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Finding a GP

AnxiousmavisContributor27 Sept 2022, 3:11 am AEST

Finding a GP

Hello ,

Right now I’m trying to find the right GP in my mental health journey as step one. However , i usually use my local AMS and my usual Dr is on holiday and after a pretty bad fall I had to go and have some tests done that are sever triggers to my OCD around chemicals and medical stuff. I had X-rays , CT scan and am scheduled to have an MRI , so getting to my issue I had t meet with a Dr I have bad history with , I don’t know if it’s his lack of mental Health understanding or him not explaining things to me , or kinda telling me worse case scenario which kinda drives my anxiety crazy I’m not saying his a bad Dr but is it wrong to try and ask for another Dr ?
in the past he freaked me out after telling me I could have a brain tumour , turns out it was hormonal prolactin levels, then now he tells me I could need surgery or pins in my knees which was actually incorrect, is it wrong to ask to not see him ? They should share my records and all Drs be able to access them at the AMS . Even worse I kinda vented to a Dr tonight about my past experiences with this Dr after he said it was fine my knee and no surgery or pins needed , i feel guilty because I don’t often complain about Drs to other Drs , maybe I’m over reacting ? Maybe it’s my anxiety or ocd but I feel shitty about venting and even more shittier about wanting to ask for another Dr .

I have to go back to him but just don’t want to , he’s probably not a bad Dr but he just doesn’t understand me. I feel guilty and like a bad person

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In response to: Finding a GP

CampbarrySenior Contributor02 Oct 2022, 1:07 am AEST

Re: Finding a GP

No not wrong at all. I just did it with my bad (for me) psychiatrist -vented about him too- I've also done it with a therapist (also vented) - It's doing you more harm than good to see this person, and it's important that you protect yourself more than protect them. And trust me they won't mind at all. So long as you're not leaving them a nasty message or review (unless they have done something heinous) it won't hurt them. But staying is going to hurt you.
I don't know how it works where you are, but I can pick the doctor I want an appointment with. Most clinics will have a list of their GPs with a little statement about each, look for one that has an interest in mental health and ask to see them, make sure you've secured an appointment before cancelling your current one with the doctor you're not meshing with though.
Also When I've left a good doctor before (or rather the doctor moved on) I asked them for a recommendation too and now I have a fantastic doctor and it sucked when they went on leave.
I've had a handful of doctors that I didn't mesh with but I had to see in a pinch, it happens, but I've never seen them for a follow up. I move on, it's like that first appointment was their job interview with me and they failed

In response to: Re: Finding a GP

AnxiousmavisContributor02 Oct 2022, 1:15 am AEST

Re: Finding a GP

Thank you so much for your reply, you words have helped me a lot to realise sometimes you don't mesh well with a Dr, and sometimes you need to speak to others to see if your right in your feelings and thoughts, I appreciate it. I think as people who need someone at least with mental health understanding it's important to look for the right Dr or Drs. This week has been really eye opening to me about how important it is to find the right medical people (Drs, psychologists, mental health nurse, etc.) so you feel safe and comfortable and most importantly your listened too. Thank you for the words, I think it helped knowing others are in similar situations and it's okay to feel this way about it too. I'm positive moving forward but it's important I really put my mental health to the front, so thank you

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