roblatus

I have had an ongoing health problem for a couple of years and am currently seeing a consultant every 4-6 months. I don't want to go into specifics on here but i am at the end of my tether with the whole thing now and could do with some advice.

In the two years ihave been seeing this consultant i have been examined once only. I have also had one minor sugical investigative procedure done as a day surgery case.

I am currently on medication for the problem too.

Every time i go back i say that it is really getting me down now as sometimes it can affect my day to day life. But i seem to be getting nowhere with my Doctor, they say they could not see any thing out of the ordinary when i had the investigative surgery yet my symptoms are as bad as ever. They say that there is not a lot they can do for me and tell me to keep taking my medication and come back in 4 months.

Now having done my own reasearch on the net i have found othe investigative methods and possible treatments myself yet my Doctors just seem to dismiss this.

What i want to know is, is there anything i can do?? I don't want to get too stroppy with a doctor but i fear that is what it is going to take before someone takes notie of me.

How would i go about getting a second opinion from a different specialist???


Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

__________________
1998 Mazda Roadster 1.8 RS Spec. spending a lot of time sideways

Kandy

Could you pay for these other procedures/tests privately? If they show anything up, you can then go back to the NHS.

(Easy to say I know) But you need to get pushy these days to get past the bean counters. Try another doctor in the same practice?

Stay polite but play it up as much as you can, going to have to give up work, trapped in house, getting depressed, in constant pain etc.

How old are you? I've seen a lot of discrimination with people 55+, the attitude seems to be that if they can delay things long enough then hopefully you'll drop dead and save them the cash. It stinks. I think they bank on older people being more stoical and less likely to kick up a fuss.

I hope you get sorted out soon.

roblatus

I am 35

I have been back to my GP and he got me an earlier appointment back with the specialist but it was the same old story from him. Just told me there was not a lot he could do with the condition i have and to keep taking the medication and go back in December.

Like i said, i have searched the net for info on my problem and although there is no definate "fix" there are other tests/procedures that could be tried but not according to my consultant. I really get the impression that he thinks it is in my head.

The current tablets i am on can take several months to take effect so i do need to give them a try and that will take me to October, i am back in December with the consultant and if i am no better the wife is coming with me and going to plead my case with them too.

__________________
1998 Mazda Roadster 1.8 RS Spec. spending a lot of time sideways

Martin Keene

Demand a second opinion from another Doctor.

You pay for the NHS through taxes, you are entitled to make such requests.

roblatus

Who do i see to ask for this second opinion??? My current consultant or do i go to my GP and ask him???

__________________
1998 Mazda Roadster 1.8 RS Spec. spending a lot of time sideways

Kandy

I would hope you could ask your GP to refer you to a different consultant/hospital. If you can't get satisfaction from the NHS, if it were me and I could afford it, I would get a private consultation, at least you would be given an honest oppinion of all the possible options. http://www.carehealth.co.uk/

Chris GB

Hi

Dont know what your problem is but a private consultation would potentially cost anything from £80 to £500 depending on who you are seeing and for what. I had a worrying mole and a family history of Malignant Melanoma so paid £120 to see a private consultant. He advised that even a minor biopsy and pathology would cost well into 3 figures, so recommended I ask my GP to be referred to him on the NHS. He got me in quickly and have had good treatment and survielance since.

Good luck

Chris

__________________
Red Fabia vRS. Gone but not forgotten.

Chilli Red / white Mini Cooper Diesel with dual controls.

Silver 53 MR2. Mods: PPE 4>1 manifold | PPE Mangnaflow high flow cat | Blueflame catback exhaust | Pikey inlet mod | 3.0 Racing Chassis stiffening brace kit | BC Racing fully adjustable coilovers | TF loud. Details here My MR2 Page

gillywibble

If your GP is not willing to help, remember that you can demand to be seen by a different practice.

Ultimately, this is your health at stake and you must not take no for an answer.

__________________


I drink, therefore I spam.

gilesk

Get a second opinion. My mother suffered from black outs etc for 3 years and had the best medical care possible, she had 6 cat scans on on the sixth they found a brain tumour, go to as many doctors as you can afford.

__________________
who'd have thought it eh?

Mr Grumpy

I sympathise with your frustration and feeling of helplessness.
I have had 2 spinal ops. and go through phases of being perfectly ok to being in constant agony and on extremely strong painkillers and muscle relaxants.
All I am being told now is that it will either get worse ( no more ops. possible) or it may get slightly better with reduced mobility!
So I just grin and bear it
Demand a second opinion, because whilst you are suffering from this ailment, there might be something else wrong that is being disguised by your symptoms.

__________________
S50 VRS Number Plate for sale..ffs someone must want it....

cmcm789

I would agree with everyone who says go private. If your doctor has reffered you to a specialist consultant already, then it shouldn't be a problem for you to request to see a private consultant. It's the refferal that's the difficult part (from experience).

Also, doctors/ consultants when working for the NHS seem to try and fob you off, whereas the same consultants working privately will be much more willing to help

My dad was on a waiting list to see a consultant after being refered by his GP. The list for the consultation alone was 15months, then possible the same again for the operation if required (all on NHS)

He asked his GP to refer him to a private consultant (same consultant as on NHS). He was seen within a month, and has now been put on the waiting list for the operation through the NHS.

We are too polite, and always think that the professionals know best. This is not always the case. If you are in pain, then do all you can to sort it.

Best of luck

JD

__________________
Octy Elegance TDI (110bhp)

roblatus

Thanks for all of your replies

I need to see if my latest medication has any effect as it can take several months to start to work. However i will certainly be following the advice on here should i not get anywhere the next time i see my consultant, which is December.

I am really going to stress to him how my life is being affected and how it would appear that other possible treatments and or investigative options seem to be getting overlooked.

To be honest if the medication has no effect by the end of October i may ask my GP to refer me to someone else as by then i will have been on this medication for 4 months.

Sometimes when i am feeling especially bad i get so depressed its unbelievable. I really don't feel as if i am ever going to be back to normal again and that is what gets me the most.



Thanks again for all the advice, i will keep you posted

__________________
1998 Mazda Roadster 1.8 RS Spec. spending a lot of time sideways