This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

My ongoing symptoms

Posted By Pickles69

"My ongoing symptoms"

About: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / General medicine (Wards 5d)

(as the patient),

To Whom It Concerns.

I write this at the risk of coming across as just another Internet doctor nut or a hypochondriac, it is through sheer frustration I feel I need to take this step in order to get things done.

My current situation has been ongoing for several years and I am no closer to a resolution than I was at the beginning.

My reported symptoms are as follows....

Aching painful joints throughout my body restricting movement.

Extreme muscular pain In the legs

Insomnia

Constant fatigue

Diarrhoea Incontinence and/or constipation.

Absent mindedness/confusion.

Depression

Headaches

And yet despite these symptoms I am currently being tested for "POOR CIRCULATION"? ? ?

Bearing in mind that each of these tests have a waiting time between them of at least two months, and not knowing how many tests lie ahead, I see no end to my ongoing pain and distress.

At no point have other causes such as C. F. S or Fibromyalgia been taken into account nor even considered, so the aforementioned poor circulation is the preferred solution.

I have taken this route in order that I am not left in limbo (again) ie waiting for unnecessary tests in order to be told the obvious.

I have done alot of reading about CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME(C. F. S) or FIBROMYALGIA

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Lorna Fairlie, Patient Experience, Public Involvement Project Manager, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 8 years ago
Lorna Fairlie
Patient Experience, Public Involvement Project Manager,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

I work in a small team in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde which seeks to involve patients and carers in the work of the NHS. The biggest part of my role is in managing feedback projects across the Board area, one of which is Patient Opinion. It is my job to give our patients and carers the opportunity to give us feedback, and to make sure that this is passed to the right people to help us improve the services we provide.

Submitted on 29/03/2016 at 10:32
Published on Care Opinion at 12:58

Dear Pickles69,

I am really sorry to read this as I can completely understand the frustration you must be feeling - the symptoms you describe will I'm sure be taking their toll on you, and so to feel that you are no further forward in reaching a solution will add to the stress and upset you are feeling.

There are times when finding an accurate diagnosis isn't easy, and as you mention that you have been in your current situation for several years, I assume that your current test for poor circulation isn't the first that you have had to try to get to the bottom of your symptoms. While I know that doesn't help how you are feeling now, it can sometimes be the less obvious things that are actually the cause and it is possible that your doctor wants to exhaust all possibilities.

I also recognise however, that you feel that some of the suggestions you are making have not been listened to and I imagine that is a really important aspect of the frustration you will be feeling. We would expect that at all times, our patients are listened to properly, and communicated with as equal partners in their own care - this means that even if the doctor has reason to believe that your symptoms don't indicate the conditions you suggest above, they should explain why that is, and why they are sending you for other tests instead. You also have the right to a second opinion, so if you feel that you are not being listened to properly, you can talk to your GP about a referral to another doctor.

Talking to your GP is one option, or indeed, if you have a regular consultant, raising this again with them if you haven't already might be the solution. Unfortunately from the information you have given here I cannot provide you with a more personal response, but if you would like to email me with some more of your personal details I can certainly look into this a bit more for you to see if there is another way forward. My email address is lorna.gray@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.

With best wishes,

Lorna

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k