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Preparing for first GP visit

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Phillip 76	Preparing for first GP visit	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 (02/13/06 06:39:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None Hi all, Interesting to read all the entries in this site. I'm also in the position of just having found out that my 'weird' body shape is actually a condition: it's kind of a relief but also a bit of a shock. It explains a lot about my bad self-image and low self-confidence - and although it's good to hear that others have experienced the same thing, now that I've found out more about it I'm thinking about it all the time and have become even more conscious of it! Anyway - I really want to talk to a specialist about it, so am preparing now for a visit to my GP. I'm concerned that a lot of people have said that GPs will often dismiss the condition: but I know it's had and is having a huge (negative) impact on my life and I really want to do something about it. It was my GP that first told me I had PE when I visited recently about something unrelated - so I guess that's a good start. So I have a few questions for people who have discussed it with GPs and have been referred to a specialist: - What should I tell my GP? Are the physchological impacts of the condition enough to warrant being referred to a specialist, or do I need to discuss a physical health problem? Thing is I'm not sure whether it IS giving me a health problem: but it can't be good for us, surely, especially if it might get worse. - I'm in London - are there any good specialists that I should suggest I get referred to? - Is the NHS likely to cover any operations - or is that only in severe cases? - If I have to go private, how much is this likely to cost? Thanks in advance for any replies - any information will be useful at this stage. Regards, Phillip
maxmoler	no worries	#1	[-]
Posts: 2 (03/29/06 09:53:07) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	hello mate, i was in the same place as you at one point except i have pc. All my gp did was take a look and then immediatley refer me to a hospital consultant who then officialy diaognosed me with the condition. Im not sure about the costs or anything, let me know how it goes.
er051	Me too!	#2	[-]
Posts: 1 (10/08/09 08:50:21) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi there, I see you posted that some time ago but I am in the exact same boat and wondering what your experience was? I am nervous about seeing my GP about something which may be seen as just cosmetic and that wouldn't affect my life much. How did you get on with it all? Please let me know or could others advise me on how best to go about the process. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
eman		#3	[-]
Posts: 2 (11/12/09 07:03:00) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	been in your shoes, yeah im also from london, am 18, had the nuss operation about 14/15months ago, know the procedures for getting it on the nhs, but decided as finances wern't an issue to go private. i went through the same phycological stuff your going through now. first things first, most gps are clueless about pe, so you'll have to find out information about it yourself, and educate them. to get it on the nhs i asked my gp to refer me for various cardiovascular tests to see if it was impeding my hearts ability to function, similarly i underwent tests on my lungs to see if/how it affected my breathing. If the results are such that the reports are such that they say your health is being impeded my your pe , you shouldn't have problems getting it on the nhs, though waiting list may be over a year long ( this is what i was told). My gp was a douche and refused to refer me to thoracic surgeon( loads are listed on this site) , make sure they do the nuss , you will be able to find this information on the internet, i did! I paid privately to see a thoracic surgeon who worked at great ormond street hospital he told me contary to what my gp had said that he would give it me on the nhs , but that since i was 17 i was too old for him personally to operate on( he was a specialist child surgeon basically ). I then found a surgeon caled dr george ladas and paid to have the operation privately , he was fantastic, very experienced,understanding and professional , and comes highly recommended by me. im happy if any of you's reply to speak to you and answer any questions , because i exppect you might like me to go into greater detail about the whole thing, or parts of it, kind regards and good luck e
joe1		#4	[-]
Posts: 1 (11/28/09 05:54:29) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	eman thats really useful. i am also 17 and have pectus excavatum but have not yet been to see my gp. Waiting times are 1 year on nhs wtf !? i live in yorkshire, so do you think waiting times may be different in different parts of the country? because im now 17, do you think i should hurry, as i am aware that you are supposed to have this done before you're 18? i often do have palpitations when i do excescise (and sometimes when i dont do excescise), and im pretty sure my breathing is impared by it, so do you think this would make the nhs take more notice and do it any sooner? Also what were recovery times like? i.e when were you back at college or w/e? thanks joe
eman	response for joe	#5	[-]
Posts: 3 (11/29/09 13:54:42) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Firsts things first, I read somewhere on the net some outdated/incorrect information about bones becoming (struggling for ways to describe this) fixed in place and no longer malleable, I panicked. I'm guessing you might have read this too. However, when I saw the surgeons (who I've mentioned before), they told me that in fact, there was no rush, and that medical opinion was split over whether It was in fact advantageous to wait until the bones were set or not. Remember this operation is relatively speaking 'new', si information is at times limited. My surgeon told me he had recently (successfully) operated (the nuss) on a 44 year old man. He told me I was in no rush, it wasn;t a case of now or not possible. So don't panic. I was told a rough figure when I mentioned the list being 1 year, and this was for my predicament , in London with pe not affecting me physically. If , as in some cases I believe pe does, affect your breathing or heart, your gp ought really to refer you for tests, on the basis of these you may get it on the nhs quickly , but I really don't know much about exact details. I found it difficult to get official nhs guidelines on pe (I don't even know if they have any, nothing seemed publicly/easily available )my impression was that it really depends on your gps willingness to refer you, and the surgeons willingness to do it on the nhs, but again I don't know much more than that. My memory is a little hazy about the recovery times , I guess was in hospital for 10-14 days. Then after that I felt very uncomfortable/vulnerable for many months. Since ive had the bar in ive felt quite catious, so no climbing trees ….risk of fall etc etc.. I would recommend if you are 17, to be proactive , go to your gp, make sure he understands how important this is , how it affects your life, I simply refused to take no for an answer etc etc ..and get on a waiting list if you can and try and have it at the beginning of a summer holiday if your at school or beginning of gap year etc. I tried to fit it in the middle of school year bad idea! I ended up repeating. Regret doing so somewhat but am off to uni next year to study philosophy so yeah, just look on the Brightside that you can get it fixed, but don't as I did become tunnel visione'ed about it, finish school then do it that's my advice.. get back to me if you want any more of my ramblings… I only do this as I felt alone when I was trying to sort it all out . hope it helps Good luck yours

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