How to get treatment?

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seven-day-weekend
seven-day-weekend Posts: 36,755 Forumite
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OK, here is the story.

My husband for several months now has had a condition involving his ear and throat. He will get a sudden coughing/retching fit, associated with a burning on one side of his throat. Recently this has been accompanied by a pain in his ear as well.

Our Dr hasn't even examined him properly. He listened to my husband's chest through his clothes, and has treated him with anti-histamines and Gaviscon. A second Dr who we saw whilst on holiday gave him antibiotics. She did examine him properly, but was unable to give a diagnosis. She prescribed antibiotics (as well as saying continue with the other medication). She also said he needed to be referred but it would take ages.

Anyway, it is no better and we are at our wit's end. He is still kept awake half the night with it and we are not terribly happy so far with the state of afairs.

Could my husband see a specialist privately, without involving our GP? And having done so, could he continue any recommended treatment on the NHS?

Thanks in anticipation for your help.
(AKA HRH_MUngo)
Member #10 of £2 savers club
Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
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  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,074 Forumite
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    In the several months, how many times have you seen your own GP?

    Does he/she know how long it has been going on for and how it is affecting his life?
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • pollypenny
    pollypenny Posts: 29,393 Forumite
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    edited 9 October 2017 at 5:47PM
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    Go back to your GP. Explain that it's now a persistent problem, Painful and disruptive.

    How long ago did your husband originally see the GP.
    Member #14 of SKI-ers club

    Words, words, they're all we have to go by!.

    (Pity they are mangled by this autocorrect!)
  • seven-day-weekend
    seven-day-weekend Posts: 36,755 Forumite
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    Toothsmith wrote: »
    In the several months, how many times have you seen your own GP?

    Does he/she know how long it has been going on for and how it is affecting his life?

    Several times in those few months, he knows how long it has been going on for.

    Don't know the answer to your second question.
    (AKA HRH_MUngo)
    Member #10 of £2 savers club
    Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
  • seven-day-weekend
    seven-day-weekend Posts: 36,755 Forumite
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    pollypenny wrote: »
    Go back to your GP. Explain that it's now a persistent problem, L sinful and disruptive.

    How long ago did your husband originally see the GP.

    He has seen him several times in the few months.
    (AKA HRH_MUngo)
    Member #10 of £2 savers club
    Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
  • seven-day-weekend
    seven-day-weekend Posts: 36,755 Forumite
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    Update: I have rung Benenden (keep forgetting we are members) and they have said get the Dr to refer, ask him how long it is going to be and if it is too long they will help out. They also said you can't self-refer so that answered that question.

    Thanks for the replies.

    https://www.benenden.co.uk/health/cover/healthcare/treatment-surgery/
    (AKA HRH_MUngo)
    Member #10 of £2 savers club
    Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
  • Manxman_in_exile
    Manxman_in_exile Posts: 8,380 Forumite
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    I had to be referred to a specialist a couple of years ago. It would have taken months so asked my GP to request a private referral, which I had within ten days. Cost of that about £200. If I had required further treatment (which I did not) it could have still been done on the NHS, but of course would have necessitated a wait.
  • seven-day-weekend
    seven-day-weekend Posts: 36,755 Forumite
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    Manxman_in_exile wrote: »
    I had to be referred to a specialist a couple of years ago. It would have taken months so asked my GP to request a private referral, which I had within ten days. Cost of that about £200. If I had required further treatment (which I did not) it could have still been done on the NHS, but of course would have necessitated a wait.

    That is Plan B.:rotfl:
    (AKA HRH_MUngo)
    Member #10 of £2 savers club
    Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
  • spirit
    spirit Posts: 2,886 Forumite
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    I was worried about a mark on my skin whilst in Florida last year.


    I'd already used the local private hospital for cosmetic surgery the previous year, so when I got back, rang them and asked to see a dermatologist.


    They agreed and said to contact my GP and get them to write a referral letter. They did this and I took it with me the following day.


    Bear in mind though that if you see someone privately and they want to make further tests, you'll need to make arrangements to pay for those.


    I was 'lucky' in that the skin mark was nothing, but it was worth the consult fee to put my mind at rest.
    Mortgage free as of 10/02/2015. Every brick and blade of grass belongs to meeeee. :j
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 19,131 Forumite
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    While not a diagnosis your husband's symptoms are like mine - due to acid reflux.

    The acid burns the throat causing pain and coughing/retching

    Mine is controlled with tablets.

    A hiatus hernia can also be the cause.

    So the problem may not be with his throat.
  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,074 Forumite
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    seven-day-weekend wrote: »
    Several times in those few months, he knows how long it has been going on for.

    Don't know the answer to your second question.

    So several months and several times - does that mean about once a month?
    It really shouldn't be the case - but NHS GP Drs really are very busy people, and you need to make yourself 'stick out' a bit if you feel something is wrong and you want treatment for it.

    You might well have done this - in which case being fobbed off is unforgivable - but your husband needs to let the Dr know that this problem is persistent, it is worrying him, and that it is not getting better.

    If he is just turning up once a month saying "oh Dr, I've still got this bit of a cough and my throat feels burny now and again" - then nothing is going to ring an alarm bell to a Dr with a waiting room full and running half an hour behind. (As I said - not ideal but this is the 'beloved' NHS we have these days)

    He doesn't need to be rude or angry, but he does need to say "This has been going on for several months now, it is badly affecting my life, and I really would like to get to the bottom of what is happening. Nothing we have tried has helped so far. Please can you refer me to somebody?"

    As I said - you don't have to be rude - but sometimes you just need to be politely assertive.
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
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