Any latrophobics here?

lostinrates

I was wondering if any one else has latrophobia and how they handle it. Mine is a fairly recent onset,in adult life, and only related to GPs. I like my consultants and have no other collywobbles, am interested and gruesomely curious about proceedures. I have had a lot of ill health in adulthood and thing i got focused on GPs because they feel like barriers between consultants at times, instead of a gateway to them, and also...often have really bad news for me:o:p

I had an excellent and very patient Gp where i lived until two years ago, who has still seen me when i have needed, and calls me sometimes, who very kindly ignored my panic attacks and tears when i explained to her the problem and was fantastic, but she is almost an hour away from me, and i need to find a loval gp. I have been once to the local practise and i just know i can not go there again:o it was not positive and dh has had some problems there and he is 'normal'.

Because to me the fear is quite rational, though i appreaiate thats a personal logic, its very hard to tackle, but i have some minor but persistant issues tha my consultants are not relevnt for and that i do not want to trouble my 'old' gp with, and really, i need to sort myself out and get a new lical one so my old one can just b a friend and not a doctor, because she has been a very good friend to me inspire of my horror of her professionally i think she is a great doctor and a great person!

So, any one else a doctor phobic?

BitterAndTwisted

Stay with your lovely GP until she forces you off her register An hour away is not too far when you can't find another who is as decent and kind or as trusted.

I've never heard of latrophobia: it sounds awful so you do have my sympathy

Nicki

Can your existing GP help you to find a new one, and also speak to the new GP to explain your issues so that they know what to expect? Maybe a small one or two person practice so you don't have the worry of seeing a different person each time?

Alternatively could your GP refer you to a mental health specialist to hep you overcome the phobia or get it down to a more manageable level?

lostinrates

Nicki wrote: »

Can your existing GP help you to find a new one, and also speak to the new GP to explain your issues so that they know what to expect? Maybe a small one or two person practice so you don't have the worry of seeing a different person each time?

Alternatively could your GP refer you to a mental health specialist to hep you overcome the phobia or get it down to a more manageable level?

My lovely go also sees the logic in why i have this issue with GPs. As i am in all other areas as sane as i want to be she thinks that i need to just find somene like her. In fact her suggestion was to send dh in first to suss them out...which we did and which confirmed to me they were untrustworthy (he has psoriasis and needs repeat prescriptions have been a constant mess up).

My gp also spoke to the local practise manager who recommended a particular doctor who i went to see with dh and who knew i was wary. I managed not to cry:o (whichj is my normal reaction...i go, and try and carry on a normal appt while weeping, as soon as i leave i am ok:o. Any way, it was all horrid, and the GP the practise recommended was neither sympathetic, whoch in truth doesn't worry me too much, its my problem not theirs and it must be horrid to be regarded with such suspicion by a patient, but also, sadly did not strike me as very competant, which of course, feeds into my loop of not trusting them more.

I will think about asking for a mental health referral though. Thank you

lostinrates

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Stay with your lovely GP until she forces you off her register An hour away is not too far when you can't find another who is as decent and kind or as trusted.

I've never heard of latrophobia: it sounds awful so you do have my sympathy

She won't force me off, she has in fact become a friend, and though many find her abrubt i find her fantastic and trustworthy.

But, i do need to 'get a grip' and find a local doctor i think. Because she might move or otherwise be unavailable.

In practise, while she would see me anytime, i just don't go, so little things have time to get worse:D

FBaby

Are you still in the same PCT though? If not, even if the practice is happy to keep you, the PCT will not be. They can match your address and GP registration. From next April, it will come down to Clinical Commissioning Group, and even more likely they would request you register with another practice.

Although I'm not phobic about GPs, I did build an excellent relationship with my previous GP, despite him being known to be cold and uncaring, which he was when I first registered, but with time, I learnt to respect his excellent clinical practice, and once he realised I wasn't hypocondriac, became very friendly. I moved town 12 months ago, stayed with the practice although being 1/2 hour away, this wasn't convenient at all, especially when my DD was referred to the local team for physio and had to drive there a couple of times a week. Then one referral got lost in the system because of the address, so had to tackle the matter. I looked into local practices, was refused by the first one I picked as out of the catchment area (despite being only a mile away!), ended up with one I hadn't considered initially, and have been very happy with them. Our GP seems excellent, I was very impressed twice when I took my DD, so feeling quite reassured for the time being.

Remember though that it isn't just about good and bad GPs, it is about the relationship you will build with yours. As mentioned above, I originally disliked my GP very much as I'm sure he considered me a over protective mum (my 14 month old had been very miserable for over 6 months crying etc...) and I had to go in and told him that I wouldn't leave his office until he prescribed a antispasmodic (which I had research), which he did in the end (and it did help!), but after not seeing me for many months after that, he realised I wasn't and gradually became pleasant and very supportive. Good luck finding someone you feel positive about.

lostinrates

No, i am not in the same pct. atm my gp treats me as a visiter, my mother lives in the area.

One of my other options is to go private, but i don't trust them more its just i feel a little more in control. Still involves a drive though.