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Finally got around to registering with the GP surgery and have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow morning, but which of these should I get seen to?
1) Oozing, weeping, and altogether lovely, but minor, carbuncle on cheek (original reason for booking apt.)
2) Chronic, debilitating depression that has been attended to many times but got nowhere.
3) Chronic lower back pain and possibly associated, frequently severe, sciatica.
What would the logical STW massif do?
2 & 3 sound most important, I guess 1 can be sorted quite quickly with antibiotics.
Timelines likely to be dependent on other departments so will probably be prioritised by defualt.
Its a dilemma isnt it?.
In the very rare instances when I can get an appointment that fits in with work, by the time it comes around I've occasionally had more than one concern.
I find GPs make it VERY clear their unhappiness at my selfishness and try and boot me out even before the eggtimer on the desk runs out.
Anyway, I'd go with 2 and 3 as Doctors seem to have contempt for blokes raising cosmetic issues.
I'm a bit cynical am'nt I?
I believe that backache and depression can be associated. IIRC, I once heard it said that GPs often find that patients who go to see them backache, are actually also suffering from depression. Only they are more likely to complain about backache than depression. Not sure why there might be a backache/depression connection - guess it might be due to increased muscular tension during stressful times ? I would mention all 3 btw.
Thanks for the insight, guys. Sounds like I'm not the only one who feels the pressure to just get in&out a the GP's.
I think I might approach it with an "I'm here for some drugs" opener and hopefully get a quick couple of prescriptions.
You're spot on, ernie, about the linked ailments, I've often experienced a feedbakc loop between the two. I'm sure the damn back pain would be easier to cope with if I didn't feel so flattened the whole time!
How about all of them.
See if they have a chronic pain clinic they can refer you to.
Go and get all three issues sorted, if he/she is a decent GP he/she will listen and start you on the road to recovery for all three. If you feel you are being shunted out register your greivance with the practice manager.
Ah, yes, all of them would be the ideal, but the [s]evil harpies[/s] wonderful women who are GP surgery receptionists will make it abundantly clear via every medium available that each appointment is for [b][u]ONE[/u][/b] problem only.
No, ask for a longer appointment time but you may have to wait another couple of days.
Tell them that it is one problem - your health.
....feels the pressure to just get in&out a the GP's.
I sometimes need to be remained how lucky I am with my GP - my GP loves to have a chat ! And a laugh too - we take the p*ss out of each other 8) Often it's [i]me[/i] who feels that there isn't enough time to chat, and I have to gently ease myself off the chair and make my way to the door whilst he's still chatting.
Mind you, I pay a price for that - usually it's a one week wait to see him with an appointment, on account that he is so popular. I've often considered changing to another practice where I would be seen much quicker, but perhaps that wouldn't be very wise.
It may be tough finding time for Docs appointments but without your health you can't work. Depression is a biatch when neglected so i would listen to CG and book a longer appointment. Its your health service and the doctors get paid well for looking after you so use them. I do:-).
Suffering various back pains at the moment myself, well more aches n tingles than pain as such. Think its mostly due to tension, stress and depression on going for several months. Off to see the Doc tomorrow, will see what she says, but cant see much progress tbh.
I sometimes need to be remained how lucky I am with my GP - my GP loves to have a chat ! And a laugh too - we take the p*ss out of each other
Aaah, I had a GP like that once. She was great and got so close to sorting my stupid moods, but I was too weird. Bless her though.
Good idea, CG, thanks for that. I'd forgotten about that facility. I bet the receptionists give you a proper you-want-[i]what[/i]-look if you ask for one of those though...
steveb - be positive and don't leave until you feel you have been listened to and GP has put appropriate wheels in motion.
First off I'd have a go at discussing all 3, the foul cheek is hardly indepth medicine, the back and the depression if they are chronic recurrent/ongoing should be a script and refer on. If they really go for 'pick a problem', pick 2 or 3 and throw the cheek in at the end, and book another appointment on your way out.
bananaworld - you need another Swinley ride 😉 But will confess to being the patient from hell cos I only go once a year, having made my own diagnosis and proceed to say what treatment I want 🙄
1 and 3 which will help with 2...
I've been suffering from back / neck pain for the last few years (since a whiplash/snowboard crash, made worse by exercise), each time I go to the doctor I basically get packaged off saying I'm stressed. The last helpful GP suggested I get a different job, fantastic, yes it's obviously that easy.
Personally I would say I'm a bit stressed with work, but no more than anyone else, and frankly get a bit miffed every time I raise it with a GP I just get your stressed, go home and chill out, goodbye response. I'm sure there are some great GPs out there but I have yet to meet one.
I've got 2 choices I suppose, badger the hell out of my surgery or go private and try and get a more helpful response. Just taken out a cash plan to that end. We shall see.
easy 2 + 3 . Amitryptiline will cure your neuralgic back pain and depression in one
withdraws wand!
1 is easy - 2 second diagnosis.
