Me "I want referral back to Rheummy", Doc "Not a chance"

prettypeach_2

thelastunicorn wrote: »

Codeine withdrawal and abuse causes diarrhoea and stomach pain; you're only meant to take codeine for a maximum of three days and for acute problems, not twenty of them a month, and your GP should know this.

You've self-diagnosed fibro, so - from all your internet research - you should know that all it means is "generalised pain with no known cause". You have also self-diagnosed hypermobility.

IBS, fibro and hypermobility are typical self-diagnoses achieved by people who spend FAR too much time on the internet obsessing over their health. Having aches and pains occasionally is normal. Having bowel pain when you are abusing an opiate is normal. Having bowel pain without the codeine abuse probably indicates that your diet is lacking.

Stop wasting GP's time and bullying them for referrals! They are bloody well overworked as it is, and you'll be the ones complaining when you go to hospital for something that's actually important and can't have more than two minutes with a specialist because they've got an appointment with a hypochondriac, referred by their GP so they'd stop having to see them every single week.

But when the specialist denies you have a condition, even THAT is not good enough; you're still convinced, and pursue more doctors, more specialists, and absorb more internet advice until you know the condition so well that you describe it convincingly enough to hoodwink a medical professional into giving you painkillers and letting you claim benefits for something you don't even have.

You should be getting some counselling or a hobby.

NO it doesn't!!

Trialia's here so (I haven't read all the thread yet) she might have put you straight in detail already.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that includes cognitive difficulties ('fibro fog') IBS, and sleep problems - at least three major symptoms to add to the generalised and specific muscle/tendon/bone problems.

You and the other poster who said that FM is basically a load of imagined rubbish but 'keeps the sufferers happy' don't have the first idea what you are talking about.

I have fibro and I frankly feel absolutely !!!! at the moment with the constant lower back ache, the exhaustion, the fog, the all-over stiffness and aching especially at the first sniff of cold weather, seizing up joints, the sporadic bouts of serious insomnia, other days the need to sleep most of the day and night etc., not to mention bouts of pretty bad IBS that pop up, etc. etc. (Yes, I know, tiny violins but that's what it can be like). I too have been taking codeine recently, because it can help with the aching and to get to sleep at night but I can see how you could get dependent on it and I don't want to, plus mine is OTC and with paracetomol so that's not good too much either. I'm taking it only when absolutely desparate and using lots of muscle rubs which sometimes help and sometimes don't. I actually found this thread because I wanted to vent to people who might know what I'm talking about, about the way I'm physically feeling with it all at the moment. Incidentally, as has already been said, codeine doesn't cause or exacerbate IBS.

It's NOT just ill-defined pains and aches and it's NOT psychological. It is a condition that rheumatologists generally recognise and take seriously and that is usually their domain specifically.

prettypeach_2

cally6008 wrote: »

In 2004, all my pains and problems started. I was literally walking one foot in front of another, very slowly and could not stand without leaning against something. (think old woman stooped over n shuffling along without moving her feet very far). I was like this for 3 years. Then I left my full time job, took some time out and my health slowly improved although not to the point of pre-2004 which was pain free and fully active.

Several doctors later ...

In August 2010, my doc told me I was having an irritable bowel syndrome flare up. This was after me having excruiating stomach pains within minutes of eating anything. I did not know what was wrong and only seen him after symptoms carried on for 10 days. I did not self diagnose myself.

In Sept 2009, my doc said I had fibro. He prescribed codeine. I am now on my 3rd lot of 100 since Sept 2009.

In Sept 2010, my doc now says he only thinks I may have fibro.

Anyways I dont have to explain myself to you

*roll eyes at highlighted in red*.

Cally, good luck with seeing a rheumy again, which you know you need to do. Maybe you'll get a different one this time.

I was lucky in that the one I saw some years ago diagnosed me straight away, I'd been sent to rheums as I had some sudden and severe arthritic symptoms - pain and severe swelling - and they said it was all on a fibromyalgic background after taking all my history.

