Hmm got to find a new doctor

[phlika29]

So i have managed to keep the same doctor even though I have not been in the right catchment area for the last five years. But today they took me by surprise and phoned me up to check my address as a letter they has sent me had been returned and I had to confessmad3:

So now I am without a doctor and I have to go on the hunt to get someone else. This has left me in a mild state of panic as I have no idea whether anyone else will be any good. Thoughts are spiraling out of control and am having mild panic attacks (with flushing ofcourse). What they take me off my meds, refuse to give me any more propranolol or spiro?? what if they refuse to refer me to anyone ever again. What if they are crap and just tell me to not worry so much, what if they want to just give me some steriods??

this is shit I loved my old doc, he did what I wanted

Shhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttthammer:

[boyandhisdog]

Sarah,
Wow, I am glad to see you are handling this so well. I was going to offer you soothing and calming words of wisdom but after reading your whole post, I see it is clearly unnecessary. You have definitely got it all figured out. Yes, you are screwed.
Hey, I am not the world's smartest guy but today is Friday in England too right? It's the weekend.
Relax, take it easy. You will figure it all out on Monday.
When I am flushing I have found two things that help- ice or alcohol. I try the ice first to calm the flush. If the ice doesn't work, I put the ice in a nice big drink and then at least I don't care about the flush so much.
Best,
Rob

[phlika29]

Rob

I suffer from intrusive thoughtsninja:laugh:

I gave up alcholol in my teensDrunk2:

am off round mums for a nice cup of lady grey and some egg and chips instead.

[boyandhisdog]

Sarah,
Forgive me but I am an ignorant American. I get the Lady Grey tea but what the heck is egg and chips?
Enjoy your weekend. Hope it all works out for you.
Best,
Rob

[phlika29]

Err egg and chips is well egg and chipsunsure: I guess to you that means fried eggs (possibly over easy) and fries.

[patty]

Sarah it really sucks looking for a new doc. Hopefully you will find one that is sympathetic and willing to continue with your current treatment. I find it hard to believe that a new doctor would go against what your old one prescribed, especially if it works for you. I'm sure everything will work out.

Rob, I just love your smart-a** sense of humor. laugh:

[boyandhisdog]

Sarah-
Yep, I was afraid that's what it was!
Patty-
Glad I could oblige. Like my dad told me when I went off to university, "Son, you aren't very good looking, you don't have any money, and you don't have any special talents. If you expect to get a woman, you better have one hell of a sense of humor..."
That's not the exact quote of course. The exact quote is much funnier but this is a family show.
You guys have a great weekend.
Rob

[moomy]

Hi phlika,
what a terrible shock this must be!!! If all available new doctors are shite you could move house to be in the catchment area of the old one??

[Melissa W]

Sarah, That is really unfair and sucks big time!
Is there no official you can speak to and plead your case??

If not the next best thing I can think of is to call your old doc and ask him for a recommendation to one that is like-minded to him in your approved area.

And if all else fails can you ask your old doc to either a. write a letter to the new doc explaining your case and why he put you on all the meds that he did or b. call the new doc explaining your circustances.

Also, can't your old doc speak to the authorities in charge of your zoning issues and explain why you should be allowed to continue seeing him? Surely they must make exceptions for special patients?

Anyway, I feel your pain and distress and I am hoping things turn out well for you. My fingers and toes are crossed. There must be other kind and open minded docs in your area.

Best wishes,
Melissa

PS Enjoy the eggs and chips. I like fish and chips...

[phlika29]

Well I phoned up today ready to put my case and I didn't get past the receptionist. She was nice enough but said I was just too far out of their area. So now I am really panicking.

I am going to try to go to one near me to see what they are like. I just cant believe that anyone else is going to be as nice and helpful as my doc.Cry:

[Twickle Purple]

I don't understand about the "area" requirement? I feel for you!! console: When my doctor went locum (sounds like loco, but just means she became a 'temp' for other practices so she could have flexibility) I panicked too. It's not like we are all cut and dried with our skin needs. Cry: She was open-minded and let me do everything I wanted -- she had no ego problems and no need to dominate, she just helped!! I never replaced her. I tried the local fellows (ahem) and it was AWFUL. I finally opted out and went for the private option. Costs me a bundle annually but I get what I need and I just have to send an email and ask for it, but my needs are established so it is easy now. Not that this is at all helpful for you! sorry. I just don't understand how they don't understand how IMPORTANT a doctor relationship is. You're in the system with them, it seems punitive to be punted because of your address. OMG, I'm whining. Sorry. I think I'm going to get to work now...

