I think my Dr thinks I'm mad...not sure what to do!

Goose_Girl

Have you thought about asking a pharmacist? NHS Direct have always told me that they can sometimes tell by looking/asking what may be up, and if other people have gone to them over the doctor, because the doctor thought they were mad too possibly, they might have a better idea of a good over the counter aid?

GPs can sometimes seem so quick to get you in and out they can't fit much in the appointment, especially if it was open surgery or something.

Maybe keeping a little note of when it happens, how long it lasts and intensity might help the GP when or if you go back? There are lots of health record apps for phones; I bet a mood diary for mental health would be easy to adapt.

I've had a few issues that have taken repeat visits to sort out and Drs that I thought disliked me have been totally different towards me on the next visit. Don't give up and I hope you feel better soon.

jenniewb

jackieblack wrote: »

If it's keeping you awake and has got no better, I would go back to the doctor.

A few years ago my DD had skin pain that felt a bit like sunburn, no rash, nothing visible at all. It took us a few visits but turns out it was likely to have been shingles, although she never got any blisters.

Thanks, a few people have mentioned Shingles, if it is (no idea) then the GP I have seen really needs to take a look at her role as a diagnosing doctor! I kind of hope it's something easier to treat than this though! I'll suggest it to her/him (whomever I see) when I go back next week.

devildog

jenniewb wrote: »

Thanks.
Trouble is the chances of being referred to a derm. are slim to none. I've had a few bad experiences with the surgery in the past few years and asking them to spot something let alone cure it is like getting blood from a stone!

That being said I did ask my mum to see if she could spot anything on my skin and she couldn't either. The only mark in the area is of an old mole scar where the mole was removed about 3 years ago now and had since healed up. Another mole scar removed at the same time and that has healed up fine too and looks the same so I'm doubtful its anything to do with the used-to-be-mole. The sore skin patch is far larger than the mole area anyway, about 1/4 of the skin on my back.

I will go back to my GP, possibly next week if they have any appointments but I saw the GP only last week and as much as this is really sore and I can't lean on certain areas of my back..etc I know if I go back any sooner they'll just tell me I returned too soon and should give it another week. (It was 3 weeks of the sore skin last week when I saw the GP).


I suppose it doesn't help that I have had a lot of other random symptoms in the past year. A chest issue/cough/sharp pain which kept returning for a year (has now gone) for example, sharp stomach pains after eating, pain on my back which didn't relate to any part of my spine.... and now this. I've just felt more and more like an idiot each time because I go for help and each time they react in the same way, either "what would you like me to do" or "I don't know". As I rarely seem to get any answers let alone any help I am just left wondering what on Earth was the point and what do I do next.

I'll try again with the GP next week but in my experience from what has happened before, I'm very likely to get the same response again.

I would trust your instinct, seriously! I had medical issues with two of my children, when I was eventually listened to (after many years of being fobbed off) one needed 3 operations and the other diagnosed with a chronic life long disease! I was beginning to feel like a neurotic parent but I persisted, believing that things weren't right and I was proved to be right.

I think that sometimes we tend to be intimidated by professionals like GP's, after all they are highly trained and qualified, right?! Surely they must be right. Ha, I don't think so.

I now pick and choose which GP to see in the local practice (you don't have to see the one you are registered with) depending on their known area of interest or depending on the one most likely to refer etc.
Good Luck

jenniewb

devildog wrote: »

I would trust your instinct, seriously! I had medical issues with two of my children, when I was eventually listened to (after many years of being fobbed off) one needed 3 operations and the other diagnosed with a chronic life long disease! I was beginning to feel like a neurotic parent but I persisted, believing that things weren't right and I was proved to be right.

I think that sometimes we tend to be intimidated by professionals like GP's, after all they are highly trained and qualified, right?! Surely they must be right. Ha, I don't think so.

