Hi I have been experiencing various symptoms over the last 2-3 years and was only recently told by a hospital consultant (Gastro - bowel issues - given the all clear) that we could be looking at MS or an MS type syndrome. I broached the possibility of MS with my GP and he practically laughed it off. I have since spoken to two of my family members who are GPs and shown them a diary of my symptoms which my GP asked me to keep. I spoke to both of them separately and didn’t tell either of them what the other had said. The first question that both of them asked was why my GP had not referred me to Neuro for a brain scan. I had a follow up appointment with my GP today to see what he wanted to do next and he said he had referred me to a pain clinic to manage my pain. I asked him why he was so reluctant for me to see a Neuro consultant and he asked why I was so reluctant to take the help I am being offered by going to a pain clinic. I responded by advising him that I didn’t feel he was taking my symptoms seriously and that before I resign myself to a lifetime of pain management I would like to at least try to figure out what is causing all my problems first. If once all avenues have been explored there is still no diagnosis then I will be happy to take whatever help is offered but I refuse to be fobbed off without a fair attempt at finding out what’s wrong. I explained that I had unofficially run my symptoms passed two other GPs who both felt a brain MRI was necessary to rule out or diagnose anything more serious first. As soon as I mentioned this his attitude got even worse. He was unhappy that I had felt the need to gain a second opinion. He eventually stopped arguing with me and agreed to refer me to Neuro. He kept me in his office while he dictated a letter for my referral. In the letter he actually stated that he does not feel I need to be referred to Neuro but he has agreed to do so as he felt the idea of possible MS was preying on my mind and that I was becoming over anxious as a result. I now feel that no Neuro consultant is going to take me seriously because of the way he has worded the letter. He made it sound like I am a crazy hypochondriac. I then explained that I am still off work and have a meeting with Occ Health next week which my employers have requested I attend before returning to work. He rolled his eyes at me, pulled out his sick line pad and said ‘so what am I supposed to put on this? You don’t have any official diagnosis. I’ll just have to put fatigue - under investigation. How long do you want 1 month or 2?’ I said that I only required enough to cover me for the next 2 weeks until the Occ Health meeting and any agreed workplace adjustments had taken place - possibly longer if my symptoms were still causing daily problems but that I would contact him at a later date if that was the case. I was so shocked by the way he spoke to me. After leaving his office I felt like a 2 year old scolded child and just wanted to cry. Do you guys think it is unreasonable of me to want a proper invesigation of my symptoms? Am I not entitled to get a second opinion if I feel my own GP is not listening to me? I feel so deflated today and I’m now questioning if I’m doing the right thing or if I am just a crazy hysterical woman as he seems to think I am.
I think that I would get another GP as fast as you can. He sounds horrendous; unsupportive and unhelpful. Either see another GPin the practice or go to another practice altogether. You are entitled to do so. The least we can expect is a helpful and supportive GP when things are so difficult anyway. Good Luck, Teresa xx
Absolutely change GP and write a letter of complaint to practice manager!!! This is deplorable treatment from a GP and should not be allowed to get away with it. Either change surgeries or ask for different GP Kate X
I wouldnt worry about the letter. Neuros don’t have a great opinion of GPs. Mine laughed when I told him that I made up extra symptoms with my GP so that he would take me seriously and refer me!
You did absolutely the right thing by sticking up for yourself and I hope that you will continue to do it by making a complaint!
Unfortunately, some neuros do pay attention to GP’s letters so, unless you have clear clinical neurological signs (e.g. very brisk reflexes, nystagmus, etc), I think you might have to take some pre-emptive action.
The first thing I would do is try the practice manager: to complain, but also to request that the wording of the letter is more sympathetic and certainly inclusive of symptom information and the pain clinic referral. The GP dictated that letter in a huff and in some sort of petty revenge mode. It was unprofessional at best and should not be allowed to influence the neuro’s opinion.
