View Full Version : How can I get a second doctor's opinion?
Do I have to register with another GP practise or can I just request a one off appointment with another GP practise?
nomorepanic
19-07-15, 13:16
I don't think you can go to another GP practice but you could see a different doctor within your current one.
I don't think you can go to another GP practice but you could see a different doctor within your current one.
There's only one more at my current practise and I wouldn't want to insult my GP by insinuating that I didn't trust him! That's why I was hoping it was OK to see a separate doctor elsewhere.
I am still worried that there is something physically wrong with me.
Rennie1989
19-07-15, 13:25
They won't be insulted. Patients see different doctors within their surgery all of the time. However, if you wanted to see a doctor at a different practice then you will have to re-register, baring in mind it takes them 6 weeks to receive your notes.
They won't be insulted. Patients see different doctors within their surgery all of the time. However, if you wanted to see a doctor at a different practice then you will have to re-register, baring in mind it takes them 6 weeks to receive your notes.
Thank you.
nomorepanic
19-07-15, 19:15
This may help:
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/doctors/Pages/patient-choice-GP-practices.aspx
Nic
I just read through the link you provided and I would question the 111 service with regards to home visits. I am sure they have tightened up on this aspect, most probably a cost cutting exercise.
Last year I called 111 on both weekend days on behalf of my daughter. On the Saturday two doctors came to see her and as she got worse nother doctor saw her the following day, Sunday and sent her to hospital and even arranged that a specialist would see her at a particular hospital.
This year, in fact a few weeks ago I called 111 on a Sunday and they told me that they no longer do home visits unless one is terminally ill or are housebound and live alone, and the only offer was a fixed walk in appointment some 40 minutes away from our home.
Apologies as I wavered off the original question.
nomorepanic
19-07-15, 20:22
I didn't read that far, just read the first bit about registering with another GP.
Personally I have never called 111. We have a very small hospital 2 miles from here and if you call the out of hours doctor you can go and see them there but they don't do A&E for example.
What are you seeking a second opinion about?
Positive thoughts
What are you seeking a second opinion about?
Positive thoughts
The persistent retching. My severe agitation, anxiety, tight throat, excessive sweating, etc
I fear I may have a gastric mucosal prolapse.
Yet you still are able to hold down a full time job with these symptoms. That must take some doing.
The persistent retching. My severe agitation, anxiety, tight throat, excessive sweating, etc
I fear I may have a gastric mucosal prolapse.
But you were given a diagnosis of OCD which makes sense. The other symptoms can be attributed to anxiety as well. Perhaps seeing a mental health professional to treat your anxiety issues would be the direction to take along with addressing your alcohol use.
Positive thoughts
All of your symptoms can be caused by anxiety. What has your first doctor said the you disagree with?
MyNameIsTerry
19-07-15, 23:12
It makes sense that it's anxiety but I would question OCD for the wretching, especially from a GP. I think Somatoform Disorders need to be investigated here as well as the more general anxiety triggers which don't match to OCD.
Calum focuses on the wretching and searches for a named physical problem despite an anxiety diagnosis and that's not an OCD pattern but there is certainly a disorder in the Somatoform category that fits to both the pattern and physical manifestation.
I think a think a specialist diagnosis is required.
Second opinions are not an option that the NHS are obliged to offer and they can tell you to travel to other areas for them if they believe it is necessary. Rethink have an excellent page explaining your rights to this.
Rennie is right that a GP shouldn't take offence but it can't be guaranteed. Patients have more protection these days to make it possible but years ago some GP's would happily get rid of you for it.
I think it is wrong that we should advise as if we were doctors.I thought the golden rule of NMP was to emphasize that fact.
With regards to a second opinion it may vary from practice to practice but we have 8 doctors in our local practice and my own doctor who is the head of the practice often says she doesn't object if I see another doctor if I can get a quicker appointment with him.
The trouble I find nearly every time this has happened and I question the use of a certain medication I get two completely opposite answers and that confuses me and increases my anxiety, and as I have said before with my own daughter's case, the principle doctor can over rule a referal that another doctor wishes to make, and has done so.
MyNameIsTerry
20-07-15, 07:41
I didn't realise anyone had, Ricardo.
Calum had a diagnosis of OCD from a doctor, possibly a GP but it was never confirmed. The type of problems he has been describing are complex and I would be concerned at risking a diagnosis like that on a GP when he has been referred to specialists to test & rule out physical problems.
Some of the things he did say in a recent thread about how his anxiety is triggered doesn't match to OCD so there is at least something else to be considered and is his GP doing that? If it is OCD, and if the wretching is a fully controlled function whether a compulsion or not, it could be airing towards Sensorimotor OCD...something you will find very little literature on, even on OCD charity websites (some don't even mention it) so that might mean a more specialised diagnosis.
But Calum stated some time ago that he used alcohol to stop the wretching and that concerns me because that sounds even less like OCD. But whether that is used as a way to reduce overall anxiety levels hence reducing the drive for an obsession, could still be a possibility...but its such a complex one I reckon.
Yet you still are able to hold down a full time job with these symptoms. That must take some doing.
And what is that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting that I am fabricating this? I HAVE to hold down a full time job in order to support myself and my mum and sister. I have no choice but to battle on. Are you or the government going to help me financially if I have to be laid off on sickness benefit? No, I thought not.
Calum, you are so angry. I'm impressed that you CAN hold down a demanding physical job with these very debilitating symptoms.
And after mentioning to you on more than one occasion that I have had retching as an anxiety symptom since I was a young child I'm a bit disappointed to have this response.
Calum, you are so angry. I'm impressed that you CAN hold down a demanding physical job with these very debilitating symptoms.
And after mentioning to you on more than one occasion that I have had retching as an anxiety symptom since I was a young child I'm a bit disappointed to have this response.
I'm not angry, I just asked if you thought I was fabricating this problem as your response of "you manage to hold down a full time job" stank of sarcasm and seemed to draw inference to my complaint.
Don't worry about it.
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