Doctors aggrrh Can you please help me with some simple q's

[Charlie:-)]

Bloody doctors!!

Called today for an appointment and the receptionist asked what it was for, so I said pregnancy. She told me I didnt have to see the doctor but the midwife at 10 - 12 weeks and to call back closer to the time to book it.

So I asked if they had any info for me cause its my 1st and she said I would get it all from the midwife, so said I would really like to see the doctor cause I have loads of questions and would like some basic info on general health, what I should & shouldnt be eating, doing etc.

She was very blunt and said no smoking, no drinking, take folic acid and eat lots of fresh fruit & veg!!!!!

I then said that I needed to register my pregnancy in case something went wrong and she said in a horrible tone "well we cant prevent anything from going wrong". I couldnt believe what I was hearing, I explained that I thought my records should be updated in case something goes wrong & I call the doctor for advice!! STUPID COW SHES MADE ME VERY ANGY AND BLOODY FLABBERGASTED WITH HER ATTITUDE AGGGGRRHHH

Anyway sorry for my rant. I have a few questions that im sure someone on here will be able to tell me.

What medication can I take? For example if I have a headache, cold etc most medicines say if pregnant seek the advice f your GP before taking.

Cant think of the others I had to ask but I will edit this later if I remember.

Thanks

 

[Emma58]

OMG what is wrong with everyone's GP's at the mo?? I would make an appointment anyway to see your GP you shouldn't have to tell the receptionist what u want to see a doctor for anyway, it's none of their business. You need to see a doctor anyway before 12 weeks to be referred to hospital for a scan?
You can take paracetamol if you have a headache etc.

Ring them back up in the morning and get an appointment

 

[Manda&Thomas]

aww hun thats really bad im quite sure you have to see a doctor for your records to be updated maybe fone tomorow and say you are sick or something
with medication you cant take ibruprofen but a paracetamol if you really need it is ok thik thats just about it without speaking to a doctor about them
manda xx

 

[Charlie:-)]

Thanks for your replies, Manda just been reading about the trouble you've been having too. Cant believe all the trouble youre having to get an early scan, I would have thought you would be priority.

Does anyone know whether I can take aspirin rather than paracetamol?

 

[Emma58]

I think Paracetamol is all u can take but I could be wrong

 

[Happybunny]

no, you must take paracetamol, aspirin is not recommended at all.

Sorry your surgery are being nasty, I know they are busy, but you have a right to discuss your worries and questions with the doc. Ring back and just say you are sick to get an appointment

 

[muppetmummy]

What a horrible cow Surgery receptionists should be compassionate, and she shouldn't ask whats wrong anyway

I'd phone again and just say you're feeling ill. Doctors seem to assume everyone automatically knows whats safe to eat and drink when pg. They could at least answer any questions you have

 

[krystal&jack]

call them back and ask for another appointment - if she asks what for ask her if she's medically trained when she answers no then just tell her that she is unable to help you other than booking you a fooking appointment

 

[Rosebay]

Hi,

sorry she was so rude to you hun. That's kind of the attitude we get in Bristol too. Nothing until you're nearly 12 weeks because the attitude is that they can't do anything before that anyway which stinks frankly. What annoyed me last time was that at my first midwife appointment they gave me lots of info about what not to eat etc but by then the most important development bits had happened! Ridiculous! If it hadn't been for this forum I would have had no idea.

Paracetamol is fine but not much else. Settlers and Rennie are ok for indigestion but most other medicine is no go unless you see a Dr about it. If in doubt chemists are really good. I had hay fever when I was pregnant with Mel and my chemist went though everything for me but in the end I was left with puffing some kind of cellulose powder up my nose or sticking vaseline up there! At least this time that shouldn't be a problem.

To be honest I'm struggling to remember all the don't as well, those I can remember are

soft cheeses (unpasturised)

pate

raw egg or mayo that has been freshly made (jars and squeezy bottles etc are ok- but restaurant mayo will use raw egg)

be careful around cat poo because of toxoplasmosis (you can ask for a test for whether you are immune to it though as if you have had a lot of exposure to cats you might be. I do a lot of gardening and was paranoid about this so I had it tested for and I wasn't immune so my OH had to remove all the cat poo from our garden- heh heh!)

Not sure about other stuff as it all gets mixed up in my mind with what not to give babies under 1! Is honey ok as it's not ok for babies but I can't remember about being pregnant and it being a problem....?

There must be more, ladies....?

