sometimes you just want to...

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Chloe_88
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sometimes you just want to...

Post by Chloe_88 »

sometimes you just want to... strangle your GP!

I have posted many health problems that I have been going through over the past few months.. Turns out I have a vitamin b12 deficiency, and most likely Pernicious anemia.

What is Pernicious Anaemia - Pernicious Anaemia Society

For 5 weeks I was getting a 2x a week injection of hydroxocobalamine (vitamin b12), the GP decided I could now only have 1 per month. Eventhough the instructions for use say: if a patient has neurological problems, they should continue 1-2x per week injections for 2 years.

The GP refuses. I just have to live with it.

I told her even 4 hours of work a day was now too much.. whilst during the time i was getting injections 2x per week, 4 hours of work seemed okay. Even my stomach problems seemed to be getting a bit easier.. I was eating more, less pain, less acid! I only took 1 antacid a day instead of 2!

She still refused.. Live with it!

After yelling at her, the only thing she will do is; give me a referral to a gastroenterologist. I should get the letter next week with an appointment.

I have cost the health insurance at least €2000,- because of unnecessary treatment, it has cost me (my own risk) 350 euro + a good 60 euro on other meds.. so over 400 euro's. They even told me to take antidepressants at one point! And all because the GP was too lazy to do a bloodtest in the beginning.

I have felt like some kind of lab rat for over a year now..

Some will say oh well it's only a vitamin.. Please look it up.. When you have a b12 deficiency, it can make your life hell..

I have trouble walking, in constant pain, stomach pain, dizzyness, memory loss, terrible case of aphasia, my hands and legs shake uncontrollably, I am extremely tired and even my hair is falling out etc. etc.. This is constant, and I am only 25.

I can't even remember the last time I went out with a friend or had a day of fun.. I'm just too tired..

Sometimes you just want to strangle your GP. She even laughed at me like it was funny that this is what I go through daily...

Sometimes health care is just one big joke!

There, i said it! :wah:

** Sorry for any spelling mistakes, words sometimes just don't seem to make any sense to me anymore..
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Oscar Namechange
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Post by Oscar Namechange »

I'm angry about this.

I know from the communication we have shared behind the scenes here that you have really suffered.

While I believe It Is unfair to expect GP's to get everything right first time, I agree, for a year, you have been treated like a lab rat.

If It were me, I would see If she was still laughing when I changed GP's.

I know the tiredness Is dibilitating. My husband Is like this all the time due to lack of oxygen Intake and gas exchange but then he's far older than you. For anyone to have suffered as you have In their mid 20's Is just not on.

All I can say now, Is that I hope things change very rapidly for you and you can get on with a normal life now. XXX
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Chloe_88
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Post by Chloe_88 »

oscar;1444593 wrote: I'm angry about this.

I know from the communication we have shared behind the scenes here that you have really suffered.

While I believe It Is unfair to expect GP's to get everything right first time, I agree, for a year, you have been treated like a lab rat.

If It were me, I would see If she was still laughing when I changed GP's.

I know the tiredness Is dibilitating. My husband Is like this all the time due to lack of oxygen Intake and gas exchange but then he's far older than you. For anyone to have suffered as you have In their mid 20's Is just not on.

All I can say now, Is that I hope things change very rapidly for you and you can get on with a normal life now. XXX


Thanks Oscar,

I Don't mind the GP not getting it right the first go, but she has no knowledge of B12 deficiency and refuses to read up on it. I know for a fact that the pharmacotherapeutic compass that dutch GP's use to look up drugs/treatment, says that patients with neurological problems need injections 1-2x per week for a long time (2 years).

She even refuses to get her handbook out. (well it used to be a handbook, it;s now only available online.)

My boss doesn't know what to do anymore, so in a last attempt he has begged the company doctor to fit me in asap. I'm going there tomorrow.

I am looking around for a different GP, but I need a good one, and I need one that will accept patients that want to change doctors. -> It's a bit like: you move to this town, you pick a GP, once you've done that, you MUST stick with that GP. If you don't like it, well then boo hoo, you cant change GP's.

But for now, wait and see what the company doc has to say tomorrow.

Now I will try and scrape myself of the sofa to do a bit of cleaning... Quite surprised no one has closed off the area due to a health hazard.. Bit embarrassed about the state my house is in.... uhum...

