Angry & Confused!

Today, while we were out on our usual walk, my Doctor rang and left a message to contact the surgery as soon as possible.

Rather than ring them we went round as it seemed urgent.

The receptionist told us that microbiota were found in my ear sample, the same sample they'd already said had no infection the other day.

I asked what this meant and found that there had been a 'phone call this morning from the Hospital - no further information was forthcoming.

Microbiota are living organisms or "flora".

I have had them in my middle ear and they could have been there for some time, in the Eustachian Tube.

At the Doctors we were given another prescription for more ear drops.

We picked them up and went home but this time I looked online and found that they were likely to cause kidney damage and hearing loss!

I asked my wife to 'phone the Doctor and they said someone would ring us back.

Twenty minutes ago the son of the Doctor who used to be my Doctor 'phoned and told my wife that whatever I did I was NOT to take these Ear Drops!

My wife asked who had prescribed these Ear Drops and this Doctor said it was the same Doctor I had seen on the 21st of April - the same Doctor that prescribed the first ear drops but didn't check my notes until I asked him to do so as I take Statins, I'm Asthmatic and I am bloody DEAF!

This Doctor also admitted that a 'phone call from the Hospital had prompted all this but he would not elaborate but it looks to me that I was prescribed something that would have had serious affects on my hearing by someone who should know better.

My wife is absolutely bloody livid and I'm in a state of shock.
I've spent almost twenty years of my life putting up with something that perhaps that could have been treated!

I'm to be given an appointment to see an ENT Specialist as a matter of urgency now but now it seems there's a distinct possibility that my deafness could have been arrested long ago but nobody thought to refer me onwards to ENT.

I cannot describe how I feel at this moment. stevmk2

Re: Angry & Confused!

Sadly it doesn't surprise me. Hope you get it sorted out soon x

Re: Angry & Confused!

Oh dear, i'm sorry that you've only just found out that this could have been prevented a long time ago. Hope when you go to the ENT specialist he can do something for you.

Re: Angry & Confused!

Good grief what a kick in guts..

I hope you get an appointment soon and some real answers.

Re: Angry & Confused!

I don't know what to say Steve I do know I would be as angry and upset as you are over it though.

Re: Angry & Confused!

Blimmin eck, Steve! I'm wondering how they could treat this now, though?

Good luck, hope you get an appointment with ENT very soon, and that something positive comes from it.

Re: Angry & Confused!

Pity you didn't get a referral before now.
I also have been given medication by one doctor and taken off it again by another, and told one thing by one doctor then a consultant tells me its wrong.
I know its easy to say Steve, but try to stay calm, don't lose your rag, but I wouldn't leave that surgery until I had some answers. You can also apply to see your medical records if they won't tell you exactly what the hospital said.
But right now, its a holiday weekend, so no work, have a lie in and be kind to yourself. You have a good wife to help and support you and there is little you can do till you get the next appointment come through.
Good luck.

Re: Angry & Confused!

perhaps we were all brought up thinking doctors could do no wrong and always had our best interests at heart - how times have changed. BUT there are still I think some bloody good ones out there but perhaps fewer than before NOW the idiom "never trust a doctor" seems more true! in the same line as "never trust a priest or lawyer" anymore! hang in there mate the body has a great way of coping on its own without medical assistance

Re: Angry & Confused!

I think that when you work alongside doctors on a daily basis then you realise they are not all manna from heaven as they like to think

Steve if I were you I'd be sorely tempted to go to A&E and be seen there. Its a ridiculous situation causing you terrible stress. People go to casualty for less I can tell you.

Re: Angry & Confused!

I'm not sure they'd do anything in casualty since he's booked up to see a specialist & doesn't need urgent attention. But god I'd be frikkin furious too. We were brought up in the 50's to see doctors almost as priests whose word was sacrosanct but that has long since gone. I research & question everything, if I see a specialist I record the conversation incognito on my mobile -can never remember everything they say. You can complain on the CQC website & they will bring it up during their inspection - last time i looked it was anonymous - they dont say who complained, tho it might be obvious from the info you give them.