+++

 

[Huddsgirl]

i had the same response with my doctors. its absolutly disgusting especially when its ur first. You should phone again and ask too book an appointment, when the stupid reseptionist asks you whats its for , you should say its personal and you will only speak to a doctor.
i dont like the fact you should have to explain to the receptionist why you want an appointment . anyway there is my rant
Anyway hope you have managed to find out some things that u neede to know!! xxx

 

[muppetmummy]

As far as I'm aware honey is ok when pregnant Rosebay.
I didn't know you could be tested for immunity to toxoplasmosis, will ask about that because I have a cat

 

[Rosebay]

Ah, good thanks! I get so mixed up!

Yes I mentioned it at my first midwife appointment and they just ticked the box for that test when my blood went off to the lab. I've never had a cat so I wasn't surprised that I hadn't had it but we have an allotment as well as a garden you see and we get cat poo, fox poo and all sorts down there! I just made sure I wore gloves and washed my hands properly last time.

+++

 

[muppetmummy]

I've only had a cat for 3 and half years, didn't grow up with one, so wouldn't be surprised if I'm not immune. I've been wearing gloves to clean out the litter tray. Luckily the cat has started pooing in the garden much more often of late so it only needs emptying every two or three days

 

[Jade_Number1]

what is it with doctor's receptionists!?! They are all so rude!

 

[tots hope]

Maybe all these doctors and receptionist are suffering with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) there has certainly been a change in the weather recently. Thats what i am putting it down to - make me feel better that way.

If i were you i would phone again and just say it is personal and you don't have to explain yourself to the receptionist.

 

[Josephine_Beth]

You can take panadol for the headache and nothing else, just keep clear of any form of nuts (they can cause an allergy in your baby), raw eggs, apparently shell fish (think this also has something to do with your baby developing an allergy.

Fruit juices, don't drink too much, it can actually make your baby bigger (in weight), I got a slapped wrist for this, I would drink something silly like 2 litres of orange juice a day.

Keep an eye on your salt intake, don't eat too much. Eat lots of green veg, keep a balanced diet.

All this weight talk, about women piling it on, is more to do with how much they eat, just don't stuff your face. It's a myth that you have to eat a lot more when pregnant, you can actually survive on a normal 2000 calory diet but obv adding a little bit more. I was advised on 2500 a day, that would be sufficient at your stage they told me back then.

Eat a lot more fresh things, it will make you feel a lot better. Don't drink things like red bulls.

Oh and watch out with dairy products, not now but later on, pregnant women tend to develope lactose intolerance aka the runs lol But you should be ok for now.

This is what I was advised.

 

[oldmama]

And there I was missing the UK health system and slagging off the NZ one.

I have had basically the same treatment here - i made an appt with the Nurse (because the docs were all busy) and waited nearly an hour because they missed my appt. Then when she finally called me out after the receptionist prompted her she never apologised and said - "well i ddint know what you were coming for", i said "that's because i didnt say over the phone". So i told her i was pregnant and her first remark was "and are you planning on proceding with the pregnancy then?"

If she had looked at my notes she would have seen that I have been trying to "proceed" for 3 years and had recently undergone fertility tests!!

Then she gave me a photocopied list of MW's and said that doctors dont deal with pregnancy, well only one in this town (who she didnt even bother naming), and that was it. No blood test, no blood pressure - nothing.

I left (not for the first time) feeling angry.

The first time I went to that doctors was over a year ago after my husband had ungone sperm count to see what can be done next - i was give an 0800 number out of the Yellow Pages and a bill for $45!!!!!!

 

[Josephine_Beth]

I am starting to like the Cypriot health systme now lol

The Gyn/Obs deal with the pregnancy all the way through and the midwive will turn up at the birth, you don't get deligated anyone, it is whoever is on shift that night, you are stuck with.

Unlike the UK, you are not made an appointment at different times etc. If new pregnancy's and up to 31 weeks, you see the doctor one a month, every tuesday and you turn up at 8am, hen you just wait until you are called in.

From 31 weeks, you see your doctor every 2 weeks on a frieday, same time 8am and you ahve to wait. From 35 weeks, you go once a week, every thursday, same time 8am. There are 2 - 4 doctors on each time, so you may not get the same doctor every visit but they do exam fully etc. It's just hard with the langauge barrier.

 

[x Naomi x]

Im so lucky where i live, i went to see the doc as soon as i found out, and she told to book in with the midwife so the receptionist fitted me in 4 th oct when i will be 7 weeks and congratulated me as i left!

My friend got a cancellation and got her first appoinment with the midwife at 5 weeks - everyone move to lincolnshire they dont seem to have a problem with early pregnancy here!!