Then again, it took me about 2 hours to get to bed last night.. I was so tired, I couldn't gather the energy to get up, and walk up the stairs. That's why i sometimes end up sleeping on the sofa, but somehow that always gives me a pain in the neck! :wah:
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AnneBoleyn
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Post by AnneBoleyn »

Chloe: "I am looking around for a different GP, but I need a good one, and I need one that will accept patients that want to change doctors. -> It's a bit like: you move to this town, you pick a GP, once you've done that, you MUST stick with that GP. If you don't like it, well then boo hoo, you cant change GP's."

Is this a law, or are doctors sticking with this as a conspiracy to protect each other? Despite my complaints about the American system, which are really only financial, what you are describing does not happen here. I can change my doctor every 10 minutes if I want to & the only reason I haven't changed the one I have now is that no doctor has ever completely satisfied me so I'm sticking with this one. I agree with Oscar, try & change before your health suffers any further. You are a young woman & should feel energetic & young!
Chloe_88
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Post by Chloe_88 »

AnneBoleyn;1444608 wrote: Chloe: "I am looking around for a different GP, but I need a good one, and I need one that will accept patients that want to change doctors. -> It's a bit like: you move to this town, you pick a GP, once you've done that, you MUST stick with that GP. If you don't like it, well then boo hoo, you cant change GP's."

Is this a law, or are doctors sticking with this as a conspiracy to protect each other? Despite my complaints about the American system, which are really only financial, what you are describing does not happen here. I can change my doctor every 10 minutes if I want to & the only reason I haven't changed the one I have now is that no doctor has ever completely satisfied me so I'm sticking with this one. I agree with Oscar, try & change before your health suffers any further. You are a young woman & should feel energetic & young!


They throw it on: "we're all full up, no room for new patients".

I'm not sure they are actually aloud to do it though, well the way they are doing it now..

The rules state a gp can decline when:

You live to far away.

The GP has reached their max. amount of patients.

If you don't have the same idea's of care (like euthanasia).

But the GP's here haven't reached their max, because they will take on people that have just moved to town, they will not take patients in that want to swap GP.

So i'm not sure how they're getting away with it.. My health insurance phoned me and advised me to get the hell out of there. She couldn't believe their incompetence. But also said finding a new GP to take me on could be a bit of a battle.

They could only help further if i put in an official complaint. But like I told the lady on the phone, i will be doing that AFTER i change GP. Just to make sure i'm not completely without help, well help?! more so that i can still pick up my prescription meds (stomach meds).
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AnneBoleyn
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Post by AnneBoleyn »

Sounds to me that there is an actual conspiracy among physicians going on. They must be getting away with it because no official investigations have been instigated by patients or insurance. If you wait to have a new GP before complaining of the old GP, it seems you are afraid of retaliation. That's extortion, & that is not legal. It's like Blackmail. But maybe it's not illegal----maybe it is considered unethical but not illegal. Something similar happened to me here, but this is your thread.
Chloe_88
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Post by Chloe_88 »

AnneBoleyn;1444636 wrote: Sounds to me that there is an actual conspiracy among physicians going on. They must be getting away with it because no official investigations have been instigated by patients or insurance. If you wait to have a new GP before complaining of the old GP, it seems you are afraid of retaliation. That's extortion, & that is not legal. It's like Blackmail. But maybe it's not illegal----maybe it is considered unethical but not illegal. Something similar happened to me here, but this is your thread.


I'm afraid they'll cut me off so then i wouldn't be able to get my meds.

And i know that has happend to patients before ( at other gp's)

i'm hoping the company doc has something usefull to say tomorrow.

you got me wondering now, what happend to you Anne?
Bruv
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Post by Bruv »

I am an old duffer, and have had the best health for most of my life, and my recent poor health is a major frustration..........so I feel for you so much.

Is there no such thing as an Health Ombudsman or Heath Authority to sort such things out ?

Can you go directly to your local Hospital and bypass the your Doctor?

Could you involve local/national papers or TV, or get in touch with local Politicians for help?

Im sure it will be sorted out eventually, because the present situation defies logic, but that is not helpful now.

Keep on knocking on doors until you knock on the right one.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Chloe_88
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Post by Chloe_88 »

I'm not sure Bruv.

I was mostly focused on all the appointments that I had this week.

