"Misdiagnosed, felt belittled & unheard "

I saw a GP at 5pm yesterday as I have painful, swollen legs and feet that were warm and pink. This is very unusual for me I had cellulitis 20 years ago after my C-section, so I know what it feels like.

saw a male young GP at Sloan’s who didn’t ask me anything about my lifestyle or activity, he took no blood pressure, temperature etc. he took a quick look at my ankles. I reminded my socks so he could see how swollen they were but he didn’t give them a proper examination. He instead googled images of cellulitis - all very advanced cases - asked me to look at them and said to me “it doesn’t look like that, does it?”. I said I’m glad it’s not got to that stage but I’m sure that’s what it is. I told him about the additional serious skin condition I have that’s has been weeping etc which I am being treated for at the hospital currently, he wasn’t interested. He insisted it wasn’t cellulitis, that it wasn’t connected to any of the other health conditions I’ve been experiencing. I was tearful. I asked him several times if he was sure. He said he was and “sorry to say, but it’s your age. When you get older and are less active this can happen”. I was taken aback to say the least, bearing in mind he’s made a judgement without asking me about my lifestyle. He said I need to get measured at the pharmacist for surgical stockings to the knee and wear them at night and for as long as I can. I told him again it was sore and warm he said it wasn’t! I left in floods of tests and had to stand outside the surgery for a few minutes to compose myself before driving.

This morning my legs were worse. I went to the surgery at 8am and asked for an appointment for a second opinion. I was sent a text link to make an appointment, for a weeks time! I called the surgery I explain again it was worse and I wanted a second opinion please. I was told they can’t offer me one, they don’t go against one of the doctors diagnosis. I was offered an appointment at the Walk In centre which I took and attended.

Long story short I was seen by a lovely female doctor who took vitals, asked me lots of questions, listened to me, and agreed that indeed it was the start of cellulitis and has given me 10 days of antibiotics. She was the epitome of a professional, kind and respectful physician. I am very grateful I trusted my instincts and got a second opinion at the Walk in Centre.

Cellulitis is dangerous, it is made worse by compression stockings. I felt belittled, ignored and that the gp at Sloan’s had made his mind up the minute he saw me. I’m very upset and disappointed!