Struggling to be taken seriously by gp? Lymphoma worries

Hey,

 

So i seem to have been fobbed off for the last 3 weeks by my gp and others in the same practice. I don't know if its partly covid related or what but ive not been seen physically by a doctor for the last few months. I have a swelling on my jaw line/just underneath that is growing, i am getting low grade temps since janurary that they are also not bothered about since lock down. I keep getting told to leave in a few more weeks and was told once well you were tested for lymphoma last year so it cant be that even though things can change in the space of months never mind a whole year. Is anyone else struggling to be taken seriously at the moment due to covid? I dont know what to do at this point and i don't feel turning up at the hospital is appropiate at this stage. Ive also been fobbed off in terms of they tell me that "well your going to work so you cant be that bad off" this really urks me because i have a strong work ethic that usual wins over my own health. Any advice wouldbe great thanks guys xx

  • Yes I've been having similar issues with the GPs! Symptoms so bad I've been thinking about A&E but when I call the GPs all I get is "it's lockdown stress" and "sorry but we're not doing tests atm unless it's serious". The only thing I can recommend is call them and tell them you're not happy and ask them for a test, cos they've only scheduled a routine blood test for when they reopen as I pretty much demanded it but who knows when that will be at this rate.

    Hoping the best for you :) 

  • Its soo frustrating isnt it? 

     

    They've done blood tests that show some inflmmation markers are up but even they have said it doesnt sound like an abcess or anything. Last week i was told that i could go to the local urgent care if i wanted but i would be put with suspected covid patients as i had a temp despite telling them that its not a sore throat or covid bevause i got tested. I really hope you get answers soon as well xx 

  • Although i think everyone appreaciates the pressure the NHS is under and stress of the GP surgery staff, you still have the right for your symptoms and concerns to be investigated. It is not only covid cases that need to be looked after.  I visited my GP today after calling with worrying symptoms and fortunately they reacted very quickly and got me in for a physical examination and i have a referral into our breast care clinic being processed. With the remarks you have received from staff i am not suprised you feel fobbed off!

    I don't know what services are in your area but i suppose things you could try is perhaps attending the walk-in services instead. It may be a booking system currently and may be retstricted to what they can offer in way of referral unless they feel it is urgent, but would be a way of seeking an opinion away from your current GP?

    Perhaps consider the NHS 111 service to discuss your concerns with an alternative health professional. 

    May be to a quick internet search of any independent clinics or self-referral services there may be in your local area or linked to the local hospital/s?

    And i guess the other alternative would be to re-register at a different surgery, if you feel that the other doctors at your surgery are of a similar ethos as those you have spoken with. Registering with another pratice may take a little time, but certainly no harm in calling some alternative clinics to see what the process would be.

    I don't know how viable these options are for you, but if you can explore alternatives to your current Practice, maybe its worth looking in to?

    Wish you the best of luck x

  • Oh that sounds so frustrating! Especially since you have been tested. Only bright side I think is that since lockdown might be easing up, GPs might get back to more regular service soon and hopefully we can get thorough appointments. Thank you :) For now I guess we keep our head up and work through it x

  • Oh yeah i hugely appreciate the struggle the nhs are having, i'm a nurse myself working in my local infectious diseases unit which is half full with covid and half with other types of infections. I have been looking around though and my private health insurance kicks in next week luckily. I have been looking into other gp surgeries as well but the wait is a while. Sometimes i agree with the doctors but im medical mystery to them so i feel that they are just waiting for things to get worse so that it can point them in the right direction. Its odd, they are of the opinion my inflmmatory markees being raised is not really signficant enough. However, before covid one doctor was wanting to admit me to find the cause of the tempretures i keep getting but obviously covid happened. Thank you for the response :) we'll get there in the end. I wish you the best x 

  • The same thing happened to me, I kept going back and it took them 6 months to refer me to haematology and that was only because I asked them to! I think it also depends which doctor you speak to, some take your concerns more seriously than others so maybe see if you could speak to someone else? 
     

    Any persistent lump needs to be investigated really and I agree with a previous comment in that your concerns are just as worthy of being addressed regardless of the current circustmances! 
     

    I hope you manage to get seen sooner rather than later, even if it is just for peace of mind :) 

  • hi, 

     

    I was eventually seen tuesday, doctor was concerned over the tempreture never mind the lump and swollen neck. we are trying antibiotics and shes referred me to ENT and for an urgent ultrasound and shes not happy that the tempreture has been left so long uninvestigated. I'm hoping i get to the bottom of it soon. have you got to the bottom of your problems ?

     

    take care x  

  • Dear sammy i would go with your gut feeling sweet. Dont take the surgery's word. You want reasurance and your health is the most important thing ever. So  do what you think is best for you . Xxx

  • Thank you, 

     

    I have now been referred to ENT and for an urgent ultrasound because the doctor i saw tuesday was not happy that the lump hadn't been seen for a month and not happy that my persistent fevers haven't been looked at either so im hoping that we will get to the bottom of it soon.

  • I will never take a gp's word untill i get a second or third opinion. You do get a decent gp. But sometimes you get one that has'nt got a clue...xxx