The UKFibromyalgia Forums

by **dazzleship** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 8:02 pm

hiya

having recently moved house I know I need to find a new GP (we have moved out of area of existing GP). it's something me and my husband just haven't got around to yet. but I'm slightly (okay very) nervous about it.

because my existing GP was very understanding about my Fibro and the problems it was causing with my mobility (she didn't have a problem with me using crutches, for example).

now I'm faced with going to a whole new GP who I don't know if will even believe in Fibro. what if I walk in for my first appointment, crutches and all, and he/she says "what do you need those for?"

I guess I'm just wondering if any of you out there have been through the same thing.. how did you approach the situation? I've been lucky to have a GP that did accept my Fibro but what if I'm not that lucky this time?

by **Lindilou** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 10:17 pm

Well when you do sign up with your new gp all your records will be sent to him or her so you shouldn't really need to say anything,surely?

by **FluppyPuffy** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 10:52 pm

Have you registered with a new surgery yet??? If not, have a look at how many in your new area and give them a call. Ask if they have any patients registered with FM and/or other similar conditions registered, and if they do, ask if there is a particular GP who tends to specialise/has an interest in such conditions that these patients tend to see. If there is, then see what you need to do to register with them. You could use this approach if you have already registered with a surgery too.

Fibroduck Foundation have a number of documents designed to help manage medical appts which can be downloaded from Might be worth a looky to see if they can be of help to you for when you go and see your new GP. They can be edited to fit in with what you need.

by **Theresa34** » Tue Jul 01, 2014 2:49 pm

I would have thought that when you register, all your medical records and prescriptions will be sent to them? I'm hoping to move house too and it will be out of the area. It will be something I will ask my current GP and rheumy x

by **dazzleship** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 10:28 am

hiya

thanks for your replies. yeah I'm aware my records etc would all be sent over but I don't think I explain myself properly cos what I meant was that even if they have my records, doesn't mean that a doctor that doesn't "believe" in fibro (and we all know those doctors unfortunately exist) will suddenly believe in it just because it's on my records.

thanks for the advice FluppyPuffy - I will be sureto do that when I contact the new surgery.

by **Lindilou** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:42 pm

by **dazzleship** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 6:45 pm

hello

well I have an update for you. saw new GP this afternoon - he seems quite nice, wasn't dismissive of my Fibro at all. he said he can't do much at the moment until my records come through from the old GP but he did say I need some more blood tests and he also mentioned the possibility of referring me back to a rheumatologist once he sees the blood test results and my records.

he took my blood pressure - said it was a little high (138 over 99) - I hope that's not something else I need to worry about. :?:

could be cos it really hurts having my blood pressure taken? (he took it twice - reading I gave here is second one which he said was lower than first).

or could be cos I'd just walked to the surgery in bucketing-down rain without a coat and was tired and resembling a drowned rat when I got there :-?

anyway jist of it is I'm happy so far with new GP. he seems the sort to want to check things out which can only be good.

by **cocobella** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:19 am

Hi Dazzleship,

I know exactly how you are feeling as my GP who I have been with for 10 years left my practice in June. I was so nervous and worried as he became such a big part of my life as I was at the GP atleast twice a month.

Anyway, it actually ended up being really positive. The GP who is seeing me now had fresh eyes and noticed that I was on a heavy concoction of medication and at the age of 27 she felt that this was wrong, and that some of the medications were counteracting each other. She has reduced a lot of the "heavy" meds I was taking and it has made a difference for me as I feel my brain and thinking process is a bit more clearer. It has also made me realise that these drugs haven't been doing much for me as I feel no better. She also organised a bunch of blood tests my previous GP had never thought of and it turned out I was deficient in 3 different things. So generally my GP going has been really quite positive.

As the notes etc are all carried/passed over it provides your new GP with a fresh pair of eyes. I doubt a GP would ask you why you have your crutches etc. If you need them, you NEED them! If they help you cope and get about don't feel the least bit paranoid about it! If the GP treats you unfairly or as you said maybe acts as though they don't "believe" then complain. The world health organisation and NICE etc all acknowledge fibromyalgia as a recognised rheumatic condition. The WHO are also conducting research at the moment on chronic pain and fibromyalgia and quality of life. Try not to worry, but easier said than done.

Coco x

by **dazzleship** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 5:46 pm

hi cocobella

thanks for your reply :-)

I'm glad your experience of your new GP was positive and actually worked out for the best.

I'm kind of hoping the same will be for me. certainly the fact that (as per my post above) the new GP is already ordering blood tests and potentially talking about rhumatologist suggests he's at least interested in helping me which has to be good.

oh and I forgot to say about my crutches in the other post - he didn't question my need for them (as I'd feared before hand) he just asked how I was with the Fibro, commenting that "I see you're using them" (pointing to crutches). so he seems fine with that which is also good :-D