What's the point. Appointment waste of time

cagneyfan

Hi all,

I feel like going home, go to bed and never wake up.

Had my Rheumatology appointment today. Was panicking for weeks about it. I can't describe pain, get flustered, haven't been to doctors in years and was hoping this could be the start of getting something done.

I wrote a list in chronilogical order of symptoms etc. he simply took it, put it in his folder and then ran through the appointment like he was in a hurry for his bus. I feel like screaming! Everyone's looking at me as I've been in tears from the hospital, on the bus and back into town.

He never referred to my notes, never asked me any questions of any length. I never got the chance to say what I considered to be causing me the most pain etc etc. The examination was a waste of time. He never once asked me to say what the worst problems were and how they affected me. He never referred to the fatigue/tiredness I have. The only time I ever got any mention of anything relevant was when I chipped in. What's the point. What the hell's the point?! I ended up getting x rays on my hands, feet and neck. But he never paid much attention to any of them. He never asked about my thumb/wrist pain (constant and excrutiating). I only got the foot x ray as I mentioned as I was practically on my way out like I feel I've jumped off a roof and landed on concrete. One of the worst pains is my hips - this is one of the main things that stops me sleeping. I only managed to get that in because I interjected during a pause. Yet they weren't x rayed. I spoke to the nurse afterwards who was as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Seemed embarrased to go and speak to the specialist. I ended up saying that I was unsure what to do as I didn't want to appear a nuisance and she just stood there - gormless, never uttered a word. This made me feel more awkward so I just left. By this time I was really upset as all I could think about was 'this is the hospital my mam passed away in' - and also that I was no further forward. I feel like comitting piggin suicide. There's is absolutely no point. You wait ages to see people, take a list (not referred to), try and get your point over and still nothing gets done.

I was panicking about having to describe pain as I can't do it. I can never find the right words. He never once asked me anything anyway. He never even looked at my notes about this fatigue. Lets face it, anyone can say they have fatigue etc. He never questioned me about it. He never even looked at the notes. I feel like screaming. He muttered something about 'probably best for the pain clinic to deal with'. I don't want to be bloody doped up to eyeballs with pain killers. At least not before I have the possibility of some kind of diagnosis and possibly treatment to cure rather than mask the pain.

Honestly, if your not rich or have the surname of 'Windsor' you're nothing. No wonder people get depressed and end it

McKneff

When I was diagnosed with arthritis around about 39 years old, i felt exactly like you do now. Specialist gave me some pills, he said they will take about 10 weeks to work, he really couldnt have given a toss.

Go back to your GP and explain everything to him. He will best know what to do, the specialist will have sent him a report and you'll probably be surprised that the specialist will know without you telling him what you are going through. He will probably also hav suggested some treatment plan. Dont just accept pain killers,
there is no cure for arthritis, but it can be managed with a sympathetic doctor.

Dont think that you have to put up with this pain for the rest of your life, there is medication to help.
Ive been through the whole gamut of medication, gold injections,
helped me enormously till i grew immune to them, snaids, Oruvail
joint injections were a major help. Talk to your doctor.
Im 61, female, still work, no pain, no medication,still have arthritis, you can see it mainly in my wrists and ankles. if i overdo it I feel it next day, but with rest, proper rest it goes away till i overdo it again. So there is light at the end of the tunnel. Persevere is all I can suggest.

Good luck and keep posting for moral support.

cagneyfan

Although he was a perfectly nice and polite man, he was obviously not interested. I'm waiting for an MRI on lower back, so maybe that is why I didnt get an x ray for lower back/coccyx pain.
But I'd stated clearly on my list that I can't sleep without turning every 10 minutes or so because of my legs/hips - still no x ray.

Going back to the gp is more time wasting, pain and delay. If he'd read all the notes or at least asked me if there was anything I wanted to say maybe I would've had the chance to get some points over.

What's the point of all that training if they then treat you like something stuck to their shoe. It's all very well talking about time constraints, but I felt like I was in and out faster than a burglar's dog. I would much rather wait for a longer period knowing that when I got seen I 'd have the chance to listen and be heard. Or at least feel as though I got everything over and not leave frustrated that I didn't give a full and clear account, irrespective of whether he took any heed.

He asked if anything had happened in particular to cause the back/coccyx pain. It was at the top of the list I took in! I typed it all neat, brief and highlighted for easy reading! He never had more than a cursery look. I could understand if I had gone in unprepared. I specifically said to him that I get flustered and that hospitals make me nervous so that I wrote a list for both our benefit.

I even asked him if he would read it and he said yes. But it obviously would've been preferable if he read it there and then, because then I may have gotton better treatment.

