Doctors Appointments

lulu_92

I've been feeling under the weather since the beginning of May. Had some terrible pains just to the right of my belly button. When I went to the doctors he prescribed me antibiotics for three days as he said I had a water infection.

I went on holiday and the pain never subsided. I went back about 2 weeks later with the same pains and ended up being referred to hospital on 2 different occasions, both times with suspected appendicitis. Was admitted overnight and had blood tests and an ultrasound which showed nothing.

Once released from hospital the pain didn't get better so I ended up going to my urgent care unit and was prescribed Tramadol (after he googled my symptoms and decided I didn't have diabetes...)

The Tramadol made me really sick so I stopped taking it so I could go back to work.

I've still had the pain but never been able to get a suitable appointment, so just put up with it for a bit.

Fast forward to Thursday and I come down with really bad stomach cramps (think period pain but without AF), backache and slight nausea (I did a test so I'm not pregnant...I don't think..)

I'm desperate to see a doctor so I rang up after seeing online that they offer early morning and late evening appointments for commuters, only to find that it was this morning so I'm out of luck!

I've had to book in for next Tuesday, but I'd rather not be in pain until then!

keyser666

lulu_92 wrote: »

I've been feeling under the weather since the beginning of May. Had some terrible pains just to the right of my belly button. When I went to the doctors he prescribed me antibiotics for three days as he said I had a water infection.

I went on holiday and the pain never subsided. I went back about 2 weeks later with the same pains and ended up being referred to hospital on 2 different occasions, both times with suspected appendicitis. Was admitted overnight and had blood tests and an ultrasound which showed nothing.

Once released from hospital the pain didn't get better so I ended up going to my urgent care unit and was prescribed Tramadol (after he googled my symptoms and decided I didn't have diabetes...)

The Tramadol made me really sick so I stopped taking it so I could go back to work.

I've still had the pain but never been able to get a suitable appointment, so just put up with it for a bit.

Fast forward to Thursday and I come down with really bad stomach cramps (think period pain but without AF), backache and slight nausea (I did a test so I'm not pregnant...I don't think..)

I'm desperate to see a doctor so I rang up after seeing online that they offer early morning and late evening appointments for commuters, only to find that it was this morning so I'm out of luck!

I've had to book in for next Tuesday, but I'd rather not be in pain until then!

Go to a walk in centre or call backk up and say you want an emergency appointment, they may have one this afternoon, failing that they will tell you to call back tomorrow morning for one

lulu_92

keyser666 wrote: »

Go to a walk in centre or call backk up and say you want an emergency appointment, they may have one this afternoon, failing that they will tell you to call back tomorrow morning for one

There isn't a walk in centre near me. The closest one is in Derby but you need appointments for that too! I live opposite the urgent care unit I use but you need to ring 111 to get an appointment - I did that and the woman on the phone shouted at me because "it isn't an emergency"

Can't leave work early or anything either as boss is training new staff abroad.

rolymo_2

so you are still able to go to work then ? - i would carry on with painkillers, hot water bottle etc -hopefully the pain will ease and become more bearable over the next few days again -but if it becomes really unbearable then call 111 again ?

tomtontom

If you are desperate to see a doctor then that comes before work, irrespective of where your boss is.

lulu_92

rolymo wrote: »

so you are still able to go to work then ? - i would carry on with painkillers, hot water bottle etc -hopefully the pain will ease and become more bearable over the next few days again -but if it becomes really unbearable then call 111 again ?

I have no more sick leave having used more than my yearly allowance in June so I'm pretty much stuck

tomtontom

lulu_92 wrote: »

I have no more sick leave having used more than my yearly allowance in June so I'm pretty much stuck

You are missing the point - if you are well enough to be at work you do not need an emergency appt. There is a walk in centre in Derby where you do not need an appt, I think it is the one at the old DRI site.

lulu_92

tomtontom wrote: »

You are missing the point - if you are well enough to be at work you do not need an emergency appt. There is a walk in centre in Derby where you do not need an appt, I think it is the one at the old DRI site.

Yeah, that's the one I mean. I went before when I had a bad ankle and they wouldn't see me without an appointment! Happened to a couple of my uni friends too

I know I don't need an emergency appointment. Not suggesting that. I'm saying that it's a bit of a joke that I can't get an appointment.

The woman at 111 shouldn't have shouted at me though. She said I wasn't an emergency but I'm pretty sure 111 is the non-emergency number that replaced NHS direct

swingaloo

lulu_92 wrote: »

I have no more sick leave having used more than my yearly allowance in June so I'm pretty much stuck

Why do some people consider 'sick leave' in terms of so many days a year as with holidays?

If you are genuinely sick then you cannot go to work however bad your sickness record is. If you can go to work simply because you have no more sick leave then you are not really that unwell.

You are either ill or you are not- the 'yearly allowance' dosnt come into it. I work with someone who thinks its her entitlement to have so many sick days a year and makes sure she has every one whilst at the same time being careful not to overdo and end up with a warning. Very unfair to other workers.

lulu_92

swingaloo wrote: »

Why do some people consider 'sick leave' in terms of so many days a year as with holidays?

If you are genuinely sick then you cannot go to work however bad your sickness record is. If you can go to work simply because you have no more sick leave then you are not really that unwell.

You are either ill or you are not- the 'yearly allowance' dosnt come into it. I work with someone who thinks its her entitlement to have so many sick days a year and makes sure she has every one whilst at the same time being careful not to overdo and end up with a warning. Very unfair to other workers.

I only get a week off with full pay and I can't afford to go on SSP sick for many reasons. I am ill but I'm sucking it up for the money. It is rubbish but I have to put up with it.

Not sure why threads get like this - all I was complaining about was how it takes so long to see a doctor when you're not an emergency but still need to see one.

SuperHan

Doctors appointments are usually available on the day if you ring up in the morning. If they aren't convenient for you, there's not much else the doctors can do.

I chose my surgery because it has 2 late night openings a week, so I can usually get in if I need a short notice appointment, at least within the next 3 to 4 days.

There's not much they can do for you if the appointments that are convenient to you have already been taken. If you needed to see a doctor, you would go to the appointments they have offered.

It's either an emergency and they see you right away, or it's not and they see you when is mutually convenient. For you this is next week. If the pain was unbearable, you would go sooner.