If you don’t get any joy from the practice manager, then I would be tempted to put a hold on the referral so that the letter doesn’t get posted and to see another GP. If there isn’t a GP in the current practice who will be supportive, then it’s time to find a new practice. It might delay the referral, but it may well be better in the long run.
Good luck!
Karen x
This GP is an idiot!!
Change to another one if you can. My neuro has also laughed several times at two different GP’s i’ve had.
One sent me for a ultrasound scan when i had the ‘ms hug’. I didn’t know what it was at the time but it forced me to educate myself more about my own illness. I know a lot more than any GP about MS and so do most diagnosed people on here.
Please don’t question your symptoms. You know somethings wrong so trust your instincts. Even if it turns out not to be ms you are entitled to investigations.
If i had written down all the horrible/hurtful/unsympathetic/unbelieving things my gp has said to me - i could write a book! In my experience - GP’s know very little about ms and ms symptoms. Grit your teeth and show him he’s wrong!
Best wishes
Teresa.x
Hello, I agree with everyone else. When I saw my GP 3 years ago he asked me what I thought it was and I said I didn’t know! I admitted to looking up my sensory symptoms and what I found was scary so I came to see him. He then said my symptoms usually make GPs think of MS but it won’t be that!? The second time (this year) he mentioned MS again but immediately said it wasn’t presenting in the usual way? He then said I needed to be seen by a specialist, at last I thought! He like your GP dictated the letter in front of me and I am under no illusion that he didn’t add a few things once I had left. I am nervous about my referral but am going to let my symptoms speak for themselves. My GP has fobbed me off for so many years it makes my head spin but now I have my referral after getting good advice from here. You know like me there is something wrong. I have never said MS to him, he keeps saying it, so for someone who is so convinced it isn’t, why put that thought there? Good luck to you, don’t give up 
Sam x
well chuffin ell! This GP is sooo out of order. I know no doctors like being told more or less what to do.
Mine can be offish like that. I saw a chiropodist who said I did have toenail infection and recommended I ask my GP for a certain medicine.
I took this to my GP and she was most put out by being given this information from a non-doctor. She wouldnt even look at the name on the bit of paper I held out to her.
She told me her toenails looked like mine and just to out nail polish on it!!!
You are right to feel concerned and wondering if you should ask for a second opinion. You should but…
I did this and have not received a good outcome.
we are stuck with some bad apples in the NHS and voicing this can bring us nothing but worse treatment.
Im about to enter the lions cage again soon.
Not right, it is?
luv Pollx
Nasty behaviour. However bad a day a GP is having, it is part of his job to behave properly and not take his foul temper out on his patients. You find out a lot about people when they are in a bad mood. I think you have found out that you need a new GP.
Alison
x
OK, so he is only human and he may be having a bad day. BUT that is no excuse for such appalling behaviour and if I were you I’d make a formal complaint, get that letter stopped in its tracks. The practice manager should offer a ‘concilatory’ meeting and if you possibly can I’d take one of your GP relatives with you, if that is impossible take a calm friend.
This doctor has no right to treat you in such a cavalier and bullying manner and, for the sake of other patients as well as for yourself, you need to make a stand.
If you aren’t satisfied with the Practice complaints procedure take the issue up with the PCT or with the GMC.
