How do I Aproach my Doctor for a note.

casterweb

Hi All,

I’ve been suffering from depression for the last 9 months, ever since the break up of a relationship, being made redundant, and nearly losing my home all in a very short space of time.

My doctor (who is a very unsympathetic sort) reluctantly prescribed a low dose anti-depressant. I gave it a couple of months but the medication had little effect.

So I went back to him and he agreed to up the dosage from 15mg to 30mg and this did seem to help but I’m still nowhere near feeling well.

During this time I signed on and received JSA, although I feel that at present, I couldn’t hold down a job even if I was offered one because I’m still getting panic attacks and suffer from extreme anxiety. Some days I’m a nervous wreck.

I’ve thought about applying for the ‘Employment and Support Allowance’ not for the extra money but because it’s the ‘right’ benefit for me at this time.

I’ve looked at the ESA form and it says I need to supply regular doctor’s notes throughout the assessment period. For many people that isn’t a problem but for me it is.

My doctor seems to take a hard line approach when it comes to sick notes. Back in the days when I was working I once asked him for a sick note when I was off work for week with the flu and it almost developed into a full blown argument. In the end I got one. In the ten years of being registered with this doctor it was the only time I had ever asked for a sick note. A couple of people I know have had similar problems trying to get sick notes. It appears some doctors dish them out by confetti but others, like mine, take a more ‘hard line’ approach.

Qu: I want to apply for ESA but I’m very apprehensive about asking him for a sick note. My confidence is shot to pieces as it is.

Has anyone any idea on how they would tackle this problem with a doctor that takes a ‘Hard Line’ when asked for a sick note? How would they approach it?

ATM It’s stopping me from applying!

PS Changing my doctor isn’t an option, I live in a rural area and he’s the only one I can get too.

dmg24

There is no easy way around this, you need to just ask the question.

You should be aware that after thirteen weeks the DWP will assess your condition, and given your symptoms, yours would be a borderline case and the whole medical process can be very stressful. Therefore I would seriously consider whether it would be easier to stay on JSA.

dane-katie

Can you not see a different doctor with in the practice? if i was you i would keep going back making sure they listen, i kept having to do this, i wrote down how i felt as i am not a good talker and just cry. It made my doctor sit up and listen.

Good luck!

nogginthenog

could you not move to another practice.Ask your friends if they could recommend someone!

itsnotfair_2

Is there another doctor at your practice you can see? If not you have a right to change practices and see another doctor.
Ask your friends who their docs are and try and find a sympathetic one first.

healy

The OP has said that changing their Doctor is not an option.

casterweb

Thanks for all the responces. Much appreciated.

dmg24 wrote: »

There is no easy way around this, you need to just ask the question..

I suppose I'm just going to have to go and see him. He's very unaproachable and aloof. Old school type GP due for retirement, the 'just get on with it' type. The state of mind I'm in, I hope I just don't lose it with him. I'm not agressive person at all, but can blow up because I bottle things up. Which will do me no favours at all.

dmg24 wrote: »

You should be aware that after thirteen weeks the DWP will assess your condition, and given your symptoms, yours would be a borderline case and the whole medical process can be very stressful. Therefore I would seriously consider whether it would be easier to stay on JSA.

I have thought about staying on JSA long and hard beleive me. But in my mind I know I'm not capable of work at the moment.

I think I'm claiming JSA in the false hope that I will get a job and it will kick start me out of depression. But in reality, until I get my head sorted out the chances of getting a job are next to nil. The jobcentre staff keep pressurising me to apply for jobs and go for interviews when half the time I don't leave the house for days on end because I don't want to meet anyone let alone sit in a room being interviewed. Living alone this means I don't get to speak to anyone at all. This increases my anxiety no end. I have no support network whatsoever eg family or friends

exitroute?

How old are you and are you male or female please? It sounds to me like you need conselling and if your GP wont help or you are reluctant to ask him, you need to get help elsewhere. You must have transport of your own or public transport at least so why cant you change your GP? How long until he retires and is he the sole GP at the surgery?

jen_br

Hi Whereabouts in the country are you.. you can look up your PCT and find the mental health team in the area, and you can refer yourself to health services and they can write you a note.

sp1987

You really need to ensure you see a doctor you are comfortable with, especially for MH problems as you cannot just point to it like a limp. If you cannot, could you write exactly how you feel down in a letter, make an appointment and hand the letter over for him to read? Maybe because you are uncomfortable with him you struggle to talk to him so he cannot see how serious a problem it is for you? I once had a very unhelpful doctor when I had depression at approx 14 years of age (she told me it was hormonal and refused to refer me for any help, which made the problem 10x worse as then I declined any opportunity to talk to anybody! I cannot describe the words I would use if I met the useless woman now, 8 years later!). If this one really won't help you, you will need to source help elsewhere. You sound like you are getting no better through medication alone so you need to be referred to people who may be able to help e.g. CBT providers etc. Some people need to talk, some people need medication, some people need both. You cannot get any better whilst even the doctor is causing further stress.

Contact mind for some impartial help and support all round:

http://www.mind.org.uk/

Best of luck

Ruby_Moon

It may not do any good changing docs anyway as they have all been told to go easy on the amount of sick notes that are written anyway.