Something like
"I have been taking small overdoses,
and I think I need to have a blood test to make sure everything is okay,
I am nervous and scared to say this out loud to you,
so I am writing it down,
I know I need to get help for this,
so I am trying my hardest at doing that,
and part of that is making sure I am okay medically speaking, too.
I know the consequences of overdosing,
and I know that it can cause damage and problems with my health,
so I am trying to take responsibility,
and checking everything is okay.
*Put here what exactly you have been overdosing on, how frequently, how much, the dosage, etc, so he is aware just exactly of what has been going on, and the details of the overdoses, this way he can be more specific in what to do for you."
Please see another GP. Whilst when you OD you should go to hospital esp with paracetamol containing products, its fair for you to ask for a LFT right now whilst you are in the community, from your GP.
Did you manage to get anything useful from the appointment?
Wtf? This sounds like malpractice to me. If you tell a doctor you are overdosing on anything and request a blood test they should take one. Telling you that "theyll take one when you OD" Is not only rude but unethical I would report the bastard to the medical board if I were you. I've had my fair share of a**hole doctors and cannot stand them.
Lookin at the world through my rear view, searchin for an answer up high, or is it all, wasted time ~B.O.B
Technically he should honor the request for blood test because yes they may do blood testwhen you go to a&e but it may help to also know whether you may have long-term damage and if your lfts are deranged. Can you speak your sw to see if she can call your practice to ask if they can do the test?
Ballerina123 - My lovely superstar
Call me R -
The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time - Abraham Lincoln
I am utterly disgusted with the way that doctor responded to you.
Firstly,
it is out of order, plain rude, and awful behavior, particularly for a professional, so called one at least.
Secondly,
he is obliged to care for your health, whether it be self inflicted or not, he is to be responsible for all patients, and care for their well being and their health, medical in particular.
Thirdly,
to not do a blood test when you have told him you have been overdosing and have potential damage which could lead to organ failure and death in the long term, is beyond irresponsible, malpractice, unprofessional, and plain down right disgusting behavior of his.
At the very least, he should have done a basic blood test to check your organs, levels, and other things that could be potentially affected by the overdoses you have been taking.
I am sorry you have received such awful care from this "doctor".
Is it possible to move to another practice and see another GP?
I know what it is like to have just one GP at your practice, my practice is the same as I am on a small estate, and only have one GP, one temporary GP for when the GP is sick/away, and one part time nurse, making appointments very difficult, and if the GP is crap at their care over you, then you don't have anyone else to transfer your case over to, as that GP is the only one to go to.
However, it is possible to get a second opinion if you are able to move to a different practice and see someone else.
Normally, GP's are SUPPOSED to CARE about your health, medical and mental, and they are SUPPOSED to be responsible, professional,
and in this case,
actually bother to do a blood test,
as the potential for damage here is quite high,
and he SHOULD HAVE realized this,
and done everything he can to make sure that,
at the very least,
your medical health is okay.
And in the long run, if you continue to overdose, it isn't a matter of "if" there will be damage, it is a matter of "when" there will be damage, so the fact he doesn't do anything about this, is disgusting.
I understand having crap doctors, professionals, etc, who really know how to make you feel even worse, make you feel like you don't matter, and aren't worth anything whatsoever, aren't important, and everything else.
Just because they have a medical degree, does not necessarily mean they are good doctors, nor suited for the job they are to perform.
Unfortunately, many doctors are very ignorant and arrogant towards mental health conditions/difficulties, and by extension, the same regarding behaviors that are linked to mental health, like self harming, overdosing, cutting, etc.
Many doctors either are plain just nasty when it comes to mental health patients, and / or they do not have the proper training when it comes to mental health.
This is still a very large and difficult problem in the world today, and although people are trying to make a difference and prevent these things from happening, it still does happen.
I'm just sorry you were on the receiving end of this.
I hope you can get a second opinion on this, and change practices,
just because you have mental health problems and engage in self harming behaviors,
DOES NOT give ANYONE the right to treat you the way that doctor did,
or anyone else for that matter,
and it DOES NOT mean you are any less entitled and deserving of help and support.
Are you able to discuss what has happened with the people you see?
Your social worker/the other professionals you see?
Perhaps they could help you with what happened, and help you get a blood test to check everything is okay medically, and then proceed to help and support you mentally with this difficulty with taking overdoses.
I completely understand the hesitation to not want to give up ALL behaviors that are self damaging.
I myself struggle with this too, massively.
If I am unable to do one behavior, I swap to another, and then when I become unable to do that behavior, I then swap to another, and so on, and so forth,
which makes it a very vicious cycle,
because instead of dealing and coping with what makes you feel you have to engage in the behaviors in the first place,
instead,
you swap to another behavior,
and avoid dealing with the real problem.
And I understand not wanting to do this, to avoid dealing with WHY you engage in the behaviors, and to focus on how to stop ALL behaviors, and cope in other ways, and to get right down to what really is going on for you.
It is a very long, rocky, difficult, at times, near-impossible road to getting better, but it is beyond worth it, and it must be better than what you are going through right now, surely?
I hope you are okay, and are able to do the above suggestions.
x
Hi guys thanks for ur support I spoke to my social worker in a vague sort of way about the overdosing n my gp she is getting a blood form from my psych so that is covered n she suggested changing gps so I have
A little OT but I once asked my doctor for an mri and he responded "Why do you think you need an MRI?" needless to say I switched doctors, got the MRI and they found 3 bulging/herniated discs. I am glad you are going to look into a different gp. I don't know about where you live but here you can actually interview doctors before choosing one.. Good luck!
Lookin at the world through my rear view, searchin for an answer up high, or is it all, wasted time ~B.O.B
Wish we cud interview gps my friend said the GPs at this surgery are all good so fingers crossed
I'm bit mixed had bad day in terms of being dumped so that made me cut n want to overdose but then I had dinner with a friend from uni n going to watch her play netball tomorrow so can't do anything tonight but I'm guessing I wi tomorrow if I still feel rejected
