feeling like a nusiance

Traveksafar - I've had two femoral or similar! hernias, the medical staff couldn't agree. Both successfully operated on. A minor operation and well worth having. Please have an operation if you need it. Get to a pharmacist or back to your doctor with other problems, it's the not knowing that worries you. Good luck and keep us all updated.

Harrigran that’s appalling. I am also being treated for breast cancer and my GP has called me twice in the evening to see how I am. She told me that all cancer patients have ‘easy access’ noted. on their records and will be given an appointment quickly. I do consider myself very lucky to have such a good GP.

Yes, I do. After a patch of really bad health - gall bladder abcess, full incision abdominal surgery to remove gall bladder, severe cellulitis and pneumonia - and four hospital stays, I seem to have one thing after another going wrong. However, the GPs seem to have decided that all my ailments are part of my FOLS (Fat Old Lady Syndrome), which apparently can be cured by a lecture about losing weight - no practical help seems to be on offer, though, despite my weight gain coming after so much illness (with really large doses of antibiotics) and the reduction in mobility that has accompanied it.

Hi all, there are some heart rending stories here. I am sorry for you. I suffer from asthma which I have now had for72 years and have somehow survived. Asthma is not a trivial complaint although a lot of people think it is just an annoying cough. At least 3 people a day die of asthma. At the moment I am managing it well. The other thing I have is arthritis in both knees. But I do manage a short walk every day even if in pain.
My son is a doctor and his hours have been increased. He usually starts work at 7.30 am and sometimes does not leave until 8 pm or later. Now I believe some surgeries are to open at weekends. I have not asked him if he will be working Sat-Sun. Also for some reason doctors pay was reduced. He has never complained. I believe that lower pay and increased hours are one reason why his surgery had an unfilled post for 4 years. There is a lot of stress involved and yet most doctors try to look cheerful when a patient comes in. It is their job after all. Do not delay having your problem looked at as if it gets worse it will make your doctor's job harder.

Travelsafar..please go back to your doc asap.. the pain in your jaw sounds like it could be GCA ,Giant Cell Artritis it needs to be checked out just in case., your eyesight could be at risk if it is.. can you see a duty doc quicker-- tell them you are worried about GCA..
I seem to be at docs every 5 mins with my aliments..Polymyalgia, fibromyalgia are the main two..the past 10 days have been suffering what I think is a kidney stone .Pain has been excruciating..but no blood or infection showing in my water. I have had it before and the grit/stone has always passed after 24 hours..nothing this time.My lovely GP -I am lucky enough to have 2 that are very good..has asked for an ultrasound scan asap. We have a system at the surgery where they keep so many appointments each day and if you phone at 8.30 am you might be lucky enough to get one. If not the gp will ring you and if they think they need to see you will tell you to come down surgery. It seems to work well.. its also open on Saturdays and evenings too, though you would have to see the duty doc..

Coconut, you beat me to it ! I too thought that was an appalling way to speak to a patient, Harrigran, and that Dr seriously needs calling out. Is he normally that rude /arrogant ?

Travelsafar I wouldn't worry too much about the possible hernia. I have 2, and I'm on a waiting list for a repair. I don't want to have it done but husband insists.
The groin pain could also be referred pain from your hip.
I don't think we're being a nuisance, but I get so tired of going for tests, assessments etc. I just put them off, unless urgent. I'll be 83 this week .

FlorenceFlower Such wise words Florence!
My Aunt was similar to the poor lady you describe. Her cancer was in her womb. Left too late until a crisis and an ambulance and only palliative care. So desperately sad.

travelsafar I'm so sorry to hear you've had so many health worries and pain. This has certainly happened to me since getting into my late 60s. Also I felt like my GP would get fed up with me. But he is always very kind. You must go when you need to and it is important not to leave things too late.
So try not to worry, just make the appointment. I hope the waiting time is shorter than it is for my Doctor! Good luck! Lots of love.

Do go to your GP or the nurse, physio, pharmacist, etc, as often as you need.

Sadly, and inevitably, by the time we get to 60+ we are wearing out a little, so yes, we do need help more often!

The GP and staff are paid to look after you, so you are not intruding on their free time. And it’s often cheaper and better for the NHS to ‘nip something in the bud’, than wait for it to develop.

I remember as a student nurse (MANY, MANY years ago) looking after an older lady on a ward who had a cancerous tumour under her breast that was enormous, fulminating and eroding ...... she hadn’t wanted to disturb her GP when it was small and possibly treatable. Have never forgotten that lady.

Keep well and don’t worry. ?

I feel I am lucky as all the doctors at my local surgery are very nice. The only problem is getting an appointment.
I am being treated for polymyalgia at present so each time I see the doctor she gives me an appointment for next time, the only problem is I then have to arrange a blood test appointment with the surgery which is not always easy

Oh travelsafar I do envy you...... there are no such thing as day appointments on the day at our surgery now.... I have needed my pessary ring changed for a month now and I could not get an appointment. They told me to phone surgery and book a phone app with my doc ....so I said ok i’ll have a phone app. Receptionist says “sorry there are no phone apps for three weeks.” So no appointment on the day no phone app for three weeks and no further apps til 19 th March. So how the hell you get these apps is a mystery to some of us! I wish you better health .