Anyway, good luck.

Penny-Pincher!!

I have FMS along with a lot of other ailments and was told by my Rhumy (Prof at Kings) that GP's can not diagnose these type of illnesses as their not medically trained in that area as its specialised.

Like I said before, pay for a private Rhumy app and take it from there. At least if you pay, they will take you more seriously.

PP
xx

TOBRUK

Hi cally6008, if the rheumy specialist told you that if you got worse to come back, do you know whether he/she sent a letter to your GP stating this? - I ask because whenever I've seen a consultant they then send a report to the GP.

If your GP isn't prepared to refer you is there another within the practice you could see?

Also if you saw the consultant at hospital outpatients, have you got one of the letters for one of your appointments? If so, could you phone up and ask to speak to Mr ____ secretary, give your hospital ref no. and then tell him/her that the consultant had told you to contact him/her if you got worse. You may be able to make an appointment this way.

I would definitely try and see another GP.

prettypeach_2

Yes, good point Torbruk. Cally if you haven't seen the letter(s) the GP would have received, you are entitled to see it usually.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1309.aspx?categoryid=68&subcategoryid=160

It's good to know exactly conclusions have been reached and what exactly's been said. You can also find out things they have not told you directly already.

juno

prettypeach wrote: »

. I'm taking it only when absolutely desparate and using lots of muscle rubs which sometimes help and sometimes don't.

Have you tried Tiger Balm? I have arthritis which some people say is similar (I haven't researched it) and Tiger Balm is way better than normal heat rubs.

Its only downside is that it smells - kinda like a combination of tcp and olbas oil, but worse. And it can be expensive, although I got a pack of 2 teensy pots from the poundshop. It has lasted a while, though.

prettypeach_2

Ta Juno , I can't stand the smell of tiger balm because of the clove oil.

I use Bell's muscle rub which is only about a quid from Home Bargains (like a bright green Vicks in a red tube), that and a hot water bottle together sometimes help a lot.

Got both at the minute actually, couldn't cope without hot water bottles.

Keep wanting to do stuff and get a life but have been in current foggy, achey, knackered limbo for couple of weeks now.

adviceforall

I completely understand about needing a name for what is going on.. First I was told Fibromyalgia, then a bad flare up and told I had a positive Rheumatoid factor from a blood test so had RA now the rheumy is saying its not RA because its not following the normal pattern. I too have been told I have IBS and some hypermobility..I'm on loads of meds and patches for pain relief but I would like to know what it is I have as well, is that so unreasonable? I do get HRM at the moment. Also polyarthritis and inflammatory arthrtis have been mentioned, can you only have the one type or lots combined?.....its so confusing.

Good luck with getting to see the rheumy, if you know his name ring his secretary and ask for an appointment as that is what you were told to do

devildog

thelastunicorn/pwales
I appreciate that there are some people who will do as you suggest however that does not mean that the op is one of them.Some Gps are pretty backwards in referring and basically only know a little bit about everything but not too much about any of it. For over two years I requested a referral for my son only to be fobbed off with Gaviscon initially and then with "there is no problem" I spent many months on the internet researching sypmtoms and had to go back and say to the GP could it be this or that, the response was "No" however as I was actively researching the GP decided to take my concerns a little more seriously and order blood tests and based on the results a referral was made. Consultant immediately ordered more tests which resulted in a diagnosis and more importantly treatment!
Generally(but not always)the person(or those closest to them) knows when something isn't right and they need to get a diagnosis and treatment for it.

shays_mum

To Op hope you have got this sorted x
I know the feeling, despite being a confirmation of HEDS, Fibro etc, my gp somehow sent me to a hand surgeon instead of hand therapies & general cardiologist instead of a tilt table test,which they don't do. I am know after months of waiting/chasing am at the bottom of all of these lists again & god know when i will get a look in - i do know i now have poly something-osteoporosis in my hands *sigh*.
Believe me its a uphill struggle even when you got a confirmation & you really need to push your gp or change, as i am tempted to do .
Goodluck!