Ignorant GPs

blakerobinson

Hello

Ive been having some problems with chest pain recently, im fairly active with cycling and running so i keep fit. In the past ive had a heart condition called a "heart murmer" and heart palpatations.

Anyway, i went down to a GP today for this, one i hadnt used before in churchtown. She went down the usual route asking me this and that about activity, health and diet.

When it came to the questions about smoking, then it got a bit weird. First of all ill say i smoke cigarettes on and off and i smoke weed now and then to relax at home, nothing serious. I do not drink. Anyway, i told her about the weed and she was like "why do you that? i dont understand why people do it". So my response to that was "well i dont understand why people drink alcohol" and nothing else was said about it. So she brought me over to the table and asked me to take off the t-shirt, so i went ahead. As soon as the t shirt was off i started to shake a little bit because of the cold and also because i was a little bit anxious. She asked me for the 57th time "are you sure you havent taken anything else?" to which i replied "no i havent". Then she goes "no cocaine or anything???", i said "NO.."

So obviously as soon as i mentioned that i smoke weed she assumes im a complete druggie and i do everything else, sure why not?!

Anyway, turns out it was a muscle pain (i hope). I mentioned to her i have another problem at the beginning because i have IBS, and she said "yes we'll look at the chest first and then we'll deal with that". So of course i put my t-shirt on and sat back down ready to talk about the 2nd thing. All the while she's acting in a way like she's trying to wrap everything up so i said "what about my stomach"?

Her reply to this completely astonished me, she says:

"well to be honest if you want to come back and see me, you'll have to stop smoking weed because its going to annoy me"

....GOING TO ANNOY HER? Is this not ridiculous?? She's refusing me treatment because i smoke a bit of weed in my spare time. I am so offended, she thinks im a complete druggie obviously. I am sick of ignorant people like this thinking weed is in league with cocaine and heroin etc. She should know better as a GP.

My question is, can she actually deny me treatment for that reason? Its nothing to do with anything medical, she just hates people who smoke weed for some reason.

dragonkin

Don't think it is anything to do with her being a GP. Lots of people think smoking weed is bad. I'm don't think regular weed usage is a particularly good thing myself in particular when you are self medicating to reduce anxiety having said that I have found it excellent for releasing tight muscles particularly around the hips.

blakerobinson

@dragonkin

Nah regular weed usage isnt a good thing you are right, but i dont do it regularly, its more in moderation. Like when i am a bit stiff or stressed, thats all.

And yeah its got nothing to do with her being a GP, which basically means she didnt deny me treatment for any medical reason. I can understand that if i refused to stop and she thought it had something to do with the issue she was treating, then its acceptable. But you dont refuse somebody medical treatment because something about them "annoys you"

I find that disgraceful, unfair and uncalled for.

johnny-grunge

She sounds like a douche. Did she ever get around to having a look at your stomach?

Rezident

Remember doctors are just people too, we expect them to have high standards but some of them are poor, and statistically speaking some of them must be atrocious. Get a proper GP, that one sounds useless. Obviously not very in touch with modern reality either and a serious lack of professionalism. You can do better and you deserve better for something as important as your health.

Theresalwaysone

Never mind if she can legally deny you treatment.

Why would you want to go to a GP whos obviously a ****.

Change your gp and find someone you trust and like.

Lago

Personally I can't stand GPs. I've nothing against doctors but GPs just seem to be a different class of useless workers. I go to the physio with whatever I can and if I can't, I just try and heal it myself. Only after that doesn't work do I go to the GP. Very few seem to have any concern about your well-being, most just seem to have a "get you in, give an easy explaination, get you out" policy.

When I was younger I went to the doctor simply because I had been feeling very tired for a long time. Instead of helping me or just telling me I was fine, he talked to my mother "privately" before attacking me trying to get me to admit I had depressed. I spent 5 minutes on the defensive, thinking "what the **** is this?" before he gave up and sighed in a sort of "well if you don't admit it, I can't help you" way.

Another time, I had a very bad bruise on my body which eventually needed surgery. I didn't know it at the time. Either did the GP but he felt it was appropriate to poke at it for a while causing me so much pain that I nearly passed out in his office.

