Not 100% Happy With My Gp's Decision

[puternut]

As a long time (10+ years) sufferer of type 2 diabetes and almost as long a sufferer of lower leg cellulitis (sp?) I have been on a cocktail of drugs for some time.

In February I had my blood test but, as usual it is simply to keep their records up to date as I only see a diabetes doctor/nurse annually unless I encounter any problems. This gave apparently gave a good, well controlled, set of results

My blood is checked every 6 months and everything has gone smoothly until last summer when after a particularly long spell of swollen and painful ankles I was put on anti-inflammatories on a daily basis. I was told by GP that the particular drug for this was known to have a gastro-intestinal side effect so another drug was issued.

This week I went for my repeat prescription and lo and behold another drug has been added - without any consultation - because one (or both) the two drugs are now known to put up blood pressure.

I am already on a hypertension drug which has been working perfectly well for years. And I'm now on up to 10 drugs daily with some needed twice a day. I don't walk I rattle!!!

I guess I should just accept doctors decision but it does seem now that for every drug we take we have to take an extra number to alleviate any side-effects.

Moan over

[cupid04]

I understand puternut. Could you not see a different doctor t talk over your concerns. Mine always seems to have pen poised over the prescription pad as I walk in. I'd love to go somewhere else but ours is only a small village practice and I live miles away from the next nearest one. I take quite a few pills and my OH calls me his wee junkie[one of his many terms of endearment] lol!

[Sqad]

\\\This week I went for my repeat prescription and lo and behold another drug has been added - without any consultation - because one (or both) the two drugs are now known to put up blood pressure. \\\

One would hope that there would have been a good reason for this addition to your medication and i am sure that this is the case. However this should have been with consultation or at least explanation by your medical carer.

Return to the surgery and ask for an explanation as this, to me, once again, is an unacceptable level of health care in a world wide envied health system.

[mrs_overall]

I would make an appointment to see your GP for a prescription review, and talk through all the meds with him/her.
I also read all the accompanying leaflets like a hawk since I was once prescribed a med that should never have been taken with another med I was already on.

[gness]

Puternut....promise me you will NEVER "just accept a doctor's decision". Please. x

[Sqad]

Blimey...we are going a bit OTT girls........it is about a sick note.......

[mrs_overall]

Wrong thread Sqad ? x

[Sqad]

Mrs-O.....LOL...yepp!.....cr@p answer anyway......;-)

[mrs_overall]

Sqad, take some ibuprofen and go for a lie down ;-)

[gness]

You see Puternut.......even the best doctor can become a tad confused. ;-)

[Sqad]

gness....what do you mean "the best"............."the very very best" please...;-)

[gness]

Sqad...I have yet to find out if you really are the very, very best. ;-) x

[Ann]

Does your pharmacist not conduct an interview with you regularly to review the meds you are on? Our Boots store are excellent in doing this, if you collect your prescription from them. The pharmacist looks at all the medication and see if they are compatible together and also possible side effects. They have been known to find two different meds which should not be taken together and we went back to the GP on their recommendation.

[Ann]

Hello Gness! x Just whizzing on here for a few minutes, until I pick up my new glasses for computer use, trying not to use the screen too much.

[starone]

The pharmacist who does my repeat prescriptions calls me in now and then for a little chat. Only when I happen to go into the pharmacy, not an appointment. He goes all through my pills with me and asks me if I know what they are for and how to take them. (He is very kind to a doddery old lady). If I ask him any questions he will answer them for me and I am sure your pharmacist will do the same for you. They are nearly as good as and sometimes better than, the doctor!!

[gness]

Hi Ann and Star...yes my pharmacist offers this service too...I have just discovered. :-(

[puternut]

Chemist has done one 5min revue in about 5 years (a year or so ago) where he went through each drug and said did I know what it was for and were there any side-effects.

[Eve]

Try and suss out a good pharmacist who can give you time to go through things. Once you understand more it might leave you better informed to speak to your Dr.

I have great communication with my GP and we often discuss there reasons for and against medication rather than just a here's a prescription, take this kind of thing. I take a lot of different meds for different things and they come from different places, GP, consultants etc... so I try to keep a good check.

There is a fantastic pharmacist in a local Boots who is the most helpful one I've met, brilliant for working out if I can take over the counter remedies with my meds etc... and when I went to get a methotrexate prescription the other day I was quizzed on when my last blood tests were, did I know how much to take, how often, the dangers to look out for etc... Great to have someone like that.

Things can be overlooked and mistakes made. I had a GP make a mistake on issuing a prescription for me for 5mg daily of a drug and I ended up with 50mg.

[arwyn]

I hate G.P's who type while you talk, they don't notice that you've stopped in the middle of a sentence, which proves they were'nt listerning to you in the first place.

We have only one G.P who types inbetween patients. They are paid stupid money and alot of them think they're God..

[woofgang]

If you think he's not listening then say something completely outrageous and see if you get a response!

[shrutidas239]

there are various classes of drugs which are used for treatment of hypertension like diuretics,beta blockers,calcium channel blockers,angiotensin antagonist etc,all of these drugs have their own effects and side effects and depending upon these factors a drug class is prescribed for the patient,check this site for more information : http://treathypertension.blogspot.com/