"Not getting answers just being a victim of lack of communication skills"

After being referred from specialist to specialist regarding problems with my hearing, I ended up in Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital seeing a doctor from the Audiology Department.

It took over 2 hours to be seen from my appointment time. When I did see him, firstly I found it hard to understand him, and then he was telling me that i was imagining hearing things and that i had no problems. At this as you can imagine i burst into tears as this process had been taking so long!

In response he told me that this is why i was imagining it, because i was getting upset, and that i should just calm down and stop it. The nurse who was also in the room looked at me with sad eyes as if to say i am sorry for this mardi bum and she was very calming.

At the end of my appointment he told me he was going to refer to me to a psychiatrist which i found highly insulting when my problems are with my ear not my head. He also said he wanted to see me regularly in 8 months...this to me is not regular. I understand the implications of budget but 8 months is nearly yearly!

I came out of his room in tears feeling hurt, disappointed, and as if i were just a number not a real person. I have since asked never to see him again.