In collaboration with RACGP.my squinty eyes, work long hours, and have to have so much knowledge. They’re your first point of contact for everything, and are also there for huge medical decisions people have to make. About 90% of GPs are with Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, so you know they never stop learning.
I for one are extremely grateful for the work they do and the care they provide my family, and I’ve no doubt a lot of you are also.
Do you have a lovely GP story? I (and I’m sure they!) would love to hear it. Have you had the same doctor all your life? Get a great pap smear? And when did you realise you were old?!
sammie@theannoyedthyroid.com says
October 7, 2015 at 7:26 amI have the best good doctor karma and I’m so happy about it. My doctor in London used to tell me that his oldest patient said that the secret of longevity was a glass of red wine every day so every Christmas, I would buy him a bottle of vino. I bumped into him while I was in London, totes by chance, and I was almost as excited as if I had won the lottery. I’ve got an awesome GP here too, it’s nice to know that someone has your back. As for getting old, I knew I was old, when I was old enough to be the parents of the (adult) students I was teaching!
Veggie Mama says
October 7, 2015 at 9:07 amRight, well he’s the professional, so I’m taking his advice! Vino for life! I like the little old ladies who say whisky and a sense of humour keep them going past 100. That’ll be me, haha.
Oh it sneaks up on you, doesn’t it? Comes out of nowhere – bam. You’re not young anymore. It took a while for my head to get around it. Pass that wine…
NormalNess says
October 7, 2015 at 9:09 amI’ve had two lovely GPs this year. My husband has had terrible luck with GPs. It’s very strange.
I find it funny when people are scared to talk about things that happen like thrush. After three courses of very strong antibiotics earlier this year I walked up to a chemist and told them I had it and I wanted whatever they had for it. I told them all the antibiotics I had been on and we both agreed it was a miracle that it a) wasn’t that bad and b) that I hadn’t been in weeks sooner.
Someone near us at the time was clearly uncomfortable but geez…shit happens, you know? Espeically after a crapload of antibiotics!
Veggie Mama says
October 7, 2015 at 9:17 amHa yes that was my problem – antibiotics after a chest infection, mixed with pregnancy: thrush is about 99% guaranteed! He was so sweet, like I think there was a wave of terror that crossed his face, but he just bucked up and got on with the job. I think it makes the awkward even more awkward if you’re not up front about it. No point beating about the bush! 😉
Sarah Chegwidden says
October 7, 2015 at 9:27 amThis post has made me realise how great GPs are. I currently have a crazy Chinese GP who only ever seems to give out to me but also makes me lol. Whenever I go see him I have to regale the entire visit to my hubby cause they are hysterical.
Veggie Mama says
October 7, 2015 at 9:39 amwell, laughter is the best medicine! My Chinese lady was so good, I only saw her a couple of times but every time I left better, slightly bemused, and full of grudging respect haha
Reannon @shewhorambles says
October 7, 2015 at 11:23 amOur GP is amazing. So amazing that it’s near on impossible to see her!! We’ve seen her for the last 8 years. She watched my boys grow up, seen me through my sisters death, through multiply miscarriages, pregnancy scares, amino test (& results) & taken care of me through two healthy pregnancies. She’s more than an average GP, she genuinely cares about us. She’s never in a hurry ( but often you wait an hour passed your appointment time to see her because she doesn’t hurry ANYONE), always asks about everyone & never fails to tell me I’m doing a brilliant job as a mum. Those words always make me smile because they are ones I don’t think mums hear enough of.
If we ever move, or she does, I’ll die. Literally because I won’t ever want to see another doctor.
Veggie Mama says
October 7, 2015 at 11:31 amOh my god I love her already! It’s so nice when they have those thoughtful little touches, like being encouraging about motherhood. Imagine how much history you’ve shared with her… I want that! I do try to go to my pap smear lady doctor, who also didn’t laugh at my monkey bite 😀
Jess says
October 7, 2015 at 12:42 pmI have a wonderful GP who I’ve been seeing for about 20 years & who has literally watched my grow up (mind you, I swear to god he hasn’t aged a day in all that time!). Last time I went to see him for an obstetrics referral he guessed that I was preggers before I’d even opened my mouth, and following both babies we received wonderful hand written cards in the mail from him, both sides of the card crammed with his lovely messge.
