Grr

[flick]

Have just been for a pill refill at the GP. My, lovely, GP is on maternity leave, so I sat in the main waiting room full of whingy kids (my GP has her own, nice, quiet one upstairs) saw some random, incredibly young, bloke who made me go through my entire medical history, implied Mike is cheating on me, nagged me for five minutes about smoking whilst saying 'yes dear, there there' when I pointed out that I was clear for the other half dozen risk factors, then took my blood pressure and said "it's getting towards being a little high, I don't think I can prescribe this pill for you".

Grr.

Eventually got two packs out of him, but I have to have a 24 hour BP monitor done. Which, I fully expect, will show a spike when I'm riding and then another when the fucking things stops me from being able to get to sleep, and be otherwise perfectly fine, just like it is whenever my lovely GP measures it.

Comments

[clanwilliam]

What *is* it with locums being dicks about contraception? Can you complain to the practice manager?

I had the same thing happen to me a few years back when my old practice folded. After a horrible experience with a nasty hectoring bully, I was nearly in tears at the thought of having to go back to that cow. Thankfully, a new team had taken over the practice by then and I have a wonderful GP who I trust completely.

[flick]

To be fair, he didn't really do anything *wrong*, he just wound me up and then took my blood pressure!

I suspect he's not a locum: I'd not seen him before, but there are about ten GPs there, and I've not seen them all.

[clanwilliam]

Implying that Mike is cheating on you, ignoring you and patronising aren't "wrong"? If nothing else, perhaps the practice should know that his bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired.

[damerell]

I suspect implying or suggesting that is the doctor's job, yes - because they know perfectly well what proportion of the people who don't use barrier methods because their partner would never cheat will end up back in the doctor's office as a result.

Ditto, it's not really the doctor's job to accept rationalisations of smoking as healthy; it's their job to tell the patient the truth.

[flick]

Um, I never claimed smoking was healthy. I said that it was a less significant risk factor in combination with this medication than various others, none of which apply to me.

[damerell]

All I'm saying is that realistically if you are a typical person in reasonable health there is little the doctor can do which is better than getting you to stop smoking. It might not work, but they're bound to try it.

[flick]

And what I'm saying is that the 'rule' that you must stop smoking at age 35 if you are on the pill is lazy. They don't make diabetics stop taking the pill at the same age for the same reasons, nor people who are overweight or have poor diet and exercise habits.

[kake]

That sucks. Sounds worth a formal complaint. I have also had a doctor argue with me (about an unrelated matter!) and then complain that my blood pressure was high.

[purplecthulhu]

'getting towards being a little high' means that it isn't actually high.

And white coat hypertension is so common there's a term for it.

[attimes-bracing.livejournal.com]

Thats sounds crappy.

I've never really been anywhere long enough to develop a patient/doc relationship with a doc. I normally always see a nurse and that's enough for contraception and asthma inhalers. And I can normally get an appt easier with a nurse.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

To be fair, I mostly have a good relationship with her because she was the first GP I went to sob at when I went mad. I don't actually think she's my GP of record, as it happens! Plus, we have lived here for nearly a decade.

For some reason, I can't just see a nurse for my pill. I suspect it's because I don't take it as prescribed.

[daveon.livejournal.com]

Living here would drive you mad.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Hell yes.

[darth-tigger.livejournal.com]

So he sat there winding you up for ten minutes and then wondered that your blood pressure was slightly elevated?

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Yeah, quite.

In retrospect, I should have made him take my BP before I let his open his mouth: I shall try to remember that, for next time!

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Oh, that is a definite grr... Sympathy.

[nerosmaster.livejournal.com]

A few years ago when I had a 24 hour BP monitor done it basically showed I have higher BP whenever I go to the GP but it is fine the rest of the time.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

Saw a consultant on Monday and was relieved to be treated both politely and as though I had a working brain. Maybe it reflected the fact that there appears to be some reference to Ann in my notes (he knew her, as did the nurse I initially dealt with), but the attitude was welcome. Okay, so he raised the topic of my BMI, but not in a judgemental manner.