hi Felttip86,

    I'm not sure about the hair growth thing and laser treatments, l just wax and bleach my facial hair. I have heard on embarassing bodies tv programme that laser treatment only works after a course of the recommended number of treatments, but I guess its down to each individual.

    Sorry I can not be of more help.

    Since my last post I am slowly getting somewhere - I have been refered to the fertility clinc in my town (rather than a basic outpaitinets clinc an hours drive away!!) Just gotta wait for my appointment letter to come through.

    From my experience you just gotta keep communicating with the clinic / gp surgery and reception staff till you annoy them and they actually do something about it or refer you elsewhere. Be persistant.

    Hope it gets better soon.

  • fiftiesgirl
    fiftiesgirl

    Posted

    Hi ladies..... just want to encourage you all and say that my daughter has PCOS and was diagnosed at the age of 18.... has been on Metformin since then..... we did not expect her to have babies but she has had two within 19 months of each other and was helped by taking Clomaphine? Clomid?..... started taking it when she was 30. baby two came very quickly although I had warned her to take care!!! ...... she had no periods since she was 21 and prior to that bled for weeks on end before her consultant intervened.... so there is light at the end of the tunnel..... stay strong all of you xx
  • felttip86
    felttip86

    Posted

    Thanks for the encouragement and advice. smile

  • Amy84
    Amy84

    Posted

    Fifties girl, how long was your daughter taking Chlomid for before she fell pregnant? I'm hopefully about to be prescribed that in my appointment at the fertility clinic in a couple of weeks :s finding it hard to stay positive that's all sad also did she suffer with any side effects from taking it? X
  • fiftiesgirl
    fiftiesgirl

    Posted

    Hello Amy84........she was on Clomid for eight months before becoming pregnant with our grandaughter. With our grandson she did not take it at all and became pregnant 'naturally' because fertility is usually greater after having had a baby smile There is only 20 months between them.
  • lulu82
    lulu82

    Posted

    Hi Wendy.A

    I am going through the same thing with my doctors at the moment. I even changed my doctors surgery and I'm still having no help. I've got 4 kids and my husband has had a vasectomy so deffinately not wanting anymore kids. Due to this though no one seems to care because I'm not wanting help with concieving . I was diagnosed with PCOS about 4 1/2 years ago when my youngest was 6 months. I've only ever had a blood test and not been sent for a pelvic scan or even had an insulin resisitance test done. I am getting really disheartened and depressed with it all. My older sister who also has PCOS has had soo much help and support, has been referred to a dietician and has recently been on chlomid and just found out she is expecting.

    It is really frustrating for me evn though I'm thrilled for her as she has been trying for a baby for a few years and her daughter is 9, but it just makes me even more frustrated that unless you want to have a baby then you just get told your overweight and need to loose the weight and the symptoms should decrease and become manageable. Why don't they realise how much it hurts when they say these things?

    If I could loose the weight I would but because of the PCOS it wont budge. I'm going to see a female doctor and see if she can be a tad more helpful as the male doctors are just heartless.

    Good luck ladies and it's nice to know that I'm not on my own in this. xx

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