I now pick and choose which GP to see in the local practice (you don't have to see the one you are registered with) depending on their known area of interest or depending on the one most likely to refer etc.
Good Luck

I find it easier to rationalise that the pain is still there, still really hurts so I can't be imagining it- instinct or not! I've also had other experiences in the past with the GPs who have given similar answers and yet the problem went on to be diagnosed as being quite obvious or quite important. One example was a stress fracture which I was initially told "don't know" thyen referred for physio (the physio being a whole other story which has put me off that physio department for the rest of my life!) I kept going back and only after 2 years and two further referrals was by chance referred to a private physio: 1 session and they picked up the problem, suggested a referral to an orthopedic Doctor who ran two scans, the fracture was so obvious the Doctor running the scan explained it to me as I was advised to stop all impact exercise. I should add prior to this the initial physio department had told me to "hop until it hurts to build up your tolerance to the pain" as I was just being a bit feeble...I can't help but wondering if the GP assumes the same despite my experience.

Thing is though, even if I do keep going back, if they just keep saying they 'don't know' and looking at me blankly if I ask what to do, then I'm no further forward. I have been told how the surgery works before and that all the Doctors meet together to discuss any patients each week and this is why it doesn't suprize me that they do all seem to think alike and give similar stock answers.

jenniewb

Goose_Girl wrote: »

Have you thought about asking a pharmacist? NHS Direct have always told me that they can sometimes tell by looking/asking what may be up, and if other people have gone to them over the doctor, because the doctor thought they were mad too possibly, they might have a better idea of a good over the counter aid?

GPs can sometimes seem so quick to get you in and out they can't fit much in the appointment, especially if it was open surgery or something.

Maybe keeping a little note of when it happens, how long it lasts and intensity might help the GP when or if you go back? There are lots of health record apps for phones; I bet a mood diary for mental health would be easy to adapt.

I've had a few issues that have taken repeat visits to sort out and Drs that I thought disliked me have been totally different towards me on the next visit. Don't give up and I hope you feel better soon.

I did wonder about a pharmacist but the pain is right in the top center of my back and trails down (on one side only) to around my shoulder blade. Its kind of an awkward place to show anyone without undressing pretty fully top-wise and this isn't so easy when in a shop!

I've been keeping a diary already but there are no patterns or times I can predict it feeling worse so I'm not sure if it is any help. Guess it gives me something to do though!

The diary I've been keeping has the times of day and what I was doing at the time. I'm kind of struggling with anorexia at the moment (nothing new- had it for years on an off and at the moment not so great) so food and what I've eaten I can at least rule out as I tend not to eat during the day (I eat at night) and haven't for a few months (on waiting list for treatment for that), the pain I have happens if I eat or if I don't eat so I'm fairly sure its nothing to do with what I have eaten or even what I am doing movement wise as it happens if I'm sitting on a chair at a computer, walking around with a bag on my shoulder, trying to sleep or even in the shower. Its crazy that it stings so much and feels so sensitive- even water from a shower hurts like mad. Its as if it is an actual burn but with nothing there!

j.e.j.

You need a decent GP, imo. I doubt a pharmacist would be able to help with this one.

pink_princess

j.e.j. wrote: »

You need a decent GP, imo. I doubt a pharmacist would be able to help with this one.

I agree with this, back burning sensation symptom can be a sign of many illnesses. Go to a gp, as soon as possible.

Edit to add that I work in alternative health, but you really need a gp for this!

thehappybutterfly

is the pain near the top of your back OP? Sort of between your shoulder blades? I quite often get a 'burning' sensation just under my skin there - almost like boiling water being dripped on me. It comes and goes and usually goes hand in hand with a lot of 'hunched over my desk peering at my computer' type work. I put it down to muscle strain.

ETA: just read your last post OP - it certainly sounds the same! Do you spend a lot of time at a PC?

marybishop

Hi Jenniewb

Have sent you a PM.

Mary

AnnieO1234

Not medical advice but look up for yourself the brachial plexus nerve. It's pretty long but your description seems to fit. There are too many possibilities so do your research and go back to your GP, especially if you discover a trigger for your symptoms that you didn't know about.

X