Educating the GP(s) in your life

Everyday living
1

Well, that was a ‘fun’ appointment yesterday’; new (to me) GP insisted on explaining MS to me in the sort of voice some people use for speaking to a child (don’t understand why people choose a weird sing song voice for speaking with children - but I digress). Spent ages explaining what sort of symptoms I will have, the inevitable decline of motor function and so forth; and chose to give me the upbeat closer that “but don’t worry, you won’t be in any pain.”

Me: ???

GP: Pitying smile, nodding.

Me: I have been in pain with my MS since October 2013 - 24/7 365 days a year.

GP: No, MS doesn’t cause pain.

Me: (gets phone out and scrolls through contacts) Here, this is my MS Specialists’ number, he has made MS his life’s work/study, you can contact him and tell him he’s talking out of his behind where MS and pain are concerned.

GP: ?

Me: Holding out phone - please, go ahead, MS neuropathic pain is why I am on a ridiculous cocktail of drugs to control/dull the pain.

Much to and fro followed - having advised GP that I have between aware of MS for over 40 years (my oldest brother lived with it for 28 years), and I have read many, reliable research papers, including some published in the Lancet concerning MS, symptoms, medication etc. And, that I am quite aware of the symptoms that I have, because, well - I have them!

Me: Now - can you prescribe the antibiotic I need for the flipping UTI I have?!

GP: Prescription will be at the Chemist immediately.

4 Likes
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Honestly TheresaB it beggars belief :woman_facepalming: Thank goodness my GP isn’t like that, she did once say to me, I’ve learned so much from you about MS, they only have a basic knowledge, but yours sounds ridiculous,
Jean x

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My old GP (now retired) who started the ball rolling for my dx with MS, was great - he wanted me referred asap because he didn’t know enough about MS, but knew that something neurological was going on.

I’ve had a few numpties since then, but this one is definitely top of the ‘DOH!’ pile.

4

It’s so wrong that you have to go through it, but good for you for advocating for yourself to enable the right treatment! But it does become tiresome after a while! I’ve received the same treatment for the past 2 years, so I have to advocate for myself.
I hope the antibiotics ease your symptoms.

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That is so weird. Ive been to UTC tonight and the doctor told me MS doesnt cause pain.

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Unbelievable… definitely time to switch GP, i.e. refuse further appointments with that one.
I had a neurologist once talk to me like that. Syrupy voice stuff, as if that’s going to help. He was supposed to be an MS specialist but told me all sorts of weird stuff (e.g. it’s a young person’s disease - not something to worry about once you are over 40), that though I had MS, I didn’t need treatment… Thank goodness I managed to find someone else.
Just as well you at least know what you are doing. Hope the antibiotic works!