I often feel as though I'm being a pain, too, in going to the GPs, but seem to have collected a few ailments as the years have gone by. I often begin the consultation by saying, "you may remember I saw you a few weeks ago about..." only to be met with a blank look and a quick scan of the computer screen. So, I wouldn't worry about going to the GP often, they probably don't remember you anyway! To be fair, our GPs are usually very good.

Many of the GP practices mentioned will probably not feature on 'GP's Behind Closed Doors'. How often do they say to people things like 'Its lovely to see you' and then give them a hug as they leave. As if.

For arthritis I have for years taken both the 8 paracetamol a day AND up to 3 Ibuprofen. Mostly just two of those. You can only take Ibuprofen after food, by the way.

Harrigran if you are being treated for cancer you must have a consultant and specialist nurse you can contact at the hospital? It might depend which kind of cancer but definitely if breast cancer. Also there are Macmillan's who can advise. I'd go to the hospital contacts, I phoned a couple of times when things worried me when I was having treatment, but also a few years later when I was just being monitored for it coming back.

Heavens! There are some terrible stories here. I suddenly feel much better ....
Someone told me that once you get to 70, which I did last year, you are faced with at least 3 serious health problems. Ha, I said, not me, fit as a flea! So, in the last 6 months I've had tubes stuck up/down 3 orifices and I can't praise my lovely new GP or the 3 hospitals I attended (within 2 weeks of referral) too highly. It appears to be a post code lottery, sadly, and I've obviously struck lucky with my new address. It really shouldn't be like this. . I moved from an area where, unless you were at death's door, the average GP wait was 5 weeks. I can now be seen within a couple of days or often straight away. We should all have that availability.

Go to the doctors please don’t think you’re a nuisance it could be something or nothing we’re not the expert! I had a pain in my side that I ignored ending up spending 5 days in hospital after being rushed in,turns out I’d got puss on my kidney. I’m coming 70 and keep fit but still get more ailments then when younger.

I hhave a friiend who goes to the Gp at least once a week and has done for many years she is on,y 66 now
Last week she woke up with a sore throat went 2 docs got given antti biotic read the leaflet re the side effects so didnt take them and then went to do s again 2 days later with same thing
These r the patients they do t want to see.
Also bear in mind the practice is a business they get money every year 2 have u on their books and money every time you go to see them.
As we get older health issues seem to come along like buses.
Good luck with the scan

I go with a written list or I forget.
I make a joke of most of the ailments and only make an appointment if I've tried other avenues such as Dr google.
Our GPS are very understanding.

Holly doily, BCC , basal cell carcinoma, but don't panic, sounds scary but easily dealt with, I've had a couple over the years, get it done soonest other wise you'll worry unnecessarily, don't know the other initials though, I guess someone else will, otherwise Dr Google is very knowledgeable ?

I have an elderly neighbour that I keep an eye on and I do his shopping. He suffers from severe COPD and naturally he panics which is the cause of most problems related. With a little help he is beginning to self manage.

Since before Christmas he has had something different every day. In December he had the paramedics out every week. January was the same but February was a record!! One week he had the paramedics out twice on the Monday, once on the Tuesday , twice on the Wednesday until they insisted on taking him to hospital. he came home on the Saturday night and had the paramedics out at 5.00a.m on the Monday morning.

Now a community nurse is visiting and I think that she is trying to get over to him that with many chronic ailments you have to learn to self manage. Most of us know how to cope and when we need help.

I do find it annoying when you haven't been to the GP for maybe years and when you do go they are quite dismissive. I hadn't visited my GP for years until five years ago, She didn't really listen and simply said it's down to stress following the death of your husband! The pain got worse eventually went back to GP without any examination or any facts she simply said I will refer you.

Initially, the gastroenterologist diagnosed that I was suffering from fructose malabsorption due to the fact that I ate too much fruit. Told me to eat no more than three pieces a day. She did send me for a scan which showed that I had a rare spigellian hernia (which has since been treated.)

It makes you wonder why we have to wait so long for an appointment when you wring up and you get the 'sermon' - dial 999 for strokes etc see your pharmacist - then you see the list for Do you need to see your doctor today? You think well what do you see your Doctor for???

I had a chest infection over Christmas and New Year and visited the doctor four times (their fault that they gave me the wrong antibiotics) A week later I suddenly developed pain on urinating but not cystitis. After urine was tested the male doctor was quite dismissive as it showed no infection and offered no solution or medication. I’ve decide not to go back and to just live with it.
It’s almost like them saying “you are old , go away and die”

Does your gp offer telephone appointments or have a practice nurse? If I’m not sure I try to discuss any issues before making an appointment with either of the above. You could also try 111 and ask for advice. I hope you resolve your health things quickly as it can be quite concerning until you know what’s going on. Good luck

Our Gp surgery has notices that say only one health issue will be dealt with in the 7 minute consultation. So it isn't any wonder we have to make so many appointments. Having said that it's never stopped me mentioning something else if it's been worrying me and so far it hasn't caused a problem.

Lucky if you can see a GP easily, I had a stroke 3 weeks ago, ambulance,hospital, scans etc, fortunately no really awful after effects but hospital said I should see GP,.....next appointment 26th March. I know if emergency 111 is at the end of a phone but I really just want a chat to assure me all is going as it should .
By the way I had a femoral hernia repair,travels afar, four years ago, don't worry too much, did the job and soon recovered. Take care and good wishes to all us hyperchondriacs (spelling?)!!!!