The getting old thing has crept up on me slowly but surely – I listen exclusively to the ABC on the car radio, begrudge evening outings and last week I found my first grey pube. Oh well. It happens to the best of us I guess!
Veggie Mama says
October 7, 2015 at 9:05 pmOh my god this made me laugh so much! One of the kids asked me what was so funny. I remember once the oldies easy listening station on the radio played Metallica and I saw my life flash before my eyes. What even? Also, how beautiful is your GP! What thoughtful care. Did your hormonal state make you bawl? I would have!
Chantelle : Fat Mum Slim says
October 7, 2015 at 2:46 pmOh worst nightmare! I know someone who went to a doctor about lady stuff, saw the doctor and then decided she’d feign a sore knee instead.
And man, I have those old moments all the time now. It must be a thing that happens when you turn 35. 🙁
Veggie Mama says
October 7, 2015 at 9:03 pmThe world is filled with whippersnappers, and as Mrs Woog says “the young’uns doing their lipsticks on the YouTube”. It’s all downhill mate, we’ll be getting walkers soon.
i’d much prefer to be badass/get that shit sorted rather than pretend, but it’s still hard to talk about lady stuff, y’know? Cray.
Denyse Whelan says
October 7, 2015 at 9:50 pmThank goodness you can get thrush treatment over the counter now .. Our GP (female) saw me through pregnancy with our son, and was Dr to both of us, our daughter & her brother.. Then, as they grew up & went & had their kids.. Their kids also saw her! 3 generations. We shared family stories a lot! But she semi retired a while ago & sometimes is still at the practice the families still go to. We’ve moved to the central coast & it’s taken 4 months to find a GP who related to me as I’ve been anxious during the big life change..& she is the BEST I could imagine. She’s now seen by hub as well & we feel grateful to have found her. She’s same age as our kids! But we are not bothered. Life is like that it seems! Great post S xx
Veggie Mama says
October 8, 2015 at 9:43 amI think it’s all about the vibe isn’t it, regardless of the age. So glad you’ve found someone you’re comfortable with after the move, it makes such a difference doesn’t it? It’s amazing how one caring dr can help with anxiety about life things like that.
(ps making that asparagus and cheese bake tonight – I’ll let you know how I go!)
Chelsea Sutherland says
October 8, 2015 at 3:31 amI get daily reminders that I’m old – I have a 19yr old housemate and I’m 33. I also got outraged when I heard pre-pubescent school kids swearing today even though I have extreme gutter mouth. I also found myself being door bitch for a work event recently and had to check id’s – people BORN IN THE MID TO LATE 90’S ARE OF LEGAL DRINKING AGE NOW WTF?!
Veggie Mama says
October 8, 2015 at 9:42 amOh dude, tell me about it – how on Earth can kids born in the 90s be old enough to imbibe? And drive? And vote? Blows my mind. When I was a tutor at uni I realised I wasn’t a 19-year-old party girl any more but I didn’t feel like, old. NOW I FEEL OLD, DAMMIT.
Shari from GoodFoodWeek says
October 8, 2015 at 12:19 pmI’ve had the same doctor since I finished uni. When I was pregnant with my second son I needed an appointment to grab a referral to my OB – my doctor was booked out so I said that I would see anyone. A larger lady made me pee on a stick and then promptly told me ‘yep – pregnant… Now is this a good thing or a bad thing?’. I thought that I had entered pretty excited to be pregnant, but I guess some people don’t always think that a pregnancy is a blessing.
Veggie Mama says
October 9, 2015 at 2:38 pmNope, they sure don’t! It can be downright rough for some. I actually think it’s great that if you had been struggling, she’d opened up an avenue of conversation for you to get help. But you know, each to her own and all that!