The letter for the gastroenterologist should arrive next week. So i'm hoping they can see me soon.

I must admit they are mistaken if they think they can stick a tube down my throat again, or worse up the .... other... end..

This, because I know what the cause of my problems is -> vitamin B12 deficiency. I just need the right amount of it.

I saw the company doc and the dietitian today.

Company doc: very impressed of my knowledge on b12 deficiency. Feels he needs to get himself tested because he struggles with the same symptoms. He agrees with me and he told me that GP's often have "deals" with eachother like: You don't take my patients, then I wont take yours.

dietitian agreed aswell. So last visit to her. Because I've never been good with lactose she still advised to keep an eye on that. But she is also convinced I need more, regular shots of B12. She knew quite a bit on b12 deficiency but she heard me out fist, then told me everything I just told her was correct!

So.. I have multiple people agree with me: company doc, dietitian, GP assistant (the one who gives me the injections!), family members who have seen me go downhill when not having injections for 4 weeks. Plus the dutch pernicious anemia society agrees with me.

So that was my very busy day today..
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AnneBoleyn
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Post by AnneBoleyn »

Chloe_88;1444643 wrote: I'm afraid they'll cut me off so then i wouldn't be able to get my meds.

And i know that has happend to patients before ( at other gp's)

i'm hoping the company doc has something usefull to say tomorrow.

you got me wondering now, what happend to you Anne?


I don't want to get into specifics, as they are personal details, but my insurance doesn't charge a co-pay to see a doctor. So, I had an appointment to see a doctor, not the one I currently have & try to get away from, 'cause like I think I said, everyone else is worse. Exactly as I was leaving home, my phone rang. I wish I didn't answer it, let the machine pick up, but I did. It was the doc's wife (who is also Practice Manager) telling me the Doctor Won't See Me Today Unless I Pay Him $100.00 US -- Cash Only. He said my Insurance was a "slow payer" & he wanted money upfront. He did not assure me that I would be repaid when my slow insurer pays him, so double for him, it seemed. I said I can't afford it, & I was just leaving & what if I had arrived without receiving the phone call & he said I would have been turned away (I am a diabetic cancer survivor amongst other chronic conditions, I was a effin mess, better now). I said "But I need new prescription Refills today, can you at least give me that? Then, I can find a doctor who will take my insurance. He said "I'll give you SIX DAYS ON EACH!!!!!! Sorry to shout at you Chloe! Then I lost it & said F you & hung up. Then I called New York State Medical Authority to see if this was legal, at the last minute & all. I was told "Unfortunately, although Highly UNethical, it is Legal"

A few minutes later, while listening to the News I was informed that the Madoff clients who lost Big were informed that very morning & it seems many of the suckers were Doctors! So, I jumped to the Conclusion he was one of them & that he panicked. A few days later I asked a friend to call for a new appointment, & it seems he resumed taking my slow insurance.

Luckily, I had my doctor, my Russian, to go back to. I tried to leave her a few times, still wish I found someone new, but.............

Oh, and every year, yes every year, he is named one of New York City's Top Doctors in New York Magazine, a respected publication. Other doctors are the ones who choose the list.

That's about it.
Chloe_88
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Post by Chloe_88 »

AnneBoleyn;1444730 wrote: I don't want to get into specifics, as they are personal details, but my insurance doesn't charge a co-pay to see a doctor. So, I had an appointment to see a doctor, not the one I currently have & try to get away from, 'cause like I think I said, everyone else is worse. Exactly as I was leaving home, my phone rang. I wish I didn't answer it, let the machine pick up, but I did. It was the doc's wife (who is also Practice Manager) telling me the Doctor Won't See Me Today Unless I Pay Him $100.00 US -- Cash Only. He said my Insurance was a "slow payer" & he wanted money upfront. He did not assure me that I would be repaid when my slow insurer pays him, so double for him, it seemed. I said I can't afford it, & I was just leaving & what if I had arrived without receiving the phone call & he said I would have been turned away (I am a diabetic cancer survivor amongst other chronic conditions, I was a effin mess, better now). I said "But I need new prescription Refills today, can you at least give me that? Then, I can find a doctor who will take my insurance. He said "I'll give you SIX DAYS ON EACH!!!!!! Sorry to shout at you Chloe! Then I lost it & said F you & hung up. Then I called New York State Medical Authority to see if this was legal, at the last minute & all. I was told "Unfortunately, although Highly UNethical, it is Legal"

A few minutes later, while listening to the News I was informed that the Madoff clients who lost Big were informed that very morning & it seems many of the suckers were Doctors! So, I jumped to the Conclusion he was one of them & that he panicked. A few days later I asked a friend to call for a new appointment, & it seems he resumed taking my slow insurance.