Don't get me, I don't want to generalise, you will meet some very good GPs. You just have to go through A LOT of crap first with stuff like this. Some just seem to think they are too important and go refuse treatment for stuff like this. It's not up to her what you do in your spare time. At least you told her, other people probably wouldn't and might cause problems that she would be liable for

blakerobinson

@johnny-grunge
No she never got around to looking at my stomach.

@Rezident
You're right, im going to try find a proper GP

@Theresalwaysone
Yeah..im just really offended and want to do something even though i know i cant. Ill find a good GP.

@Lago
I know exactly what you mean, the reason i tried this lady in the first time was because i wasnt satisfied with my current GP, but she turned out to be worse. Its funny you mention the poking thing and causing you pain, she pressed the bones in my chest multiple times really hard...it only takes one time for her to know that it hurts in that place, yet she kept doing it and saying "it hurts there yes? yes?" all the while increasing the pain by constantly pressing it. I thought i was doing the right thing by telling her about the weed thing, who knows it could turn out that my heart cant handle it because it increases heart rate? The stupidest part for me was that she said "a little alcohol is good in moderation but weed is just NO GOOD". I didnt say anything but i felt like saying "OK tell me why doctors are prescribing it in the states then?". She just had no idea.

Thanks for your replies guys

nice_guy80

Lago wrote: »

Personally I can't stand GPs. I've nothing against doctors but GPs just seem to be a different class of useless workers. I go to the physio with whatever I can and if I can't, I just try and heal it myself. Only after that doesn't work do I go to the GP. Very few seem to have any concern about your well-being, most just seem to have a "get you in, give an easy explaination, get you out" policy.

When I was younger I went to the doctor simply because I had been feeling very tired for a long time. Instead of helping me or just telling me I was fine, he talked to my mother "privately" before attacking me trying to get me to admit I had depressed. I spent 5 minutes on the defensive, thinking "what the **** is this?" before he gave up and sighed in a sort of "well if you don't admit it, I can't help you" way.

Another time, I had a very bad bruise on my body which eventually needed surgery. I didn't know it at the time. Either did the GP but he felt it was appropriate to poke at it for a while causing me so much pain that I nearly passed out in his office.

Don't get me, I don't want to generalise, you will meet some very good GPs. You just have to go through A LOT of crap first with stuff like this. Some just seem to think they are too important and go refuse treatment for stuff like this. It's not up to her what you do in your spare time. At least you told her, other people probably wouldn't and might cause problems that she would be liable for

you need to find a better GP if you have that experience!!

I've nothing but good things to say about mine
no bull, listens to me, gets straight to point and wants to sort out any problems

Dermighty

I like my GP, he is his own person, no bull****, in and out, rarely prescribes anything unless it's necessary and is always thorough with questions and ruling out environmental causes of an ailment.

Your doctor is entitled to her opinion, however she also sounds like a tosser.

I've nothing against smoking weed, but some people are arrogant about it, it's still inhaling hot particles of plants into your lungs which can't be good for you.

Mellor

I imagine smoking weed isn't at bad as tobacco. For a couple of reasons.
I would have asked the GP if she considered weed to be worse than tobacco, then I would have asked her to back it up. If she couldn't, resorted to "it just is", or another bullsiht reason I'd of been pretty harsh with my critism of her "professional" opinion.

She'd probably would have been more reasonable then forced to be logical, or flipped into full blown ignorant GP mode. Either way, its a result for you, or you can leave know its her not you at fault.

King of Kings

i'd say if you were using heroin and had a fancy medical card she'd be happy to take you , plenty of coin in that,

she is a disgrace , doctors are obliged to treat you.
even if it means repeating the same mantra repeatedly

a family member got teh same treatment over protein and creatine in the past.
Had a bowel complaint but the doc refused to discuss anything beyond that the shakes and was delighted with himself .

nice_guy80

King of Kings wrote: »

i'd say if you were using heroin and had a fancy medical card she'd be happy to take you , plenty of coin in that,

she is a disgrace , doctors are obliged to treat you.
even if it means repeating the same mantra repeatedly

a family member got teh same treatment over protein and creatine in the past.
Had a bowel complaint but the doc refused to discuss anything beyond that the shakes and was delighted with himself .

next time ask your GP how long they spent in over 6 years of college on food and nutrition? and the effects on the body

john_cappa

So smoking weed is perfectly ok then?

