are all GPs hopeless?

[Two_Sheds]

no offence, but ...
my OH has a chronic cough, which causes him to choke and splutter in a very dramatic (ie man-like) way. He went to GP who said it was prob a chest infection, so gave antibiotics (which did nothing)

went back today, saw a locum about the cough, who said "you've got asthma" what ???????? where did that diagnosis come from? he doesn't have any trouble breathing, just a cough.

he said blow in this tube, I bet you'll be less than 400. OH blew a reading of 750. Locum says "well, you haven't got asthma have you?"

OH again said it was prob his medication causing the cough, and locum starts typing on his PC (NHS Direct? !!). Says, "oh, it could be your medication, try a different kind".

If we hadn't already been on the Internet and found out a bit about side-effects of his medication, he would have received unnecessary treatment for a) a chest infection he didn't have or b) asthma that he doesn't have.


I've got a bee in my bonnet because I was told I didn't have the following illnesses when I did: glandular fever, cystitis and most worryingly, cancer (subsequent tests for each all proved positive).
I know GPs can't get it right all the time, but how about some of the time? How about having your own GP come to that, instead of seeing a different face every time you go to the surgery. I've nothing against foreign doctors if they can do the job, but I'd rather have a long-term relationship with a doctor who knows my history. What's happened to the family doctor?

[zebedee]

Very sorry to hear of your probs, Two Sheds, certainly hope all goes well with you. I do have to say, in some support of your argument, that our surgery is very good indeed, with a real family doctor approach. If you haven't got that, there really could be all sorts of problems and worries. I have much the same sort of argument about these call centres in other parts of the world. I am most definitely NOT a racist, but it is @#*^ annoying trying to talk to someone who can't understand you, or you them.

[OverWyreGrower]

GP? What's that?

If I want an medical appointment I'm offered ones with: a nurse practitioner, a health care specialist or a community nurse

To see a doctor means you're practically dying and even then, you're not guaranteed an appointment.

If I wanted an appointment with an actual doctor, I'd have to wait at least 10 days - and there are 8 doctors at my practice.

Actually, I see one of the doctors walking to work every day as he lives a few doors down... that's the most I've ever seen of one!

P.S. My sister was wrongly diagnosed when she had cancer - she was told various things for about 6 months - TB, asthma, pleurisy. Eventually my mum kicked up a storm, they did a couple of tests and found a tumour the size of a dinner plate in her chest, crushing one of her lungs.

Apparantly, they didn't think it would be cancer as she was only 19, so hadn't done any tests etc for it...

[mandyballantyne]

I know how you feel Two sheds, it is like they just don't care. Send you off with a prescription for what there fav pill is for that day! Having said that they can't be expert in every complaint and there must be soome good ones out there somewhere.

Sorry to hear about your problems, hope you recover soon, Mandy

[shirlthegirl43]

Hope your OH is better soon. Would suggest a chat with a pharmacist at your local chemists. If you can get it, Codeine linctus (not pholcodeine) is good for stopping a tickly cough but as it can be addictive not all chemists will give it out. I always have a bottle in for when I get a dose of the tickles as it is the only way I will sleep (I only take it at bedtime). I found this out when I had an irritating cough for 3 months and ended up in A&E as I tore the muscles in my ribs from coughing so much, they gave me painkillers with codeine in them and that stopped the coughing. Worth persisting with the doctor though as I had had chest x-rays etc and knew there was no obvious reason for my cough (which by the way vanished while I was taking the painkillers).

[Polly Fouracre]

I 'phoned for an appointment for the beloved,pains in chest,difficulty breathing etc on the 18th October,25th was the nearest appointment,I was told.
He may be better or dead then,said I.
If you think it may be life-threatening,said they we may be able to see him sooner.
When,said I.Tomorrow afternoon.said they.
He could still be dead by then,said I.
In that case-snittilly-take him to A and E.
He had a bad case of pleurisy which,thankfully has cleared up with antibiotics.

[Alison]

I'd agree with Shirl re the Codeine, helped me earlier in the year. My GP was very sympathetic when I went after about a month's worth of coughing (well she was a locum but I don't care as long as she listened etc) and gave me a good look over, listened to my lungs etc. She recommended the codeine and also to take zinc & echinachia (dodgy spelling I know) supplements as well as frequent steam intallations and plenty of liquids. Seemed to help for me.

[TonyF]

Move to France - the health care here IS the best in the world, my GP is just brilliant, the specialist I see for my various life-threatening conditions is excellent and I even get expenses paid for travelling to see him because it's over 50km each way!!!

[seasprout]

Patients or victims..?

It is my firm belief that my mum's Gp's total incompetence is the reason she is not here with me today. Wont say anymore as it results in a lot of upset and anger.

[jools]

Just wanted to say that a few years ago, I coughed for over a year. It was truly awful. It was like an itch at the back of my throat. It was pretty dreadful most of the time but as soon as I laid down at night, I couldn't stop coughing. I had a chest x-ray and they thought there was a shadow which indicated a heart defect (a bit of a shock as I had 6 month old twins at the time), so I was sent to a heart specialist, who said I was fine. He thought I has asthma. Then they sent me to another specialist. Know what it was in the end - irritable airway syndrome. In other words - nothing much. I had started with a cough, which irritated my airway, which made me cough, which irritated my airway...... They gave me an inhaler and it stopped. Whenever I get a cough now, I use the inhaler and it goes away. The consultant seemed to think it was really common. Perhaps worth raising with the GP??
Jools

[bubblewrap]

I have a gentic skin problem see below site. Many years ago a GP said was acne
http://www.nfinc.org/

[mandyballantyne]

It is my firm belief that my mum's Gp's total incompetence is the reason she is not here with me today. Wont say anymore as it results in a lot of upset and anger.

Seasprout,

You have my sincere condolances, I had the same experience with my mum.

The anger and dispair is still here 7 years on, Mandy

If you wnat to PM me

[NOG]

When you join the RAF you all start in one class.

The top boys become Fighter Poilets.
The not so good ones fly bombers
The average one fly tankers and transports
The poor ones become navigators
and the dross become Air Traffice control,

Now at medical school
The top boys become the brain surgens.
and the dross become GPs.

[lainey lou]

Coughing is a sign of asthma, it's not always wheezing as commonly thought.
I have found the best cough remedy is Actifed, the purple one, it never fails to work.
Sorry you've had trouble with your GP, I was spoilt for many years as a forces wife I was always able to be seen by a millitary MO same day as I requested an appointment, now I'm with a civvie surgery I'm sometimes told I have to wait for 2 weeks for an appointment, it's just crazy!

[Alison]

Yes, it is crazy, however, if you were a teenager choosing what career to take, would you chose to become a GP after reading these posts? The assumption that all GPs are rubbish is unfair, am sure some are and all will have bad days. Who in their right mind would choose to do something were the imediate assumption is that they are useless? By all means critise those who deserve it but don't tarnish everybody in the same manner.

By the way, this isn't meant as a dig at anybody in particular, just find it's all too easy to get "broad brush" about things when there are lots of people doing a good job also who don't deserve to be lumped in with the dross. Same goes for previous discussions about teachers, nurses etc.