Skin problems - is my GP doing enough?
louise1966
Posts: 4,012 Forum Member
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I have had eczema, psoriasis, any skin affliction going, for decades. Not once has my doctor suggested I should be tested for allergies, etc. Over the past nine months or so, my skin has become so inflamed, I am scratching it until I bleed, mainly on my arms and legs and stomach and back. Now it has spread to more intimate areas. I have asked my GP if I should not be referred to a dermatologist for tests, as they do not know why I am suffering from this. I have tried eliminating products, but it makes no difference, so I am at a loss as to what to try. I honestly believe my doctor should recommend testing, as it really is affecting my daily life and my work. I have done some research myself, and it could be hormonal, but this has not even been suggested by my GP. If I decided to go private, I could see whoever I wanted, whenever, I presume. My skin actually feels as if there are millions of insects biting me. Does anyone else have these symptoms, or have any idea what I can do to alleviate the problem? Am I within my rights to ask my GP to send me for allergy tests? Of course, I would have to be able to get an appointment to see her first, even a nurse practitioner, and this is impossible at our surgery. Would consulting a homeopathist be beneficial, perhaps? Any advice would be appreciated.
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Can you get a skin biopsy? had I had that over the years it would have been diagnosed, also is it worth trying exclusion diets in case it's a reaction to any food groups? I hope you get it sorted, it's awful having such conditions...
And to tell you why she is not seeking a second opinion by referring you to a dermatologist .
You have suffered for a long time .....
Unfortunately most dermatologists have waiting lists....
Whether you need testing is the doctors decision ..... But it does seem a sensible move .
Skin problems are not nice .... And go on fir a long time ... As you already know.
When you next see your GP you can make the points to him/her and ask for the investigations to be carried out, and sooner rather than later. The more informed, knowledgeable and quietly persuasive you are, the more likely the GP is to take you seriously and listen to your concerns. That you have suffered this for many years without resolution is sad, and my heart goes out to you. I know from personal experience that it can take years, decades in my case, before you find an expert.
My recommendation would be for you, if you can afford it, and I think you should find money for it even if it means doing without something else, is to see a consultant privately at your earliest opportunity. See my post #15 in the private treatment thread about how to choose a consultant: http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2020650. Also you may consider it worthwhile seeking a second opinion from another GP, but note that in general practice, and if you have an unusual condition, that GPs may not be able to diagnose because they don't know what it is.
This is what happened to me, and it was only when I went private, that at long last I was able to find out what I had, and to get the correct treatment for it. Good luck and remember to be tenacious!
It is funny you should mention going private, as I was considering this very option this morning. Fortunately, I can afford to do it; many in my position cannot, which is sad. I will give my GP one last try. Thanks everyone.
But this is why this story below
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2811908/Should-sent-annual-healthcare-bill-Report-says-patient-receive-statement-telling-cost-NHS-bid-stop-time-wasters.html
Really annoys me, how many times do we have to keep going back to see them because our problems dont get resolved.
Scroll down to the 'Search for a consultant' database search form. You can leave the name blank and enter your postcode or town, the radius to search in, the category, and leave the keywords blank. Press the Search button and a list of consultants together with a map will be output. You can then click on each consultant to find out more and a contact number. Then visit the private hospital's website, and study the detailed profiles of the consultants and try Googling as well.
I haven't bothered with the rest of the website although other private healthcare information is available via the homepage and you can ask for quotes too. For info my last private consultation was with an ENT surgeon in July 2013 and cost £130. I wouldn't have been referred to him if I had stayed with the NHS referral system via my GP, although he accepted me for his NHS list after the consultation and subsequent consultations and investigations were free and carried out in his department at the Wirral NHS hospital.
You are a great help, evil c, thank you. The practice manager at my surgery is a friend, so I emailed her, and was told there was no need to go private, there were other options - what they are, I would love to know. I emailed her purposely, rather than call her, so I would have recorded proof of both my email and her response. I will check out this site but, as you have found EC, I do think private is the way to go and, if I can subsequently get on his/her nhs list, all the better. Much appreciated.
What skin conditions have you been diagnosed with, have you actually been told by your GP that you have these skin conditions?
Also try to estimate what proportion of your skin is being affected by your skin condition in percentage terms? Does it just affect one area of your body? This is very important.
Allergy tests, in my experience, will be useless, the basis for some of your skin problems is genetic/caused by your immune system. Dont waste your time on Homeopathic snake oil.
You have every right to be referred to a dermatologist at your request
I have extensive experience of the system :-(
This is almost certainly an autoimmune disorder. I had/have something similar but much milder, thankfully. After pressurising my GP he wrote to a hospital dermatologist whose secretary gave me an NHS appointment for 6 MONTHS hence! I asked her "OK, how much and how soon?"
"Do you mean you want to go private?"
"Yes."
"OK, he'll see you this Wednesday and it'll cost you £70 for the first appointment. Any subsequent appointments will be free, on the NHS."
As it turned out, the only treatments available had side effects that were worse than the actual disease, so I did nothing.
One thing you should be aware of: the entire pharmaceutical industry is built around the premise that treatments to alleviate the symptoms make them far more money than actual cures. So don't expect to find a cure through the usual channels. You might not believe that an industry could be so cruel and devoid of morals but I'm afraid it's true. You only have to look at the cancer "industry" to see that. They've been supposedly looking for a "cure" for nearly a century and, so far, zilch. All they can offer is chemo- and radiotherapy, which merely delay the inevitable and make you ill in the process. All the cures have been suppressed. It's all about the money.
Most people won't believe this - don't WANT to believe it. But the evidence is there. You just have to look.
http://www.patient.co.uk/
I don't know why your GP should be reluctant to refer. My experience of being referred (gynaecologist & dermatologist) is that the GP is quite happy to pass on responsibility for dealing with the issue!
Interestingly in our area you are given the choice about whether you want to see a consultant at an NHS hospital or a consultant at a private one - but it still comes under the NHS.
If you have joint trouble you are also likely going to want to be checked for psoriasic arthritis as well which anybody with psoriasis has a chance to develop later on