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Doctor Failed Let Me Know My Condition

  • 05-05-2015 3:03pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4


    I was in hospital for a follow up check. When I was about to leave, the nurse asked 'how was that cyst'. I was confused because no body had ever told me anything about that thing growing in my body. Then I asked a few questions to a doctor on duty about my condition. It seems the doctor didn't think it was a big deal at all.
    Is it the practice that doctors don't have to tell patients what conditions they have if doctors think it's not important?

    Thanks


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 229 ✭✭his_dudeness


    Practice is to tell the patient. However, it's possible the doctor used less medical words - i would often describe it as a balloon to a patient instead of a cyst.
    ylsdk wrote: »
    I was confused because no body had ever told me anything about that thing growing in my body. Then I asked a few questions to a doctor on duty about my condition. It seems the doctor didn't think it was a big deal at all.

    This could be the important aspect. Usually, if it's not growing, there is less significance to it and therefore may have been a normal incidental find. Depends where the cyst is.

    But don't tell us, as that would change this post from a "discussion about medical practice" to one looking for advice...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ylsdk


    Thanks for your reply his_dudeness.
    Sorry for the confusion, wasn't thinking about the difference between 'existing' and 'growing'.
    Where the cyst is should not matter.
    Have been to gp. The cyst wasn't on the letter issued to gp by the hospital. The gp said it probably because there wasn't anything needs to be worried about, so not telling patient this condition wasn't an issue to the gp.
    After having talked about this issue, a quite long-term fatigue and recently found flaking nails with white marks, the gp politely interrupted and told me the session was finished. If I had other issues, I had to make another appointment. To be fare, the whole session was around 22 min. I'm sure it wasn't because of the low gp visit fee cos it was €65, not a cheap one.
    Is there a limit on time or the no of issues per gp visit?
    I'm not from Ireland so these seem somehow unbelievable to me. I'm trying to understand how do Irish doctors and gps work here.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 555 ✭✭✭Xeyn


    Agreed with his dudeness, I would tend to let patients know whatever showed up even an incidental finding but make sure the patient knows it essentiallying means little to nothing. There are many cysts that are picked up on scans that mean absolutely nothing in practical terms ie. They won't impact on your life in the slightest and there would be no treatment for it anyway. Some doctors don't tell patients everything because they feel it may cause unnecessary worry. Even telling some patients that something is not uncommon and won't impact on their health is not enough to cause undue worry over the fact that 'something was found'.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ylsdk


    Thanks a lot Xeyn. Good to know that it's common in Ireland. It was a shock when I found out that I wasn't told of nothing. But having read two replies, it's kind of relief now. Guess I just need to blend it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭MrWalsh


    ylsdk wrote: »
    Is there a limit on time or the no of issues per gp visit?

    There are time limits alright. Which is fair enough otherwise they couldnt run to schedule and people would be waiting all day for appointments. There are some GPs who go the distance and let people take as long as they want but they tend to be the older generation and have patients for decades who dont mind waiting because they know they will be shown the same courtesy. A lot of those guys run open clinics so that when you arrive you go on the list and there is no set appointment time.

    Me, Id prefer a short appointment and if I know Ill need a long one, Id book a long one. My GP tends to be pretty snappy mind you and is quick to pass you onto a consultant. My last one used to keep you coming back for a few appointments before passing you to a consultant which really just put more money in her pocket and wasted months of my time. So I prefer the snappy approach. In saying that, Ive only had quite straightforward physical issues and I might not feel that way if I went in to speak about a mental health issue for example.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,288 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    ylsdk wrote: »
    To be fare, the whole session was around 22 min. I'm sure it wasn't because of the low gp visit fee cos it was €65, not a cheap one.
    Is there a limit on time or the no of issues per gp visit?
    I'm not from Ireland so these seem somehow unbelievable to me. I'm trying to understand how do Irish doctors and gps work here.

    Yes, most do have a time limit, my experience (granted a very small sample) is that for private patients it's around 15 minutes.

    In Ireland, if I want to talk about several issues, I tend to ask the receptionist for a long appointment when i'm making the booking.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ylsdk


    Thanks a lot guys.
    I didn't really know the time limit for gp visit or I could book long or short appointments. Seems the other GPs (the same clinic) were really nice to me. All of my visits were around 15 to 20 min.
    Again, appreciate your replies.


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