what to expect from dr
 

Put a thread up on here about a week ago saying how stopped SH for a while ( i guess 5months with one or two small slipups) but now wanting to a lot and decided to go talk to my doctor.
I have an appointment on wednesday morning. I don't know why i'm feeling like this (i know one of the things but don't think it explains everything) but I was just wandering what to expect like what he'll say. I don't know what he'll be able to do cause even me knowing my own head can't understand it so how can a stranger. can anyone tell me what to expect or what he'll probably say?
I want to so bad right now, i'm scared to be on myself but wearing myself out by not being

sillyoldme: I'm not sure what the Dr will say it all depends and what you choose to talk to him about. What are you specifically going to see them for?

Hi sillyoldme,
I went to the doctor regarding SI about a year and a half ago.
The first appointment was fine, if a little uncomfortable. She was quite young (newly-qualified I should think), and seemed to have heard about it before. She asked me where I do it and why, and how often, and she asked to see my arm (which is pretty much the only place I do it). I felt like since I was there asking for help, I should show her even though I wasn't alltogether pleased about it, but I think if I'd really objected, it would have been ok to say no.

She wanted to refer me to a 'specialist' (i.e. psychiatrist) as my problems have been pretty long-lasting and there is no obvious reason for them. I don't know whether that would be true of someone who has, for example, only been self-harming for a while, or who has been doing it as a reaction to a specific event.

She gave me a questionnaire to fill in, and told me to make an appointment for a week later and bring it back to her.

So far, so ok, and I don't want to put you off going at all, but after that the 'patient care' got pretty shabby.

Basically, the next time I went, she was pretty dismissive, had forgotten that she had asked me to return with the form, and said I'd hear from the hospital within a few weeks. I never heard, and when I phoned the surgery, was told to phone the hospital. I did and was told they had no record of any referral for me. I told my surgery, and they said they'd sort it, but nothing happened, I never heard, and was put off going back and asking again.

Having said that, I genuinely think the problem was with an inept and inexperienced GP (she was definitely new to the practice) rather than this being a general problem throughout the NHS.

Absolutely go to your appointment, and don't worry about what they might think - they are usually pretty experienced in things like SI, and should be able to offer you help of some kind.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your appointment - let us know how it goes. hugs

thanks guys. was actually ill so missed the appointment but going tomorrow.

Good luck hun, I hope it goes well.