You poor thing- some GP’s are a waste of time… I was fobbed off for months by mine. It wasn’t until i went to the dentist and mentioned the fact that the right side of my face/ tongue and lips were completely numb that anything was done. The dentist referred me to the maxillo facial unit as that was all he could do but advised me to go back to my GP and get a referred to a Neurologist. I think the dentist knew it was MS after I explained the tingling in my left hand and feet. Was then told by my GP that it was DEFINATELY NOT neurological and to just go to the maxillo facial app. The doctor I saw there was fantastic and sent me for an MRI and finally referred to Neurologist- although this was through my employers private health scheme- wonder if that had anything to do with it! After I was diagnosed with MS I am no longer covered and have waited 10 months for an NHS app with a Neurologist and have been stuck in no mans land since then…Back to you though- I would DEFINATELY put in a complaint and see a different GP from now on. Only downside is that if you are diagnosed with MS there is no going back and you will find yourself on an emotional roller coaster…sometimes I wish I had never found out! Good luck x
Hi. I am sorry to hear about the problems with your GP but I have to say it’s a complete relief to know that I am not alone. I had an appointment with my GP this week that didn’t go well. I initially had sensory problems about eight years ago. I had severe pins and needles in my arms and legs for over a week that settled in my left hand side. My GP at the time sent me off with a sleeping tablet making me feel like the world’s biggest hypochondriac. I swore i would never go back. I am not someone that generally feels sorry for myself, I very rarely take time off sick and have a general attitude that you just need to get on with it. Over the years I’ve experienced pins and needles, numbness, coldness or burning (although skin not actually cold), pain akin to growing pains mostly down my left and occasionally in my right arm. And occasionally have felt a slight difference of temperature in my left leg when getting in the bath. I have no problem with movement apart from sometimes feeling heaviness in my left. It would come and go over the months. Recently as well as the usual feelings in my left side which have felt worse and moved into the left side of my face, I began to have dizziness, vertigo, a constant feeling of being slightly drunk, and pressure in my head. My blood pressure is fine and the blood tests also came back fine. I had no doubt that they would. Having looked online and finding MS pages, it appears that I can also take more symptoms that I’ve previously just shrugged off. I do have cognitive problems, have had problems with finding the right word for years, my husband and child have been picking me up on my memory this year, which I have strenuously denied although deep down I know they are probably right and have had problems with fatigue on and off for years. I am not saying that I have MS and can keep an open mind, but it does seem to tie into problems with the nervous system. I am probably lucky in the fact that my GP has signed me off work and is referring me to neuro but he made it absolutely clear that he believes it is physcological (prob spelt wrong). It upset me a lot and I am so annoyed with myself that I got teary there and then which probably confirmed his theory that I am a complete loon! I also have the feeling that my referral notes will reflect this, and I am wondering if I am wasting my time and should just carry on, though not sure if I can keep struggling through work like i have been indefinitely. Thankfully my husband is being very supportive.
To all those diagnosed with MS, can you tell me if it sounds like a possibility? I know there are many of you that have extreme symptoms that I am so lucky I do not have, but it would be good to know. Thanks
Hello Another Anon
You might want to start another thread so your post doesn’t get lost inside this one, but for what it’s worth, the sort of symptoms that you describe can be found in many different conditions, only one of which is MS, and some of which are easily treated.
It’s not great to have a GP who is so unsupportive, but at least he’s referred you to a neurologist at last. Make sure that you have a concise list of symptoms/history prepared for when you see him/her and try to take someone with you - an extra pair of eyes and ears can be very helpful.
You might want to think about getting yourself a new GP at some point too!
Good luck!
Karen x
yes i think the others have covered it but just to offer support. i was told by an on call GP the symptoms may have been in my head but luckily my own GP has been very helpful.
It might be worth making a complaint, this GP is in a gate holder posittion, which i think sometimes goes to their heads, is it a small practice? if so look else where if not your surgery might have another GP you are more comfortable with.
Take care xxx
yes i think the others have covered it but just to offer support. i was told by an on call GP the symptoms may have been in my head but luckily my own GP has been very helpful.
It might be worth making a complaint, this GP is in a gate holder posittion, which i think sometimes goes to their heads, is it a small practice? if so look else where if not your surgery might have another GP you are more comfortable with.
Take care xxx
I have came a across a couple of “not so nice” gps in the years I’ve been going back and forth trying to find an answer to what has been causing all my problems over the last ten years.
The first one took one look at me and said " Well how do you expect to feel well when you are over-weight and you smoke"
Then second one asked me " What do you want me to do, poke a stick at it til I get an answer"
Needless to say I’ve since lost 5 stone and stopped smoking and I’m still having the same problems.
I sometimes wonder why some doctors become gps because they certainly give the impression that they just don’t have time for their patients most of the time