I really think these people are the main cause of patients getting severe depression. They don't seem to understand the feeling that patients have when they wait ages to see them and then feel as if nothing is being done, because they never felt heard! As for that so called nurse. I suspect she was a sodden fraud, who pinched her uniform from someone else. Talk about gormless and unhelpful ( I know not everyone is like that, but if it weren't for bad luck I'd have none, and I got the labotomy volunteer)

Being in pain, as you know, is terrible. But like goffo said, if nothing is written up clearly, then that just adds to the potential stress of future medicals. If there's little written down, you end up looking like there's nothing wrong

Savvy_Sue

the pain clinic should do more than offer drugs, AFAIK. the idea is to help you manage the pain, and there are more ways of doing that than swallowing meds.

sunnyone

goffo wrote: »

My wife has it in her kneck, shoulders, both wrists, most fingers, both hips and both knees.
She saw a consultant in 2004 who confirmed the diagnosis.

Ever since then she sees her GP every so ofen (couple of times a year) and has a repeat prescription for 30/500 Co-Codamol!

That's it! She was told to walk through the pain as it eases with exercise.

Not bad for over 15 years of suffering.

And because her GP isn't very interested and the consultant she saw less interested, she has no medical history reports that she offer in her claim for Attendance Allowance. They turned her down on the basis of 'no report available - patient last seen regarding the conition - 2004!! She is 67.

If you are going to continue trolling maybe it would be a good idea to change the details of tales.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

OP, you could be surprised how much he understands without letting on to you. He 'knows' you're tired.

And I'd like a pain clinic referral. Ain't gonna happen, though.

The x rays will help see what stage it is at and then treatment can be tailored to this.

Moreover, having worked at a hospital, he will read your list to help him dictate the letter that goes to your GP.

Unfortunately, not all doctors are of the kind, handholding type. Some are useless, but some are good at the treatment/medical side without the reassuring side.

See your GP and you may be surprised. If not, request a referral somewhere else.

magicstrawberry

I know your upset and stressed atm. Ive got psoratic arthritis so know alot about appiontments lol! The way you where treated wasnt nice but from experience these rheumatologists tend not to really listen untill they have done tests such as x-rays and MRI etc the reason why is there priority is to see what is happening in your body at the physiological level and then decided what to do, which then is usually when they will start asking the questions. Its the way doctors think examine and then discuss they don't seem to understand that there patient actually is human and has worries and questions. They just see the rheumatolgy aspects.

Just don't write it of just yet as it should improve and if not there are ways to complain.

I know ive had numerous problems, I started having pain at 18 and wasn't diagnosed until I was 22 as I was repeatedly told I was to young! and that was through an MRI.

You seem very anxious and upset about the whole situation and its very understandable but you need to wait alittle for there diagnosis and then you will have something to work with.

If it is a form of arthritis then theres no cure which is very difficult to accept & I think i'm still working at it but there are many drugs and therapies to help manage it so don't despair.

Regarding the pain clinic i've been refereed to them (I asked my gp as my rheumatologist didn't have the common sense) and they have been very supportive they don't just hand out pills. He flagged the fact I suffer with complex problems with my muscles along with my arthritis which my rheumatologist hadn't noted. I've had aesthetic injections and i'm currently having somatic psyo and waiting for a place on the pain management programme. I wont lie my arthritis isn't managed as its complicated due to the associated problems with my muscles but it varies like McKneff who has had alot of help.

If you have care or mobility needs associated with your condition and that they will persist you can always apply for DLA which could help take the strain off.

It seems to me that your most distressed at the fact you go to the hospital where your mother passed away which is understandable. Many Doctors have clinics at different hospitals have you asked if its possible? even if its further away?

Lastly I found arthritis care a wonderful help, they have a forum and a telephone line where you can ring up and they will listen for how ever long you need and give any advice they can. The members are very friendly.

http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/Home

I wish you all the best and know your not alone

magicstrawberry

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

the pain clinic should do more than offer drugs, AFAIK. the idea is to help you manage the pain, and there are more ways of doing that than swallowing meds.

Very correct

sunnyone

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

OP, you could be surprised how much he understands without letting on to you. He 'knows' you're tired.

And I'd like a pain clinic referral. Ain't gonna happen, though.

The x rays will help see what stage it is at and then treatment can be tailored to this.

Moreover, having worked at a hospital, he will read your list to help him dictate the letter that goes to your GP.

Unfortunately, not all doctors are of the kind, handholding type. Some are useless, but some are good at the treatment/medical side without the reassuring side.

See your GP and you may be surprised. If not, request a referral somewhere else.

why cant you get a pain clinic referal jojo?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

sunnyone wrote: »

why cant you get a pain clinic referal jojo?

Reserved for high grade pain - terminal illnesses, mostly.



OP - try reading this http://www.nras.org.uk/help_for_you/publications/publication_detail.aspx?id=a0B8000000AUlPUEA1

magicstrawberry

Have you asked someone else ?