2 and 3 deserve appointments in their own rights and prolonged discussion and follow up/treatment. If your GP was extremely lucky amitryptiline could cure both!
steveb - I hope it's a better result than you fear. Even if it's a referral that's weeks away, it's still progress.
smell_it - Member...the foul cheek...
Thanks for that, makes me LOADS less self-concious 😉
CG - darn right I need to get out to some woods again! But we must stop meeting like that... 😯
DT78 - I've considered private too, can't really afford it but may well look into costs if nothing happens via the GP.
"Hey Doctor Nick!" - Amitriptyline sounds like just the ticket: can you ask for specific drugs at the GP or will the doc frown upon this...?
referal for cbt to deal with back pain and depression..
GP surgery receptionists will make it abundantly clear via every medium available that each appointment is for ONE problem only.
Ask for 3 appointments?
Personally I've never come across that attitude - my visits to the GP are so few and far between that I don't feel at all guilty bringing up multiple problems at once - is the only way I'll ever speak to the GP about low level things, as otherwise I can't be bothered going in (though the two I had when I visited last week were closely related enough it wasn't an issue at all).
[i]easy 2 + 3 . Amitryptiline will cure your neuralgic back pain and depression in one
withdraws wand![/i]
If you were my GP and you prescribed me Amitryptiline I would put that wand of yours where the sun does not shine 😆
Of all the "psych" drugs I have taken (and trust me I have taken a fair few) it had the worst side effects I have ever experienced even at very low dosages (ie. 10-20 mg to aid sleep).
Yeah it can be crap and i tend to only use it for neuralgic pain or when a really orrible scrote demands "sleeping Pills". I rarely prescribe it for depression. Not nice in overdose either!
CBT doesnt cure real back pain either.
Helps people deal with it though.
Helps people deal with it though.
But surely if the backache is due to a poor quality mattress, then a better way to deal with the pain might be to get a memory foam one ? 💡
makes me LOADS less self-concious
hmmm, sorry about that 😳
"Helps people deal with it though."
....maybe but it won't cure a disc prolapse. Neurosurgery is better than psychobabble for that. Whilst CBT has it pluses I think it is being pushed by the NHS as it is a cheap and self taught option. Can be done online - eg moodgym , and does not require expensive psychotherapists. I would love to refer all my chronic pain and depressed patients quickly to a counsellor/therapist. however locally the waits for theses services are 18 months ( no good if your depressed now) so i have no alternative but to prescribe nasty antidepressant drugs with all their hazards and side effects. Frankly our local psychiatric services are appalling and a pity any poor sould who really need their support as they won't get it. Don't get me wrong CBT has it's place but it's not a panacea
But surely if the backache is due to a poor quality mattress, a better way to deal with the pain might be to get a memory foam one ?
well that would seem to be pretty obvious really.
banannaworld - am fairly confident my problems are stress related, just need to chat through a few sysmptoms, maybe cbt would help, dunno. Think I've done fairly well in the last year sorting depression, founds loads to do and a new bunch of mates, new GF, but stuck in a job thats well paid but not a lot of fun at the moment.
well that would seem to be pretty obvious really.
So probably best to go and see a GP, with a view to maybe getting a diagnoses ? 💡
After all, no point trying to get CBT to deal with backache, if a memory foam mattress will cure the pain.
If it's snowy round your way there'll be loads of cancelled appointments so the doc'll be bored. You should get em to put the kettle on and do all three properly.
Scuttler, you evil genius, that would be a great result!
...maybe but it won't cure a disc prolapse
aye, and neither will amitriptyline.
Look, theres lots of things that have their place for treating backpain.
There all right and there all wrong.
Go and see your doc. Test him/her out with the cheek problem then choose which of the other two is important to you and go back to discuss again.
Thats what people seem to do in real life.
Ernie
i was referring to NHS CBT via his GP. I assumed his Dr would examine him and deem it appropriate.
I wondered if the back pain was causing/worsening depression. Or if depression was affecting perception/tolerance of back pain
NHS drop in centre?
Test him/her out with the cheek problem then...
That, right there, is where the smart money lies. That's a perfect plan, cheers andy.
Good ol' STW, full of people more sneaky than me. 😉
no but amitryptiline would be a reasonable course of action until seen by a neurosurgeon!
Just be assertive bananaworld! Write a list and don't leave til you're done. Good luck!
Apologies for my colourful language in the woods though, just couldn't be ar$ed fixing a puncture and dealing with chain tensioning on the ss:oops:
Assertive, right. Erm, where can I get one of those...?
And no apologies needed. In fact, I don't even recall your language being particularly "colourful", though I do understand how complicated maintenance can be on singlespeeds 😉
Lose the carbunkle and the depression may go with it[at least in part.
That's a nice thought, dyna-ti, however, it's a bit like saying that the capture of Osama Bin Laden would lead to peace stretching from the Himalayas to the Mediterranean.
After hoping for extra time with the doctor due to cancelled appointments, the doctor himself was late, so that plan was out.
The carbuncle is so minor and receding that it didn't even get a mention, but it has done stirling service in actually getting me to the doctor. I had a very brief appointment and left with a "happy"-pills prescription. Hurrah...