Seeing an OBGYN on NHS

No, I wasn't asking "how does the pap smear work?" If I'm being told I need to advocate for my health, abnormal cervical cells don't exactly make themselves known till there's a problem, unless you are having regular screening. It's impossible for me to "realize" I need to do something (at least early on). It's not like a bad knee or a cold!

Maybe that's ok because clearly a person's cancer treatment is more important than my birth control pill,

Well, sure, until you develop cancer from the wrong pill because it's not right for you....

Your GP will be able to do this. I think you're panicking in advance when you probably won't have anything to worry about. Yes, there are a couple of people who have had problems, but most of us manage just fine.

Well, I wanted to know about specific brands of prescription meds which may not be familiar here (tylenol, anyone?) And I wanted to know in advance, so I could stock up if I needed to. Fortunately, my mom is a nurse practitioner, so in theory, I can get any (reasonable) script I need if it's really something I can't get in the UK. 

Sara was talking more in general with advocating for your own health. In the case of smears they're very pro-active, and every three years unless you have a known issue or genetic risk has been recognised around the world as the best timing. The US is even looking to change to this, and only doesn't yet because it means getting more money by doing it annually.

Well, sure, until you develop cancer from the wrong pill because it's not right for you....

Eh?  Particular BC pills don't cause cancer. Rates of endometrial and ovarian cancers are lower in women who use BC pills, and the risk of breast cancer is only very slightly elevated; this is generally because of the change in hormones, not due to a particular pill. Cervical cancer rates are slightly higher, but cervical cancer is caused by HPV, and women on the pill are more likely to be having unprotected sex and thus more likely to get HPV, so it's not because of the pill per se.

Well, I wanted to know about specific brands of prescription meds which may not be familiar here (tylenol, anyone?) And I wanted to know in advance, so I could stock up if I needed to.

Tylenol is a brand name for acetaminophen, which here is called paracetamol. You can get that in any chemist, and the prescription versions too. Some thigns have slightly different brand names that might not be known to a lay person, but a doctor will know and/or be able to find out the equivalent drugs. I can't think of anything 'normal' that you couldn't get in the UK.

Some thigns have slightly different brand names that might not be known to a lay person, but a doctor will know and/or be able to find out the equivalent drugs. I can't think of anything 'normal' that you couldn't get in the UK.

This. I have referenced US names for drugs to GPs (when discussing medical history), and even if they initially went "hm, I vaguely recall that drug name", 2 seconds of searching in whatever medical system they use for that sort of thing brought up the equivalent drug here in the UK. And tylenol was never one of the drugs they had to look up.

Tylenol was just an example people. I know what it is in the UK. But I figured you might not know about Patanol instead, for example, for me to use. (It doesn't exist in the UK btw.)

And I'm not here to argue about medical conditions (etc). I wanted to know how it worked since it's its own special case here in the States. It's ok for me not to like how something works in the UK. I promise, it's not a personal attack on anyone here! There are plenty of things I am excited about- free bc (as mentioned up thread) is definitely one of them!! My bc costs $50/mo here WITH insurance!!

Of course you're allowed not to like it, but I think you should actually experience it first before deciding you don't like it

Of course you're allowed not to like it, but I think you should actually experience it first before deciding you don't like it

Fair enough!

I have a few comments, I guess, although they are all coloured by the fact that I have received excellent service (although I have a very brusque GP!).
1) I TOTALLY recommend attending a family planning clinic if you have one nearby. They are super super knowledgeable about all things BC and related. I get all of my smears there. On the topic of smears, I had one irregular one and then was immediately sent to a specialist and had follow ups. It turned out to be nothing, but be assured they act very quickly on it.
2) Know the "generic" or actual names of your drugs as, more for marketing reasons than anything else, stuff can be called different names everywhere, but will always have the same clinical name. (ie Advil vs ibuprofen). It's just a vocabulary issue. (Although my GPs have never had any trouble figuring out what I meant, it just took some digging). They will usually spend time trying to figure out an equivalent if the specific drug isn't available for some reason.
3) Switch GPs if you don't like them! You are not "stuck" and often practices will actually book you with whomever is free first anyway, so if you like one better than another...just ask about switching.  With this in mind, I also recommend checking out your nurses. We have once AMAZING one at my practice; I actually prefer to see her over my GP.
4) I had what would be termed excellent insurance in the US and have had excellent experiences here in the UK. I agree that it can feel funny not to get instant referrals to an specialist in a field, but I've never felt that I was being dismissed or ignored.

This. I have referenced US names for drugs to GPs (when discussing medical history), and even if they initially went "hm, I vaguely recall that drug name", 2 seconds of searching in whatever medical system they use for that sort of thing brought up the equivalent drug here in the UK. And tylenol was never one of the drugs they had to look up.

This is my experience as well. When I moved over here I brought a package of my existing birth control tablets with me to show my new GP. She knew immediately what the UK equivalent would be. And if she hadn't, all surgeries have reference systems to find the equivalent. In 99% of the cases, its just a question of different brand names for the identical drug.

But I figured you might not know about Patanol instead, for example, for me to use. (It doesn't exist in the UK btw.)

I'm not in the medical profession at all, but I just looked up Patanol and found that it's a brand name for olopatadine - and that does exist in the UK.

