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Medical Trouble With New Doctors

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Malaenis

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I hope this is the right place to post this...

I moved about a year ago, and had to find a new PCP. Found one finally, and ofc they moved. Found another woman recently, the appointment was HELL. I went in because I genuinely thought I was pregnant, despite having birth control. I wanted a blood test to be 100% sure. The doctor didn't give me one insisting urine tests are completely foolproof, and then how my bc method was the best there is, never has complications, no one ever gets pregnant while on it(false info). Then lectures me on my weight, despite the fact that I've been eating healthier for the past 6 months and lost 30+ lbs, in a healthy way. Then says the weight I want to be, because I feel it's a healthier weight for me, isn't good enough. I need to get 20 lbs lighter than that! Because the BMI chart says so. Then without knowing my lifestyle at all, spends MY time in my appointment, lecturing me about processed foods! Needless to say I left furious and never plan on going back.

So I found a different doctor, hoping for better results. She got me a blood test like I asked for, along with blood tests I was due for to check my levels on everything. And also recognized what could have been going on with me, because not everything added up. I DO applaud her for recognizing abnormal symptoms to a fairly common thing. I wasn't pregnant. But at least she gave me what I need to put my mind at ease. Today was my follow appointment to make sure the symptoms had gone away and I was feeling more normal. And going over my test results(everything was normal, 100%, my anemia was even better due to my healthier eating). Everything was fine till we talked about birth control. She told me I should abstain, because "the pope says" families are the most important thing, ALSO because of my "mental disease". She ALSO asked if I was psychotic! Then when I talked to her about my sleep issues, I can't sleep through the night to save my life and I know it's because of nightmares, she gave me a pamphlet on "healthy sleep habits". After I said it doesn't matter what I do, I still can't sleep through the night. I'm tired, I get to sleep fine, but I wake up several times throughout the night. She also gave me a pamphlet on how you shouldn't watch too much TV. I watch a maximum of 2 hours of TV a day, all of which happens in my living room. On rare occasions, like if I'm sick, I move the TV to my room(thank goodness for flat screens), cause I don't leave my bed if I'm sick. lol. I also mentioned, when she said to sleep in a dark room, how I have bad nightmares and that can't always happen. She shook her head and said "no, the room needs to be dark, get a teddy bear". I already have one! Guess what? It doesn't keep me from freaking out that someone's in my room or my apartment about to hurt me or my son. The light being on does!

Anyways! lol. Just wondering if other people have run into these issues with pcp's. And what to do! I don't have a therapist right now, I'm waiting for them to re-assign me to one that can actually help me. I'm thinking since I know I'm healthy at least, and don't need another physical for a year, I'll just wait at least until I have a therapist. Maybe work with them to find a good doctor. Cause this set me back having her say this stuff today. One more person, and a supposed professional, thinks I'm just crazy.
 
I appreciate your comments about not liking the dark, but your GP is right. The body needs darkness to sleep properly. Melatonin is produced when it is dark. If you need a little light then leave a door ajar and the light on outside so you can just see a crack.

Sleep hygiene is very important, and having a good routine and wind-down before bed is very helpful. I too still have a teddy bear as well as a cuddly and I still struggle with sleep. In fact I take quetiapine each night to help, but only in addition to all the other stuff.

As for her comments about the pope - well that is seriously out of order. Your religion or none should not come into it.
 
Unfortunately, there are some very ignorant professionals out there. You happened to bump into two of them in quick succession. :sour: It can be super tricky to find good docs and other health professionals. There are a lot of good ones out there, but there are a lot of mediocre to baaaaad ones too.

I was shocked to find out that doctors in all of their years of medical school only get very cursory education regarding addictions and alcoholism. Which is truly alarming because people suffering from addictions can very easily get addicting meds from doctors who believe they are helping, and not perpetuating the problem. Also, doc's don't necessary get the best training in psychiatric disorders either. Some decide professionally to get additional training in order to handle a wider variety of patients coming through theirs doors, but certainly not all. Not to state the obvious, but it sounds like you might need to keep looking. Sometimes just talking to other people about who they see is a good way to find a good PCP or get pointed in the right direction. Good luck!!
 
