Changing GP/Doctors surgery with an Ostomy

Welcome to the Sydney Stoma Channel. My name is Chris and in this video I share my experience of moving GP's and the problems I faced.

[sithilous]

jesus christ what a nightmare and always something im worrying about that supplies are going to run out before my monthly order gets delivered

[marje]

My experience with GP’s has been the same and I’ve been with the same surgery for 37 years! I’m a new colostomy patient, having had my surgery at the end of August as an emergency, so it was all new to me. The system was explained by my stoma nurse, it seemed straightforward, she set up the first prescription and sent it to the surgery but they did nothing for well over a month despite my phone calls and emails, and emails from the stoma team. Thank goodness for my stoma nurses, who kept me supplied. In fact there is still one item they can’t get right. The nurses tell me this is a regular occurrence for them with GP’s across their wide area of east and North Yorkshire. How and why is it so difficult?

[CattyT]

Hi, as usual you have created a chance for good and change. No, GPs don’t get Any training in stomas, or at least none in my area. You can argue that the General in General practice is so huge that we cannot cover everything in training, and because there are stoma teams specifically to cover this it is assumed they will handle everything. As a result of your video (and my recent surgery) 3 years of North Wales GPs will be getting their first training afternoon in stomas and all that comes in that kit bag. Well perhaps not quite all as there is so much to learn and I’ve found it a very steep learning curve myself. I will be taking my wonderful stoma nurse with me to speak to our local Vocational training scheme in the autumn and we can start to spread the word. May I suggest areas where there are problems suggest to their stoma team that they can approach their local GP VTS and offer a teaching session. I would imagine many areas will love the offer and at least the GPs of the future will have some insight into our world.

[andrewbradbury]

First to see it😀I order 3 sprays for 180 bag's.. only 2 arrive every time! Not enough

[kellyolson]

Jeez, I am so sorry. So frustrating. I am in the US and I have an ileostomy and luckily I have a wound care/ostomy team. And just Byram to deal with. I just call Byram if I need supplies and they arrive they next day or day after since I am in the same state. If I need an authorization I just call the stoma nurse and the stoma nurse just sends an authorization and once Byram has it they ship right out, no problems.

[jeffreydavies]

Hi
It was the same for me in the early days. I use Coloplast and it was sorted to order in the same way as you. Went to the pharmacy for something. I had boxes of bags wipes sprays the lot after Coloplast had made a delivery of the same to me. Everything settled down, but I have recently changed my bag sizes after trying some samples from Coloplast. Warned the surgery of the changes in prescription after the hospital agreed it all. The receptionist was great and a week after called me back. She said it had all been updated and there was a prescription sent to the pharmacy. I knew the changes had been agreed because I had received the new range of bags fro Coloplast. So God knows what I have waiting at my local Pharmacy. At least I have more than enough bags available. Good luck in sorting it. It, s hard work and a lot of phoning around to get it sorted.
Take care
Regards
Jeff

[thewisepowerchair]

Sydney stoma, are the coloplast bags lacking? Is this why you use pelican as well?

[WelcomeTooo]

Thankfully here in Australia we don’t have to use GPs to get a prescription to receive our supplies.

[annebebee]

My issue is with my supply company. In 6 months I have not gotten one order correctly. Every month I sent back the wrong things and have to reorder the right things. I built up a stash to not run out and keep samples as emergency back up. I also order and pay out of pocket from EBay.

[LuliBrazil]

What is GP?
How was it changing the diet? My husband, who has already spinal cord injury (T12, L1 and L2 levels = last torax vertebrae, the 1st and 2nd lumber vertebrae) for 31 years. Now he has to change his diet to low fiber. He has been feeling thirsty all day, today was worse, he drank 5 jars of tea, each jar has 2 litters. He still feels thirsty. He didn't eat properly today. He has urine stoma and feces stoma (yep, two pouches), I am the one who changes it, I like 👍🏼. But I always get worried whenever something new happens, like that thirsty feeling, high blood pressure (he didn't have before), diarrhea, sweating cold hands and his sugar levels are high, he has diabetes but it's out of control this week, he didn't even eat properly, we went to his physician and he did nothing.
Do you have or had anything like that?

[loretta_]

I can see, just from your body language how frustrating this has been. With my anxiety, I would have been having panic attacks! Ok, the GP wants to see you, but couldn't he have approved the first one until he saw you, to get you through to your next appointment? Hope that makes sense 😊 I'm in Australia and it's a relief having universal healthcare, but sometimes the paperwork/red tape can get frustrating 🤷🏻‍♀️

[annebebee]

We don't change Drs in the US when we move as long as we are willing to drive. My. Surgeons authorized my supplies.

[andrewbradbury]

My doctor told me I hadn't got a hernia! The surgeon said I have a large one..do doctors get paid for being stupid?

[MSchipper]

I am so sorry this happened to you, but I must confess I lol'ed...
Seriously tho, if you're dealing with any chronic illness, congenital issues with chronic consequences, etc.... if you need to change GP, go and meet them right away, before you have to see them for something. That can save a lot of agony in the future.

[catherinestevenson]

So sad to here of your trouble. How does your GP not understand that he doesn’t arrange the supplier you already have it in place it’s a poor start to your relationship ongoing with the surgery😔

[andrewbradbury]

My doctor's the same, knows nothing about colostomy patients

[Chanesmyname]

The GPs seem to have used the effect of COVID to get really lazy and bad at their jobs. Dreadful state of things.