Yeah, the ingredient exists, but somehow (as it's been explained to me), it's not the same. They are eye drops. And the patent for the original drug is still in effect, so no generic or alternate brand (yet).

GGTL, would you mind posting about your first NHS experiences once you have them?  You don't have to or anything as it can be quite personal.  But I think its quite common for people to worry about a different medical experience and it would be interesting to see if and how your perspective changes!

I love the horse/zebra comparison! I have a zebra that is very unique in the UK and not able to treat here. I have seen 2 GPs about 'horses' but had to explain how they would get along with my zebra. Both told me: "you might find something on google."  Very helpful

I agree about the advocating for yourself, I don't think that it is specific to the UK or US, but has a lot to do with an overwhelming trust that doctors know your health better than you. Probably feel this way because (1) I dated a doctor with a god complex and (2) had gotten really sick from repeated misdiagnosis, so if a doctor even looks at me funny- I am out of the office and looking for someone else.

FWIW, I would prefer going to a specialist OB/GYN in the UK, as my NHS GP had a very tenuous grasp on the workings of the menstrual cycle. (Seriously, she made my middle school male gym teacher look like the Stephen Hawking of reproductive health)

Really, the great thing about the NHS it is there for people that would otherwise not be able to see doctors. If you can afford private healthcare here I really recommend it, because as far as I have experienced, the quality of care is superior and eases fears about dying while waiting for tests/scans/referrals. Best of both worlds.

Man, the talk about having to advocate for yourself is just totally different from what I experienced with the Scottish NHS. I was registered at 3 different surgeries in 3 different areas during my time there, and I always felt that every concern of mine was taken seriously. Actually, they seemed to take things more seriously than I did! I'm wondering if I just got lucky!

Man, the talk about having to advocate for yourself is just totally different from what I experienced with the Scottish NHS. I was registered at 3 different surgeries in 3 different areas during my time there, and I always felt that every concern of mine was taken seriously. Actually, they seemed to take things more seriously than I did! I'm wondering if I just got lucky!

I think it is just like anywhere, you sometimes get gems and sometimes get ones where you have to fight for yourself.  My current GP is a bit brusque (but he does listen), but I always feel that he is doing his best to help me.  And, as I mentioned before, the nurses at my practice are AMAZING--one of them actually did additional research on available types of BC because I was having issues and then followed up with me to see how I was doing. It just all depends!

I always saw an OB/GYN in the US for the annual pap smear & breast exam - just seemed to be the way things were done there & it never occurred to me to question it.

I've never been to one of those FPCs here, but I haven't had need for contraception either.  At my local surgery, it's the practice nurse who does the smear test - not a GP.  I've been fine with that, although at first I didn't really understand why the nurse is called a 'Sister' - because she's not a nun. 

Apparently, in a couple of years, I'll also receive an invitation to my first mammogram on the NHS.  I had a baseline mammogram in the US when I was 35, and then one each year thereafter until I moved here, so I was a little surprised that (all things being normal) you don't have them until age 50 here (unless you have a reason for needing them sooner).

I was on a blood pressure tablet when I moved here, and the GP here just looked up what it was & prescribed me the same thing (by a different name) -- I don't take that any longer as my blood pressure came down through lifestyle changes.  Also over the years, I have taken a couple of different anti-depressants that were known by different names here compared to the US.  One time I asked the GP about taking Wellbutrin instead as it appeared to have some appetite suppressant properties (vs the other one I was taking at the time having had the opposite effect!) which it was being used for in the US - however, it was only prescribed here for smoking cessation & nothing else.  So there are things a person might run into like that.

My experiences here have been mostly positive, and I agree with DrSuperL99's advice to just wait & see & experience it for yourself - trying to keep an open mind, and maybe it'll be better than you think. 

I did spend a night at A&E once here with a knee injury & it wasn't very nice/clean there (it literally stank, the exam room wasn't clean & they were allowing an abusive drunken person to wander around far too long before security finally ran him off) -- which makes me NOT want to ever go into hospital!  But I just have a thing/fear about hospitals generally as well.  We do have a little private health care policy through DH's work, so *fingers crossed* if I ever needed the hospital, maybe I'd get into Nuffield -- people tend to come out of LGI (if they come out at all!) sicker than when they went in.  But you could say that about the hospital in the US where my mom used to live too. 

Sara, believe me, I have tried everything you suggest and  more. I also understand that many people get a bit defensive over the NHS when it has been helpful or even life-saving for them.  

I am honestly not anti-NHS, but I work for a medical charity and I know a great deal about how GP surgeries operate (what they get paid for, what they don't, how they are rated and graded, etc). They are run like small businesses and I know that everything I approach my GP about are not measured issues, so they don't have time for me.  

I certainly would not describe myself of defensive of the NHS (in this situation).  I understand the systems have pros and cons, which may appeal differently to different people.  I also recognise BOTH systems fail people.  Perhaps my descriptions of the NHS have been misinterpreted as overzealous but these descriptions were really just to inform Gottogettolondon, because (for better or worse) it is the system she is going to have to work with.

I genuinely tried not to make my posts specific to a person because I didn't want this to descend into some he said she said.  And I do apologise if I responded in a way where you then felt that you need to defend your experience with the NHS.  It wasn't my intention.  However, based on what you have described with your doctor, personally I would change GPs.