feeling like a nusiance

Many years ago I had cause, unusual for me, to visit my GP for 3 or 4 separate issues in as many weeks. On the last occasion, as I got up to leave his room, I turned and apologised for coming in so frequently. He looked up and said, "Mrs B, come back and sit down." (I did). "Don't ever, ever, base your need to see me on the number of times you've been in!", he said, "If you have a health issue that you think needs checking, then you come here, even if you only came in the previous day!"
So that's what I do now

Every day not do day

Anja, I have knee pain which causes lower leg and now foot pain. Last time I went to GP he told me that I could take 8 paracetamol per day. That I know, because it says so on the box.
I felt as if I should've dealt with it myself, although he was perfectly pleasant.
I accompany DH to his GP appointments, only because he's had so many changes in medications since his triple heart bypass a year ago. Last visit the GP asked how he was feeling and DH has replied that he had a continually runny nose. GP answered that he had, too (GP had a cold).
I've noticed that my left hand has become shaky. I'm putting it down to age and possible stress. ?

I rarely go as I am scared of bad news. It's pathetic. However, last year I had a rash on my back, arms and it was particularly nasty on my leg and my ankle was swollen. I think I went to the GP about five times. I saw three different GPs and nothing was working. It went eventuality after nearly a year. I used to think they were thinking 'not you again' but I'm sure they weren't. My DH once apologised to a GP for going a few times and he replied that some people go in do day!

Nobody seemed impressed with my self-diagnosis says Baggs and therein lies an interesting thought.

Not inclined to ‘bother’ my GP after my last visit about a year ago. Bad pain in foot and ankle probably from arthritis I thought. Could hardly walk. Very painful. Let it go on for several weeks keeping the worst of the pain under control with paracetamol.

Gave in and visited. Probably arthritis says GP agreeing with my diagnosis.
‘What do you expect me to do about it?’ he asks ‘just keep taking the paracetamol’

Waste of my time.

Some things can be dealt with by a pharmacist so might be your first port of call for minor issues like skin problems.

I'm sorry you have so much bothering you, travelsafar. I certainly don't think you should worry about seeing your GP about them all. Dealing with health problems, whatever they are, is their job. It's what we pay them for (via our taxes).

Obversely, I've been feeling a bit pestered by my GP lately. I've no complaints about the treatment I've received for pain over many years, nor any about treatment for high blood pressure more recently. What's irritating me is repeated requests for blood samples. I think they want to measure cholesterol and blood sugars. It is conscientious of them to pursue this, I keep telling myself, but here's the thing: last year I fainted in the street because of the pain of gut cramps (IBS; I forgot that citric acid can have a bad effect on me and had been eating a daily slice of elderflower wedding cake (made by me) at the time of the royal wedding. Since the weather was warm and I'd been busy outdoors I'd been drinking elderflower cordial as well. I won't forget about citric acid effects again!). Anyway, I got carted off to hospital where they tested everything and took some blood (several phials). Nobody seemed impressed with my self-diagnosis. I was fine and went back home later the same day and back to work next morning.

My GP then got in touch to get more blood from me. I went along and gave them it.

No-one contacted me about the results of whatever tests they did so I assumed all was well, or at least not abnormal.

So now I'm irritated because I don't see why they're on at me for more blood tests, especially as they want me to be fasting when they take the blood. It'd be all right if they could take it at 0530 before I eat and go to work.

Having written all that down I do see that I am lucky to have a conscientious GP. Maybe I'll bumble along during some annual leave when I can manage the fasting requirement. I know that for many people going without breakfast is very easy and what they do anyway. It is not easy for me. I never go without breakfast (porridge) and I need it (and tea) as soon as I get up. Once, when rushing for a new secondary school bus I left home without eating. My dad noticed no empty cereal bowl and brought in two marmalade sandwiches for me ?.

I never had a day off in seven years at that school.

My GP is sick of the sight of me, I'm sure. I think I've been at least once a week with one of my GC since Christmas with ongoing problems not responding to various treatments. I apologised for continually bothering him last week, and he was so reassuring that I was doing the right thing by persisting. He said one issue in particular would never have been picked up in time had I not brought him in again with my query.
My advice is: you know yourself best, and if something feels wrong you should see the doctor. You will either get treatment or reassurance, whichever is needed. And some things are very easily dealt with when seen at an early stage. We shouldn't be afraid to look after ourselves, we make sure everyone else does, don't we??

It’s what doctors are for travelsafar, if something is troubling you best get it sorted. In the meantime you could ask a pharmacist about the blister, but do get it checked by someone. If it’s any help when I worked in primary care I heard a lot of muttering from GPs about patients leaving ailments for too long and so making treatment more difficult. Hope it all settles soon.

I went to the GP with back end problems on Thursday and she thanked me for coming and said it was lovely to see me! Obviously she liked the look of my back end!

I think the Doctor would rather see you now than let the blister develope into a sore ! I once aplogised for my visit and was told it was better to be seen than fester at home