Re: Can anybody relate to? Advise? Explain my symptoms?
GMK,
Had my follow up with the GP yesterday, Nightmare. Had to explain all of my symptoms again as they could not give me the same GP, as she is now on maternity leave.
Anyway I asked the new GP about a Neurotologist, and she told me that she had never heard of one, and therefore they were not doctors, or medical professionals and she could not give me a referral for that. Fine I thought. But she wasn't finished there!! She told me that my symptoms were nothing more than depression and that I should seriously consider medication for this. She even tried to charge me extra because the consult went on for 20 mins instead of 10, even though 15 mins were spend re-explaining my symptoms. I honestly thought someone was at the wind up!!
That's me back at square one now, so not sure where to go now. What a pain in the arse!
Seeing optician today about the floaters anyway.
Re: Can anybody relate to? Advise? Explain my symptoms?
Hi Jambuki,
That's horrendous. The neurotologists not being doctors comment is insane. They ARE doctors. I know, I go to the neurotology department in the national hospital of neurology. They are ENTs with a further 3-4 yrs training in the inner ear! My GP hadn't heard of a neurotologist either but she just admitted that and took my word that they did exist!
Are you looking to get a referral on the NHS? Or do you intend to go privately? If you are going privately then she has to refer you. You may have to pay for the referral letter if they are really being difficult but as far as I know they aren't legally allowed to deny you a visit if you are paying for it. What a pain that the other doc is on maternity leave. Might there be another more sympathetic gp in the surgery?
I think you just have to fight through the wall of resistance and disbelief you can come up against with this type of problem. My GP, who is actually very nice, referred me even though it was clear she thought I might be making a fuss about nothing. I had seen 2 ENTS both of whom had either said or implied I was just suffering from anxiety. Obviously after I had been to neurotology, got a proper diagnosis from a doc who actually understood these conditions, it was the ENTs who ended up looking silly, not me.
Re: Can anybody relate to? Advise? Explain my symptoms?
Jambuki,
Sorry to hear that your GP visit did not go so well. Maybe you should ring the hospital in London directly? They might see you without a referral because you are outside the NHS system.
It's annoying to be diagnosed with anxiety/depression. It's a lazy diagnosis that means they don't really know what's wrong with you and can't be bothered trying to finding out. There's too many people on this board with similar symptoms and I'm convinced that there's more to it than just anxiety (although I'm sure it's an aggravating factor).
With regard to my GP, he's pretty matter of fact and I'm not sure you'd have any joy with him either. He referred me to a neurologist but I never asked him about a neurotologist.
Maybe Adelaide Road would refer you to a neurotologist? It's an Eye and Ear hospital so they're bound to have heard of one.
Let me know how you get on with the eye specialist.
Re: Can anybody relate to? Advise? Explain my symptoms?
GMK,
Just went along to a normal optician yesterday. The person who examined me was very thorough, and said that I do have floaters, but they are not too serious and there is nothing really that she can do about them.
Vision wise - she said I have a slight prescription, but no need to take it unless I feel bothered by my vision. I think my vision is fine, the only problem is the floaters, which I feel are getting worse.
I think I'll pursue the hospital in London directly, not really keen on throwing more money at a GP for little understanding or willingness to be open minded.
Another problem with the GP is that I had previously suggested that I felt my symptoms were Thyroid connected, only to be told that they had tested my Thyroid function and it was normal. On wednesday, however, the new GP said she had no record of me having been tested for thyroid, but she would check. After my little disagreement with her I'm not really keen to call back to see if they did in fact check, but suppose I'll have to to be certain. One thing is for sure, I won't be going back there to have it tested anyway!
Will keep you posted on any useful info or contacts in my quest!
Re: Can anybody relate to? Advise? Explain my symptoms?
GMK, Hbep
Just to keep you up to date. Had a little episode a couple of weeks back. Really bad double vision, pain behind my right eye and a delay in my right eye focussing. Quite freaky, the right eye was almost twitching into place! Anyway, went to the eye and ear and saw an orthoptist (??) said there was definitely something up and referred me on to a Neurologist.
Neurologist has prescribed migraine medication as she said that is most likely what this is. Also prescribed sinus medication as feels there is an additional issue there too.
Hopefully the migraine medication will show some change. Will keep you up to date again.
Re: Can anybody relate to? Advise? Explain my symptoms?
Hey Jambuki,
That's very good news. Sometimes when you get really freaky symptoms like you had - double vision etc... it is helpful, although not pleasant at the time as it points towards the right diagnosis. I think the neurologist has made a really good call here. Well done on pursuing this, it isn't easy when you keep coming up against scepticism. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
What migraine meds have you been given? Don't panic if they don't work or you can't handle side effects. I had to try a few before I hit on the right one for me - this is common - there are tonnes of migraine meds, if this doesn't work you there are loads of others to try. Some people do get lucky and the first one works for them - keeping my fingers crossed that's the case for you.
