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Doctors appointment....

A_Z1961

Hi! Can anyone advise me here?

I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday 18th. I've waited over a month to see my own doctor. I've had ongoing issues for years, mostly over past 25 years but things are progressing. I was diagnosed with spondylitis, chronic backache, CFS, anxiety with depression and acid reflux many years ago and I have lived with them since.

I am highly sensitive to medications and drugs and try to take a holistic approach to my conditions and stay away from doctors as much as possible. I can maintain and work within my flare up and bad times. When I made my appointment I was coming out of a pretty bad phase which had lasted weeks but now 4 weeks on from the end of the phase I'm back to my "normal" state which means I can cope within my frame work.

I need to see my doctor to see how spondylitis/arthritis is progressing and CFS as I have noticed a mass decline the past year. Also need doctor Fit Notes so I can move forward with WCA as I am on Universal Credit. I've put off going down this route but at my age (63 ) and decline in my conditions I have been pushed to take this route as UC still pushing me to job search etc and I'm not able too for the most part.

I've got everything written down to speak to doctor about but I'm in a "calm" condition right now and I'm worried he'll take one look at me and say I'm fine. My flare ups can last for many weeks and ofcourse have a knock on effect with everything else but right now, I'm in my "ok" state.

Like I say I'm not a regular to the surgery and I take limited medication because of the effects they have on my system and I know how to manage my conditions, so I'm not sure how this appointment is going to go.

Has anyone else had doctors appointments when they were past the worst at that moment (time of appointment) but you know it will all flare up again with days/week or so? How did you handle it? If it wasn't to UC and going down that route I probably wouldn't bother but I have to in order to go through the eca process.

Thanks!

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Comments

durhamjaide2001

I would just tell the doctor that you would like to take the most holistic route as possible whilst always remembering that this might not be an option.

A_Z1961

Durhamjaide2001, thanks for your comment but the "holistic" side isn't my concern. My concern is I'm currently out of a bad phase so I'm going to look and behave in a way that conveys good health and he will think I'm wasting his time. When the reality is, I'm not always in a good phase, most of the time I struggle especially this past year. It's so unfortunate that it takes so long to get a face to face with your own doctor.

A_Z1961

Hi! Well I had my doctor appointment. I was well prepared, written everything down even took a urine sample just incase.

He asked what was wrong, I broke down but I get stressed going to doctors. Mentioned all joint and muscle pain, chronic fatigue and everything that goes with it and insomnia. I've had this since 1999/2000 but more or less managed with some medications and managing myself as best as I can . I got worse last year after getting the flu so I have newer symptoms plus exaggerated ongoing ones. I mentioned spondylitis a few times as I was diagnosed in 2006 and CFS after being diagnosed 2000. He never referred to them at all. I am going to have an x-ray on my hands (back,spine and hips are my main painful and stiff areas). Doesn't think it's rheumatoid or osteoarthritis but possibly fibromyalgia. I am to have some blood tests. He had given me nortriptyline he says to help me sleep and the pain. I've checked online and nortriptyline is primarily an antidepressant with a black box warning as it can cause self harm and suicidal thoughts. I told him I've had antidepressants before and they have caused me suicidal thoughts so I'm a bit worried about taking these.

Anyway, he didn't examine me regards stiffness (apart from hands) or mobility and wasn't interested in anything Id written down. I have to go back in 3-4 weeks to see him, by then bloods and hand x-ray will be done.

My health conditions have been various and long term (25 years) so not sure why I'm not getting full x-rays but maybe whatever they need to know may show up in my hands but my hands aren't the main area of pain and stiffness.

Quite frankly I felt i didn't get very far. I've waited a month to get an appointment to see my own doctor and I've put off going for a very long time because I get so stressed about it, but my universal credit situation has pushed me to go down this route and hopefully get a WCA. He gave me a Fit Note for a month for "joint pain" because I asked him too but I'm a bit worried the hand x-ray and bloods will come back ok and he'll say I'm just depressed and anxious. I'm definitely not depressed, I'm only anxious when I have to go to the doctor or deal work coaches/UC.

So, I'll have to wait and see how the hand x-ray and bloods go and take it from there.

Rosie_Scope

Sorry you didn't feel completely listened to @A_Z1961, it can be a real battle to get recognised by doctors sometimes. It sounded like you were so well prepared too.

I hope the x-ray and bloods go okay. Perhaps you could ask for a referral to a specialist if they're unable to help with your joint pain? Even if it is a case of Fibromyalgia, it can sometimes be a good idea to be seen by a specialist to confirm there's nothing else going on.

Hope you get some answers soon.

A_Z1961

Thanks Rosie_Scope for your comment. The way I see it now is it's probably more like preliminary stages to find out what it's not IE: rheumatoid or osteoarthritis despite being told nearly 20 years ago I had spondylitis and maybe they don't refer to CFS/ME in the same way but call it Fibromyalgia, who knows?

I phoned this morning to make my blood test appointment but doctor hadn't specified so receptionist couldn't make appt. Said to call back tomorrow after 3.00 as doctor not in today. I made my next appointment with GP and that's on the 20th March (first available one with him). My fit note runs out on 18th March but hopefully 1) he'll give me another fit note 2) he'll back date it a day or two. I guess it all depends what tests show or not. Just have to wait and see

Dendoo

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/986466#Comment_986466

your story sounds very very similar to mine . I hope he listened to

You . If you’ve got pain you have got pain. An X-ray cannot tell anyone how much pain you have x