LumpySpaceEllie 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

My left hip and leg bones have been aching since last night. Its like that feeling of needing to stretch but nothing eases it. Ouch.

I was quite upset with my doctor yesterday. 4 years of chronic pain and they only referred me to a #PainClinic a month ago. Yesterday I got a letter off my doc saying before she sends the form it took me hours to fill in, she wants to examine me. I know she doesn't believe me and after 4 years I'm TIRED. What will it take to be believed πŸ˜”

Mar 16, 2023 at 9:49amWeb
Show threadLumpySpaceEllie 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Mar 16, 2023

I'm going to ask to switch doctors because I've had it with her. A week after my total hysterectomy I went to see her crying and in agony and she actually suggested I stop all of my medications! That I need to function! The last time I went to see her was because of a sexual problem and she actually laughed and she said she didn't know what that was and that was that. I'm a nurse, a COLLEAGUE and she doesn't believe me so what hope does anyone else have πŸ˜”

#Abelism

Show threadLumpySpaceEllie 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Mar 16, 2023
I was crying for hours yesterday. I hate being a woman. If I was a man with this level of pain, I think they would have at least given me an xray by now! But instead I'm made to feel like a liar that constantly has to prove myself even though I have NOTHING to gain from lying. I want to work and miss my job. I want to do normal things. I switched to #GlutenFree and my pain improved after a week but the doc never suggested changing my diet! I'm sick of it
#Sexism #Abelism
Show threadLumpySpaceEllie 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Mar 16, 2023

I rang and changed my doctor on my file. I feel relieved ☺

I'm thinking of doing a #FreedomOfInformation request to see my medical records. Has anyone been through that process before and any advice? I have a feeling that she might think I'm a drug seeker. I'm a nurse so I know what people write about patients and "drug seeker" is not something you want in your records. It might be subconscious but doctors treat those patients with immediate suspicion. Its not ok

Show threadTattie (old account)Mar 16, 2023
@LumpySpaceEllie I'm glad you got your doctor changed. It's absolutely shameful how badly doctors tend to treat female patients, especially disabled ones. I've had friends accused of being drug seekers, and even being told that the doctor "doesn't believe in" their condition. 😠
Show threadLumpySpaceEllie 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Mar 16, 2023
@Tattie someone in my adenomyosis support group was told "pain isn't a symptom". Its the main symptom! I'm glad I had a hysterectomy to cure that so I don't need to explain to doctors what it is every single time anymore πŸ™„
I did my nursing degree module in pain and our definition was "pain is whatever the patient says it is", because we know our own bodies better than anyone and early experiences affect how we feel pain later on in life. She needs a refresher course
Show threadTattie (old account)Mar 16, 2023

@LumpySpaceEllie I had a nurse treat me weirdly last year, she was being all nicey-nice but also definitely patronising and not really listening. It wasn't until she hesitantly asked me about my period that I realised I was getting the female treatment. 😬

Kinda affirming but also YIKES.

Show threadRussell πŸ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ ΏπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦πŸ‰Mar 16, 2023
@LumpySpaceEllie Pejorative terms like this won't appear in print. Practices use codes or coloured markings to flag 'problem patients'!
Show threadEssjay πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ  Mar 16, 2023

@LumpySpaceEllie

I've never done it myself, but I believe it is more straightforward than a FOI request:

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-get-your-medical-records/

How to get your medical records

Medical records hold information about you. You'll have separate records for any NHS service you go to.

nhs.uk
Show threadMostlyTatoMar 16, 2023
@LumpySpaceEllie
I hope you get some help and relief. Chronic illness comes with all sorts of stress, especially if it's nebulous, hard to see or quantify, where often doctors will simply not listen or believe.
Show threadSchroedingerMar 16, 2023

@LumpySpaceEllie We do seem to have a problem with invisible illness in the west (at least).

It is so much easier to have a broken leg than a broken body.