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Worried about wasting docs time

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Grannylorraine

Grannylorraine

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Type 2
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On Monday my blood glucose was 20 so I went to my gp who thought I might have an infection. I had already been off work for almost 2 weeks with flu and chest infection which I had seemed to get over. Gp told me if bg get worse go to a&e. My bg is slowly coming down last reading was 13.6 but I still feel terrible, I just want to sleep all the time struggling to keep my eyes open, arms and legs feel really weak and achy, headache and dizzy spells. I feel I would be wasting a&e time as bg is coming down. Daughter told me to ring 111 but again am I wasting there time? I just don't know what to do for the best as I don't feel well enough for work and certainly not to drive there but I don't want to waste people's time.
 
It is never a waste of time if you are seriously concerned about your health. The 111 service is there to advise you not to judge if you are wasting their time. I can understand people's concerns given the current state of our A & E departments but you have the added complication of diabetes. The 111 call adviser should give you their opinion as to whether or not you should attend A & E.
 
Thank you. Just phoned 111 and they advised to see my gp again, looked my gp's online booking system and no appointments for over a week. So another battle with the receptionist tomorrow
 
It really shouldn't be that way. having to confront a receptionist who has little idea how bad you feel. They are there to help you, not hinder. Best of luck anyway.
 
Would asking for an 'emergency' appointment work. Some gp practices do those. Seeing you in person or doing a phone appointment.
Either way, none of this not waisting their time business. When you're feeling dreadful is exactly the time to see them.
 
@Grannylorraine
@Ralph-YK is ABSOLUTELY correct, you are not wasting anyones time and if you are unwell you need medical adivce.
 
Sorry to hear that you are struggling atm GrannyLorraine. (((HUGS)))
At my GP's surgery there is a policy that if I ring at 8am its possible to be given an appointment the same day. If not to see my own GP in person then perhaps with another practice doctor. If that's not possible then I can book a telephone appointment ~ my GP will then return my call after he's seen all his patients on that day. Does your GP's practice have the same policy?

I believe your tiredness and feeling sleepy could be put down to your bgls being elevated due to the fact that you are still recovering from a chest infection and the flu. There is also another possible cause that I can think of and this could be that you have Hypothroidism (Under active thyroid) in which case your GP should arrange for you to have blood tests. You can ask your GP. Of course your symptoms could be related to a number of other illnesses. When was your last diabetes review? Maybe you need an HbA1c test. Oh and by the way Lorraine you won't be wasting any medics time at all ~ as you're feeling so very poorly then you have a right and need to seek medical advice whether it's from your GP or A&E.

I hope you begin to feel better soon Lorraine x
WL
 
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Wasting Docs time is going in because of the sniffles, a spot on your schnozz or because you stubbed your big toe on a chair. This thing is important, my Doctors gonna be sick of me, too bad.
 
What about a Practice Nurse rather than a doctor?

Or, if all the appointments are taken, what about getting a GP to come to you when they are on their rounds?
 
Got to see the doctor, receptionist was not too bad actually this time. Doc said it will just take time after the bg being so high. Strangely though suddenly yesterday afternoon I suddenly started to feel better. I have come into work today, (hubby drove me in case of any relapses), my bg is 14 today and yet I am feeling better.

Diabetic review is on 6th March, doc said she may have to look into changing my medication then.

Thank you all for you help.
 
Just seen this. Glad you're feeling a tad better now Lorraine but don't go rushing to do things just yet ~ you need to build up your reserves ~ it's still early days since your bout of flu and chest infection. Hope your bg starts behaving itself soon🙂
Look after yourself hun x
 
Glad you're feeling better @Grannylorraine. I know just what you mean. They have so much on them, the drs.

I was a bit under the weather this week. I was watching my morning bg rise steadily this week. I had sent a pee sample in Monday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon the dr a called and said I had an infection and prescribed microbid, as I had no fever. Then dr b called 3 hours later and before I could say dr a called already, he was prescribing cipro. When he paused I said I already had the other. He checked the sensetivity and said that's fine. That was 2 hours after the surgery closed last night.

We have only one part time dr, now, out of four -- but we do have a locum, and new one coming shortly. I really feel sorry for them. They are splendid people, but they can't keep up with themselves.
And with all that - they never EVER think anyone is wasting their time and I have never heard anyone (patient) say they felt rushed. Although they have lots of other complaints!
S.
 
Brando77 said:
because you stubbed your big toe on a chair
Click to expand...
Actually now as a diabetic you'd be advised to go and get this checked out as we cant be too careful about our feet!
@Grannylorraine sorry I haven't been keeping up to date with a lot of things recently but I'm glad to have read through and see that you are feeling better xx
 
Hi Lorraine, your Doctors have a duty of care to ensure that your health problems are addressed in reasonable length of time depending on the urgency, if they fail in this process then you need to either phone your doctors and ask to speak to the practice manager or to write a letter of complaint to the practice manager as they are employed directly by the NHS health authority and have to make sure the surgery is run correctly. If they fail to do this then they are in breach of the NHS rules and they could well be acting negligently . The other thing you can do should you have an urgent diabetic problem is to phone for an ambulance, you do not have to go to hospital but they are usually very good at helping you to recover and will give excellent advice. I hope you get sorted.
 
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