Good luck Sarah! kiss:

[phlika29]

Thanks TP kiss:. You weren't whining at all, just telling it as it is.

I can sort of understand that if you don't live that close to a doctor you have to go elsewhere. I think it relates to the out of hours service and also ensures that not everyone goes to the person with the best reputation. Still it isnt bloody fairmad1:

[Melissa W]

I don't know how it works over there but could you put something in writing pleading your case? Sometimes a well thought out letter sent to the right person might get results.

If not, don't despair as I am sure that you can find someone else who is good and try to get your previous doctor to explain your case to your new doctor and definitely have your previous medical records sent to the new doctor.

Good luck Sarah. I am crossing my fingers and sending out good vibes to you!!yes:

[kristina b]

Hi Sarah,

I had no idea that was how it worked - what a nightmare. Is there a largeish GP practice near to where you live now? At least then if you have to change you'd have a choice of GPs within the one practice, and could see a few people until you found the one you liked. I'm in that situation - our practice has about 8 GPs, and I've already seen 3 now about my skin: one crap and pro-steroid creams; another one kind and sympathetic but still crap (same reason); and one quite brusque one who nonetheless actually seemed to know something about rosacea.

On the positive side, I honestly don't think many GPs would refuse to give you meds. that you've been on for a while and that work for you. Some may suggest you "review" the situation, but if you're quite forceful and tell them that nothing else works, I think most would just accept it. My mother-in-law has had a couple of new GPs fairly recently (they seem to keep dying on her...) and apparently they've queried some of the things she gets - not least her supply of diazepam (she likes to keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet!), but she just steam-rollers over them and they all agree to give her what she wants in the end.

Of course, it's more than just getting your meds. - a good GP-patient relationship is a really precious thing and I can understand exactly why you don't want to change. I really hope the practice reconsiders, or that you find another brilliant GP. I'm sure there are lots out there who'd be thrilled to have someone as clued-up as you on their register.

Best wishes,

Kristina

[phlika29]

What an effing nightmare this is turning into. Six weeks to get my notes transferred yet only three weeks till my propranolol runs out. In this day and age you would think that notes would be held and tranferred electronically. I have so much inertia sorting this out. Ridulous really I managed to write to my local MP and leader of the the opposition party last week yet cant bring myself to actually fill out the stupid form for the doctor and commit myself to a place I no nothing about.

I have turned into one of those annoying people who cant talk about anything else. Just shoot me now.

The only postitive I can see is that I have come across a doctor with a 'special interest' in dermatology, but thats like saying I have a special interest in radiohead. It doesnt mean I could run their tour.

and breathe..........

[phlika29]

Well after my strop I thought I had better try to progress this further so I contacted the local office of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (http://www.pals.nhs.uk/). They were very helpful and contacted the secretary of the dermatologist at my local hospital to ask her which doctors worked part time at in the dermatology department. She gave my three names of GP's that do-the only bad thing is that none will accept me as I am slightly out of their catchment areaCry:

So I am going to have to go with the one that 'has an interest' although when I phoned up to check they said that I cant register with one particular GP, you register with the practice and just hope that you can sometimes see the one you want when you go for an appointment.

By the way I am not expecting or hoping anyone will reply, I am just enjoying getting this out of my system.

[Melissa W]

Sarah, that does really suck and I am stressed out for you just listening to what you have to go through. console:
What I would do here if I was running out of my Rx and I didn't yet have a doc to prescribe it is would ask a friend MD to write the Rx for me. There must be someone you know who would do this for you. Even your previous doc should be able to give you some refills on the propanolol I would think. If not, can't you ask Dr. Crouch or another physician that you have a relationship with? I truly hope this gets sorted out for you soon as I know what you're going through and how stressful the situation is and would be for anyone going through the same thing!

Hugs,
Melissa

[Melissa W]

Also, can you call back that lady at the patient advice and liason center for more names hopefully of someone in your catchment area.

[phlika29]

Thanks Melissa

Those were the only names that came up in my area. I will try the one near me. To be honest I don't need anything from a doc nowadays except for repeat prescriptions. So as long as they leave my meds well alone thats fine by me.