Also the fact that you smoke weed is now on your medical record for life. I assume this will effect thing later in life like life insurance quotes/payouts etc?

Doug Cartel

john_cappa wrote: »

Also the fact that you smoke weed is now on your medical record for life. I assume this will effect thing later in life like life insurance quotes/payouts etc?

Jesus, there's still doctor-patient confidentiality. It's not in your interest to hide stuff from your Doctor.

spurious

If you change GP, make sure to send her a polite note telling her why, otherwise there is no chance of a change in her attitude.

john_cappa

Doug Cartel wrote: »

Jesus, there's still doctor-patient confidentiality. It's not in your interest to hide stuff from your Doctor.

I understand that but if per-se you died? or had to make a claim do they have any right to look at medical records? e.g. life insurance is usually half the payout for a smoker in comparison to a non smoker so if you lie can they not find out?

(confusing myself with how i wrote that but you get what i am asking)

JJayoo

I used to date a girl whose mum was the receptionist for a GP. Each year she would get between 2/3 grand worth of gifts from the drug reps that would book appointments with the GP. It was pretty sweet as me and the ex used to get all the free chocolates/gift vouchers/hotel breaks but then we broke up... no more free chocolate for me

blakerobinson

john_cappa wrote: »

I understand that but if per-se you died? or had to make a claim do they have any right to look at medical records? e.g. life insurance is usually half the payout for a smoker in comparison to a non smoker so if you lie can they not find out?

(confusing myself with how i wrote that but you get what i am asking)

I dont really want this thread to turn into an argument about the drug, its more about the GP and her unprofessional attitude.

Seeing as tobacco use kills millions every year, i can see why it would reduce ones life insurance. On the other hand, there are little to no reports of weed killing people so i cant imagine that would affect things.

ebixa82

john_cappa wrote: »

So smoking weed is perfectly ok then?

Also the fact that you smoke weed is now on your medical record for life. I assume this will effect thing later in life like life insurance quotes/payouts etc?

Wtf are you on about? Do you think insurance companies have a magic computer where they put in someone's name and every GP visit record they ever made comes up?

This is absolutely the most stupid thing I've seen on the net in the last 12 months.

john_cappa

ebixa82 wrote: »

Wtf are you on about? Do you think insurance companies have a magic computer where they put in someone's name and every GP visit record they ever made comes up?

This is absolutely the most stupid thing I've seen on the net in the last 12 months.

I have clarified what I was asking above

john_cappa

ebixa82 wrote: »

Wtf are you on about? Do you think insurance companies have a magic computer where they put in someone's name and every GP visit record they ever made comes up?

This is absolutely the most stupid thing I've seen on the net in the last 12 months.

I have clarified what I was asking above which you would have noticed if you had bothered to read the entire thread before going off on a rant.

What is it with this board and the fact that people are unable to debate and discuss without throwing insults and acting all holier than you.

Thud

unlikely an insurance company would find out, i've probably used about a dozen different GPs in my lifetime, unlikely they'd be able to trace me to most of them if they were looking for a way to get out of a payment

RandolphEsq

Kill her and then smoke her OP.

maco12

ah once they are paid, then yer just a number!

all_smilz

I don't think she acted professionally but to be fair OP you expect not to be judged on an illegal activity that is viewed dimly by health professionals.

To be fair- my GP is amazing- he is really decent and gives me plenty of time. I have attended him with depression and health problems that were psychosomatic and he was really busy. He gave me an hour of his time and then said look, I close at 5 pm, come back at ten past and we'll talk through this some more. He always talks to me like a human being and once gave me a sheet of paper with a Large capital I on it and loads of little iiii's. He said You are the big I and all your fantastic traits and qualities and skills are the little i's.
SO WHAT if you don't have xyz perfect? Theres way more good than bad. ( also so as far as medical problems go I am happy with my treatment and care- this was just an occasion where he shone)

anyway- that's my GPs aren't all bad story. He mostly treats medical card holders and gets loads of alcoholics and drug addicts and homeless people in to his surgery- and he definitely isn't making tons of cash. He wears the same two ties his sons gave him for xmas all the time.