Is it just me, or do you feel ignored by female doctors?
This is the second such situation the previous involved me having to push for a pelvic ultrasound for a year only to be told I have a cyst and a 8cm fibroid but just to repeat the ultrasound in 2 years as I would be too low a priority to refer to a consultant. No treatment or referral still to this date.
For the past 3 weeks I have had a squeeze in my chest(left) and a similar pain between my shoulders. For the last 2, I have also had a dead left arm, pain across my collar, and most recently, the pain travels up to my jaw all on the left side. Its there all day and keeps me away at night. Called the doctors this morning, went for my appointment. The doctor didn't even examine me, told me it was probably just a pulled muscle, to rub some gel on it and do some stretches. Said they were flat out busy, gave me some sheet from the hse about antibiotics and opened the door.
I was actually just shocked so left. This is a constant, whilst I understand GPs must be so busy it would be nice to feel listened to. I always feel I am disturbing the doctor,I try my best not to go. I have even booked an appointment for a skin check in a few weeks as I feel I would be putting the doctor out asking them to check a suspicious mole.
Yes to your first answer. But also that sounds like you've a particularly bad GP, gender aside... If the option is there for you, I'd be switching practices.
Unfortunately, no surgeries in my area are taking on new clients, so I'm stuck. Yeah maybe I'm just disappointed that because she's female there wasn't more support.
Would you try a walk-in doctor if you're reluctant to go to A&E? They may refer you in. I did this before as my own GP (male) just fobbed me off.
Maybe present at A&E? I wouldn't be gambling on your GP at all.
I don't want to take up the time of emergency staff if I'm not an emergency. If that makes sense
Although my arm is so bad right now I am typing with one hand.
Can’t shoulder pain be sign of heart attack? Go to A+E just in case especially if you’re in that much pain
But if it is serious, (women present differently for heart attacks than men), you're gambling.
You matter and your health matters. Don't let a shitty GP decide what's what when they never even examined you. You should be seen.
The fact you think you are “taking up time” is the very first issue you need to deal with. These could be signs of a heart attack. So what if you go and get a clean bill of health after you’ve been properly examined. In future if a consultant or gp refuses to treat or refer you ask them to note that exact sentence on your medical file and you’ll find they will change their tune quickly. You need to go to A&E, if not to a GP and demand action
On the money here with telling them to note the refusal. A few years ago I had been seeing my gp for an issue that had been ongoing for 2 weeks tbf we thought it was viral. I went back but a locum was covering for her (we’d agreed the medical assessment unit in the bons if no improvement) the arse of a locum wanted me to wait another week. I refused to leave the office until he rang the bons. Wouldn’t you know I was admitted from the MAU. Moral of the story is if something doesn’t feel right push back when your not prioritised or believed
I’d 100% go and get it checked out.
They can very quickly tell if it’s heart related or not, and if it’s not you can just leave after they do an ecg.
I’ve gone to a&e for something similar and was in and out in half an hour because once I had a clear ecg I said I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t a heart attack and asked to leave.
Any and all chest pain needs to be checked in a&e. If it's truly not of concern they will discharge you quickly so don't worry about taking up time. And the arm pain is not normal
I would try and present to A&E or something if your GP won't refer you. Not to scare you, but a relative of mine in her early 30s was ignored last year with something similar and she's not with us anymore. If she hadn't been ignored for so long, she might have been saved.
I would consider reporting that GP too, thats scandalous.
I think this is Dr specific and not gender specific. I currently have a female GP who took over after male GP retired, she is 100 times the Dr he was.
For maternity care I went to a Dr with an excellent reputation and have had no issues. Went for subsequent fertility issues and service has been 10/10.
I know this is anecdotal but I have felt listened to by female Drs way more than male.
It’s definitely doctor specific, I’ve had some woeful female GPs (3 to be exact) and am lucky enough to have a found a fantastic GP who is male.
Someone was telling me recently they had to tell their Doctor that they were trying to get pregnant for any of their concerns taken seriously. Chest pain is very serious, doesn't matter if they are "busy" you should kick up a fuss and advocate for yourself.
This is definitely time for a second opinion. I'd find a walk in clinic if you can and if not get a webdoc appointment. I wouldn't sit on chest pain. Your GP sounds terrible. I'm sorry you're going through this.
One tip I've heard - and never having need to do it myself- is to ask them to document their refusal. Apparently then they are more likely to just give you the referral.
I can't say I've ever really had bad experiences with female healthcare workers. Male? Whole different story. Have a long list of different male workers who dismissed me, insinuated I was hysterical or didn't take me seriously.
Either way, this is really concerning. I hope you find a GP that is more attuned and makes you feel heard. Health isn't something to mess with.
I've been dealing with female doctors over the last few years with PCOS issues, I'm generally a lot more comfortable with them. A couple of weeks ago I saw a male doctor and he referred me to get an ultrasound straight away, I have my appointment this week.
Every female doctor I have spoken to over the last few years have been very lovely but no action has been taken. Lots of dead ends.
I can't remember names but there was a really helpful woman in Mallow hospital about 3 years ago but I spoke to another there the last couple of times and she was very dismissive and I left there nearly in tears feeling like pain is just something I have to deal with.
Unfortunately it's something a lot of women have to deal with when attending the GP. I have Endo, adeno and they were left untreated for so many years I now have permanent nerve damage.
For any requests you have for referrals that are refused by your gp, you need to request that to be put in your file
"I want that refusal for a referral noted in my file". It has pushed referrals for me. I'm sorry you're being so blatantly dismissed and not believed like this.
It's up to the person more than the gender.
My current GP is a lovely woman who pays close attention, asks lots of questions, generally investigates what's wrong every time I go see her. I saw a man at this same surgery before and he was very dismissive, he actually missed important things.
Before I moved, I had the reverse of the situation: I had started at a surgery with one of the female GPs, learnt why she was "affectionately" called 'the dragon' behind her back, and transferred to a male GP at the same surgery who actually listened and made me feel like he cared about his patients' health and well-being.
It's not just feeling like they care. When they're dismissive, don't pay much attention, they miss what's actually going on and risk your health. My advice is to go either to A&E or your after hours GP. My local caredoc is staffed by the local GPs, so there's a risk of running into the same one.
My previous doctor who’s from abroad (and male) is another level. I fell, twice, and he asked me: what do you want me to do? It was my female physio who took the initiative to send me for MRI.
I’m now with a female GP who took extra step to send me for test because of my background.
Gender has nothing to do with it. Some doctors care, some just probably have a bad days. A long one.
Please go to A&E. as someone else said heart attacks present differently in women. Your symptoms could be indicative of a heart attack. They will take you seriously and do an ECG. Tell them you have chest pain (that squeeze in the chest) along with the arm and shoulder pain. Best of luck - if you feel up to it, let us know how you get on.
I would also echo what a couple of other people said about asking them to document any refusal. This was the advice given in a talk I attended by a UK GP on how to talk to doctors.