Shannon @ Oh Creative Day says
October 8, 2015 at 6:51 pmI found my GP shortly after the birth of my first kidlet. I love her so much. In the middle of a recent appointment, I threw my phone at said firstborn, hoping she’d find some Peppa Pig to allow me to converse with Dr Jenny. Instead she found iTunes, and as the first few notes wafted through the air at full volume, Dr Jenny reacted with “Florence and the Machine? Nice choice, kid.” It made me love her even more.
P.S I used to work at an ad agency and one of my clients was a big Pharma that produced thrush cream. Needless to say, my ad career was neither successful not long.
Veggie Mama says
October 9, 2015 at 2:33 pmhahhahaha what can you even write? I mean “itch got you down?”, there’s only so many places you can go! If i’d given my kids my phone, they’d have gone straight to YouTube and watched those infernal My Little Pony unboxing videos… no cool tunes for us haha
Nikki | Styling You says
October 9, 2015 at 7:38 amI have THE best GP at the moment who has really helped me with my thyroid condition – his understanding of it and best ways to treat go above and beyond. It feels like a team effort.
Veggie Mama says
October 9, 2015 at 2:30 pmIsn’t it good when you feel like your concerns are being cared for? makes all the difference.
cityhippyfarmgirl says
October 9, 2015 at 2:29 pmI adore our family GP. One act of kindness over ten years ago, when he went above and beyond because he had a heart, made me stick with him forever more. None of the others I’ve seen have come even close.
Veggie Mama says
October 9, 2015 at 2:30 pmOh what a sweet guy! No wonder you stuck around 😀
Vicki @ Knocked Up & Abroad says
October 9, 2015 at 9:35 pmMy last pap was the best too. I figure it had something to do with squeezing out a 10 pounder fatty only 6 weeks prior. The docs instruments were nothing my vage couldn’t handle after that. Good doctors stay with us don’t they? They feel like a old friend. The good ones really care and it’s pretty crystal clear which ones they are.
Veggie Mama says
October 12, 2015 at 11:55 amhaha like throwing a sausage down a hallway!
Monique says
October 10, 2015 at 7:40 amOh I can so relate to your story! I used to work at a Hospital – I was 19 when I started so of course the doctors were always always older, until one day a doctor started work who was 6 months younger than me! I thought yeah well I guess I’ve been here along time now they are bound to catch up! Then a few years later the doctors all started to be younger and my dr who is 6 months younger than me became the Med Super and that started to make me feel old! Then another few years later I was the Manager of all things Doctor – and all the doctors were younger than me!!!!! So then on for all those awkward kinda lady part issues – I’d get a referral to any dr on the planet I hadn’t employed or managed – this usually required a trip to the big city and a shopping trip – so there were advantages to waking up at 39 realising I had gotten old – and responsible for those younger doctors!
Veggie Mama says
October 12, 2015 at 11:55 amhaha it really is quite the barometer of age isn’t it? It just takes so long to become a doctor I couldn’t quite believe I was past that. I can imagine you’d want to go elsewhere for lady exams – I worked for a gastroenterologist and swore if I need a colonoscopy I’d be going to anyone else! Although he was amazing.
Michelle Lisle says
October 11, 2015 at 1:51 amI love my gp…..but way more importantly did you say you’re pregnant hun. ? If so congratulations and when did this happen and how did I miss the announcement. ?
Veggie Mama says
October 12, 2015 at 11:53 amNo my darling, not this time around!
Hugzilla says
October 11, 2015 at 7:25 pmWait. What? Is this a surprise “I have thrush and I’m pregnant” announcement? How did I miss this?
Chris Desatoff says
November 13, 2015 at 12:23 pmHaha. Well…now I feel REALLY old at age 40! I think the first time I felt old was a few years ago when I was at McDonald’s and ordered a small coffee.
The pimply-faced kid said, “Okay…one senior coffee…will that complete your order?”
I raised an eyebrow and replied, “Yes. One senior coffee.”
When you’re a freelancer, every penny counts!
Veggie Mama says
November 13, 2015 at 2:26 pmSENIOR coffee? oh man! (I’d probably buy it too though!)