i think i have diabetes and my doctor won’t listen

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  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,906 Member
    Redordeadhead wrote: »
    cmsienk wrote: »
    yirara wrote: »
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    I guess I’ve never had an instance that I was unable to make an appointment when I call to make one. Sure, I’ve had to hold when call volumes are high, but I’ve never been told that they would call me back to schedule an appointment. I certainly would call them back within a reasonable amount of time (24 hours maximum) if they didn’t call. I wouldn’t let it go for weeks.

    If I remember correctly, TO is in the UK. Not being able to make an appointment, not being called back, etc sounds very much like the NHS. One really has to be very insistent there, call back if a call-back doesn't happen, make things a bit worse than they are to be taken seriously. The NHS has a very long history of ignoring complaints by women, and things have gotten even worse since covid. And no, annual physicals don't really exist either. Heck, many of my friends from all over the world asked for an annual physical. If they got to see the doctor they were first asked if they are worried about something, maybe feel anxious or depressed. The physical, as they know it from home never happened.

    Why would someone disagree with this? 👆

    I didn't disagree, but just chiming in to say in 20 years in the UK I was never unable to book an appointment if I called to make one or not contacted when I should have been.However it has indeed gotten more difficult during covid, and I fully agree we don't have the concept of annual physicals, which I think is great in other countries.

    Nonetheless, if OP only made one single call to reception, didn't receive a call back, and then waited 6 weeks without following up, my first reaction would be to give the benefit of the doubt and say the message may have been misplaced or the assistant forgot to call back and just try again.

    I think it depends a lot on where you live of course. I lived in such an area, and many of my friends did as well. Heck, even before covid the waiting time for a standard gallbladder removal was 1.5 years, and specialists were so oversubscribed that you didn't even get an appointment even with pancreas complications. If you didn't call your gp right at 8 or whatever it was in the morning you didn't get an appointment, and even then it was a lottery. It was impossible to call at a later time and make an appointment for another day.
  • xrj22
    xrj22 Posts: 217 Member
    Most doctors are not going to just order a test, or handle something like this over the phone. True, they shouldn't have told you that they would call you back and then not called. But if they did call you back, they would probably just tell you to make an appointment. So, make an appointment. Then the doctor will hear what you are concerned about, will probably test you for diabetes, and may also check for other things it might be, and you will be face to face with an actual person who can answer these questions. (and until then, quit diagnosing yourself on the internet and worrying.)
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    edited October 2021
    There are so many other things that could cause a numb foot. I have diabetes, btw. With just one foot numb and not both, I would worry about a pinched nerve behind the knee before I would think about diabetes. Especially in a young person of normal weight.

    I’m wondering whether the doctor’s office maybe has a file on the OP for being a hypochondriac. When that happens, especially in a system like the one in the UK where you can’t just swap doctors easily, it can be really troublesome - because even hypochondriacs sometimes get sick! Regardless you should call back and push for an appointment. And if you are worried about diabetes in the meantime, order an inexpensive testing kit online, or buy one at the drugstore. Test first thing in the morning before eating. If the result is 100 or lower, relax, your feet are not going to fall off from diabetes. If it’s higher than that, you have something to tell the doctor’s office to make them take you seriously. BTW your auntie is wrong, plenty of people have undiagnosed diabetes and don’t realize it. But she is right that it’s probably not that in your case.
  • Redordeadhead
    Redordeadhead Posts: 1,188 Member
    @trulyhealy have you tried calling them back?
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,324 Member
    I don't know where you live, but in America we have walk in clinics and can get simple tests done easily. How frustrating to not have a doctor respond. Take action and go to a new doctor.

    Sounds like you could be a bit paranoid. But, you need to put your mind at rest and at least you are watching out for your health. It can't hurt to have it checked out.
  • Fitforevermore
    Fitforevermore Posts: 399 Member
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    If they don’t give you a call back from the doctors office to schedule an appointment because of your concerns about having diabetes, find another doctor. This isn’t normal procedure for a clinic/dr office.

    Um, I'm assuming op is in the UK. This is usual...

  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    edited October 2021
    Fitforevermore wrote: »
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    If they don’t give you a call back from the doctors office to schedule an appointment because of your concerns about having diabetes, find another doctor. This isn’t normal procedure for a clinic/dr office.

    Um, I'm assuming op is in the UK. This is usual...

    I did not realize clinics/doctors ignore patients concerns in the UK. I’m sorry to hear that. We’re talking about a very, potentially, serious health problem, which can be diagnosed quickly, and easily. Six weeks is not acceptable anywhere, and wouldn’t happen here. Advocating for yourself, and your health, should be your priority. If they aren’t returning calls, follow up daily until you get results. Posing a question to random people on the internet, doesn’t seem like a logical thing to do.

    BTW, my husband was at an eye doctor appointment in September. During the exam, his eye doctor detected my husband as pre-diabetic. This already had been detected by his primary doctor, and he’s adjusting his diet to try to get it under control.
  • MargaretYakoda
    MargaretYakoda Posts: 2,985 Member
    Redordeadhead wrote: »
    Fitforevermore wrote: »
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    If they don’t give you a call back from the doctors office to schedule an appointment because of your concerns about having diabetes, find another doctor. This isn’t normal procedure for a clinic/dr office.

    Um, I'm assuming op is in the UK. This is usual...

    As discussed above, this is not a universal experience and probably depends on many factors, including where you live and the individual medical professionals you interact with. My experience in the UK is not this, and I have always been called back and listened to. I really think it's possible the individual person who took the call simply forgot to pass on the message or call back as a genuine error. Then the OP never followed up for 6 weeks.

    I second this.
    There have been times when I have not been called back by my GP’s office when I have had a medical concern.
    This happened more frequently when I relied on a low income/free clinic. But it has happened a couple times with my current doctor.

    I have always assumed my request just got lost in the shuffle. And, for what it’s worth, occasionally I have had this happened with my Husband’s VA doctor too.

    In a well run office this should be a rare event. But it definitely happens. And I wouldn’t take it personally. Just keep calling until you get a response.
  • Kathy535
    Kathy535 Posts: 31 Member
    When I’ve felt my GP might dismiss my hypochondriac fears or that they’ve been really busy I’ve used home testing kits. They are available in the UK - I’ve used Forth (for liver, kidney and hormones) and Let’s Get Checked (cholesterol and diabetes). Both were very easy, very quick and reasonably cheap (around £30-40 - worth it to me for the reassurance). If you have abnormal results a nurse calls you and talks you through what it means and next steps.

    Some reassurance though - there are many things that can cause a numb foot or a darker patch on the skin and you’d probably have noticed other symptoms before these if you had diabetes. Try not to worry, call your GP back and look at the tests online.
  • Redordeadhead
    Redordeadhead Posts: 1,188 Member
    @trulyhealy, it's been 2 weeks now, how are you doing?

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