Luckily, I had my doctor, my Russian, to go back to. I tried to leave her a few times, still wish I found someone new, but.............

Oh, and every year, yes every year, he is named one of New York City's Top Doctors in New York Magazine, a respected publication. Other doctors are the ones who choose the list.

That's about it.


Oh my god.. how can behaviour like that be legal?!?!

I don't see how you can have the technology to help or even save someone, but then decline because of money.

People don't care about people, they just care about money!
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Oscar Namechange
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Post by Oscar Namechange »

Bruv... Anyone In the UK has the right to change GP.

Citizens Advice - Can I change my doctor?

In most cases, the NHS will even find an alternative Doctor for you without question. Patients Charter and all that stuff.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Bruv
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Post by Bruv »

oscar;1444812 wrote: Bruv... Anyone In the UK has the right to change GP.

Citizens Advice - Can I change my doctor?

In most cases, the NHS will even find an alternative Doctor for you without question. Patients Charter and all that stuff.
If only it were the same with NHS dentists
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Chloe_88
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Post by Chloe_88 »

Got a letter this morning with an appointment at the hospital with a gastroenterology and hepatology specialist (hope i translated that correctly :wah: ).

Appointment is for next week, the 27th.

Fingers crossed.
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AnneBoleyn
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Post by AnneBoleyn »

Good luck sweet Chloe!
Chloe_88
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Post by Chloe_88 »

AnneBoleyn;1445298 wrote: Good luck sweet Chloe!


thanks Anne! :)
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Post by G#Gill »

Chloe_88;1445292 wrote: Got a letter this morning with an appointment at the hospital with a gastroenterology and hepatology specialist (hope i translated that correctly :wah: ).

Appointment is for next week, the 27th.

Fingers crossed.


I've just read this thread. Gawd, it reads like some sort of horror story !

All the best to you Chloe for next week. I just hope things turn out to benefit you. All my digits are crossed (and my eyes !)......... ;) :-6
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Chloe_88
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Post by Chloe_88 »

G#Gill;1445314 wrote: I've just read this thread. Gawd, it reads like some sort of horror story !

All the best to you Chloe for next week. I just hope things turn out to benefit you. All my digits are crossed (and my eyes !)......... ;) :-6


It hasn't been fun! but thanks Gill! :)
Chloe_88
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Post by Chloe_88 »

Oh god.. the horror doesn't end does it?

I'm in a s.hit mood right now.. Went to the hospital today, I have to do a home test for Crohns disease. If anything positive comes out of that then... how do I say this? do I want to say it on the net? Well lets just say, they want to do more testing.. testing that I wouldn't even wish upon my worst enemy.

Even though I have no problems with my bowels! I have dont have any other symptoms in that area, except acid reflux. And the doc said it's more likely of it being a weak esophageal sphincter, but well we just want to be sure.. Yeah right. * just to add in there.. I ain't having any of it!

I only wanted to know what the b12 deficiency is caused by. Reason: -> When I have weekly injections of B12 my stomach is so much better!

What is the obsession with doctors and people's starfish?!?!
xatwn
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Post by xatwn »

I enjoyed reading the topic
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High Threshold
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Post by High Threshold »

Chloe_88;1444570 wrote: sometimes you just want to... strangle your GP!


Often!

AnneBoleyn;1444636 wrote: Sounds to me that there is an actual conspiracy among physicians going on.


I've also given this some consideration. But I actually think it's a matter of cutting corners, saving/making money, and an unwillingness of many doctors to ask the opinion of senior doctors, ie. incompetence.
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FourPart
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Post by FourPart »

I have full confidence in my G.P.s, although having said that, it was the newest G.P. to the practice that got the hospital consultancies asses into gear after they had been putting things off over & over again. She said she'd chase them up & sure enough, a few days later, all in one post, there came 3 separate Book & Choose letters through the door to make suitable appointment dates & times.
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