With regards knowing any doctors socially I dont. I am fairly sure that you cant get anyone to write a script (although perhaps Dr Crouch may be able to write me a private one but then I would have to pay the actual prove of the meds as opposed to the standard cost of a NHS prescription and that could be really expensive.

I sound like I am being awkward but this is just the way it works.

[Melissa W]

Sarah, not at all. I know it's different in different countries. Here all I need is a script and the pharmacy will process it through your insurance (if you have any) or you pay the full amount. It doesn't matter if it's an in network or out of network doc. Whenever I go to the pharmacy they don't check if the doc takes my insurance or anything (I go to some drs who don't accept any insurance). They just process the Rx through my insurance regardless of the dr who wrote it. And I will admit to asking some of my colleagues and/or friends to write some of the scripts for me when it's too difficult to go through the normal channels. It sounds as if it's a bit more complicated by you. I agree that you don't really need a great doctor since you know more than most of them anyway (and you always have Dr. Crouch to bounce things off of anyway if you run into a pickle) so all you need from them is to write whatever scripts for meds you need. I hope it all gets sorted out quickly!

[phlika29]

The NHS has both good and bad points and of course I would like to take only the good bits. For example if you want to see a derm (even privately) you always have to be referred by or doctor or other consultant.

However when a prescription gets written up you only pay a set fee no matter what the drug costs. At the moment that is about £6.00 (approx $12), the difference is picked up by the NHS. There are also many exemptions such as being on certain benefits, under 16 or over 65, etc, etc.

[Melissa W]

That sounds great. I guess like with anything you have to take the good with the bad. I know how you feel as I get a bit anxious sometimes if I am running low on any of my (rosacea) meds and I have to get another script. I just hate going through all those steps. My husband gets his allergy meds through medco.com and they give him a 3 month supply of his meds and it comes in the mail! You don't even have to go to the pharmacy. Unfortunately medco doesn't include Oracea or Solodyn so I have to go to the pharmacy every month. But at least they deliver once I drop off the Rx.

All in all I think your health care system is better in that everyone gets coverage. Unfortunately there is red tape in every system in every country.

[phlika29]

Yes I would say better in general but still a bit of a lottery. Not all health areas will pay for the same medication. There have been lots of cases (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/6944812.stm) where a cancer med is available if you live in one county but not another.

[Melissa W]

That's awful. I feel so badly for him. It is so unfair.

[phlika29]

Okay I've come full circle. I have decided to go with a one man band as opposed to the bigger practice. My dad goes to this doctor and he says that he very informal and nice. Being by himself you will always get to see him as opposed to being triaged (sp?) at a larger practice and getting to see whoever you has a free appointment.

When I phoned up the larger practice to see if I could register with a particular doctor they said no and werent very nice. So that made up my mind. I have filled out the forms and she just said make an appintment to see the doc whenever you like. The funny thing was that when I was fillling out the form I couldnt remember how to spell rosacea at all, it just looked wronglaugh:.

[Twickle Purple]

Here's wishing this will all be a nice happenstance of serendipity, and this fellow turns out to be the best doctor for you! It sounds hopeful with his set up, you'll get one fellow that you can build up a rapport with and he will quickly see how sensible and knowledgeable you are and give you everything you need.

Please let us know how you like him. grin:

sidehug:
Big hugs!
Corinna

[Melissa W]

Hi Sarah,
I think that's the best choice you could have made under the circumstances. One, your dad likes him so there's a recommendation that means something and two, it's more of a one on one service which I always find important. This way the doctor gets to know you and your specifics more quickly than a larger more anonymous staff of docs. And lastly, if the staff is not welcoming (and to a potential new patient to boot!) then who needs that. I am definitely put off by an unfriendly staff as it makes the whole experience even that more stressful.

Here's hoping that this doctor is the right fit for you and it has got to help that he knows your dad. All my fingers and toes crossed for you!

Best wishes,
Melissa

[phlika29]

I needed a repeat of my propanolol recently and was dreading having to see the new doctor in case he queried the meds. Luckily they appeared happy for me to just put in for a prescription request rather than an appointment. So far so good. Perhaps I will never have to actually meet himthumbs:

[Melissa W]

Super! thumbs:
I wish all our doctors were like that.