I appreciate your comments about not liking the dark, but your GP is right. The body needs darkness to sl...
But the thing she doesn't understand is there are nights when the fears grip me so strongly, THAT will keep be from sleeping more then keeping a light on. And like I said, I DO practice good sleep hygiene. When I can, when the PTSD isn't taking over. I am not on any medications. I'm only just starting the healing process. So adding a ton of new things to my usual routine is only going to overwhelm me more and make it even harder for me to heal. I'm already, slowing, changing things in my routine to help me. Taking away something that is a comfort wouldn't be good for me right now. Whether it is good sleep hygiene or not. I think it's more important right now, as a single mom, that I not be so terrified by the dream I had last night that I can't get out of bed to take my son to school, that I can't function the next day. So yes, it is what a healthy person should do. But it isn't what I always need.
 
50% of doctors graduated in the bottom half of their class :p

I come from a medical family. I've worked in healthcare off & on for a long time. These 2 factors alone make it difficult (& vital!) to find a good GP. Not all GPs will treat other doctors, nurses, EMTs, & families of.... Because med pros (and their families) get really... Ah... Particular... About their level & type of care.

A great GP? Won't lecture you on sleep. Because standard sleep hygeine is bullshit for people with certain disorders, and will make things much worse, and besides... Difficulty sleeping? Can be one of dozens of medical issues that needs to be properly addressed, all on its own or can be a symptom of another disorder that needs treatment. So they won't prattle on about nonsense... They'll send you to a sleep specialist. What makes them great at their job, instead of just good? Is knowing whether that's a sleep clinic, a neurologist, a psychiatrist, etc.... & will tip their heads as they're doing so, and order up bloodwork & other labs to check for things the specialist will want access to, before you go, so that you're already ahead of the game.

I move a lot... So, yes. It usually takes at least a few interview appointments to find a good or a great GP. I cheat, typically, by hitting up the admin staff at a hospital and ask for their short list of GPs that others docs love & send their families to.
 
Yes, I was thinking of doing that. And waiting till I have a therapist in case this happens again. Also, the thing is, this doctor does seem pretty thorough. But prejudiced about me having, as she put it, a "mental disease". One of those that thinks if you could just eat healthy and exercise all the time we'd be all better.
 
I hope this is the right place to post this...

I moved about a year ago, and had to find a new PCP. Fo...
I am sorry to hear you are having to go through that! I've read so many posts from people with PTSD have had similar atrocities happen to them with the healthcare system and it isn't fair. It's quite sad, really-been through it myself more times than I like to think of, but I wanted to tell you that I don't think they think you are crazy-it just feels that way after you've been treated crazily by a professional and the result is subpar to nothing at all. I try all the time to not think the same thing, so you are not alone. You will find the treatment you deserve eventually-just has to be the right one for you. Good Luck!
Roxx
 
I am sorry to hear you are having to go through that! I've read so many posts from people with PTSD ha...

Thank you.
I am finally seeing a therapist, shortly after I got a prescriber through the same office. She was very helpful with a lot of the things I had concerns about, especially after my experiences with these two doctors. She reassured me that despite the fact that I need to do "unhealthy sleep habit" type things to sleep, I need to do what I need to do to keep from having nightmares, being too terrified to fall asleep or get up, and to keep my mind from going through every little thing I need to do or every mistake I've made. Because despite two sleep meds, my mind can still keep me up if I don't.

This past September I also found a primary care. I'm working with this program we have locally, community support program. It's for people in crisis that need extra help for things like scheduling dr's appointments. They help you get back on your feet a bit. Get you set up with any additional programs you might need for help. It has been a lifesaver. She found me a dr, made the appointment, and brought me there. Which is also great because of my anxiety, it's like being able to take a therapist with you everywhere. Lol.
 
Hi Malaenis,
Unfortunately, you're not alone with seeing bad PCs. I've had more than my share of them. There's been a few in between but only for short periods of time.

Glad to see you finally found a doctor.

I used to have an advocate who helped me with doctor appointments. I'll have to check and see if I could get one now. I need to find a good PC again. The last one I saw told me I shouldn't be still having PTSD symptoms this long after getting on disability (1991). I got on disability because I simply couldn't function. Period. Then I told him I only remembered recently, 2010 through 2015, that my father was a serial killer. That shut the doctor up. He never apologized for his assumptions though, and I never went back to see him.

I slept with a bedside lamp on from age 5 until I turned 52 years old. On my birthday, I sat in a therapist's office and finally admitted that I had had a different father than my siblings. My body shook all over. After that realization, I no longer feared the unknown. Six years later the terrifying truth poured out of me and then I fully understood my fear of the unknown.
 
Thank you.
I am finally seeing a therapist, shortly after I got a prescriber through the same office....
Hello Malaenis,
Sorry so long to reply; I am so happy to hear that you have been able to find and take part in a community support program! ☻ I know that it is hard sometimes to have complete trust in a healthcare provider-especially when you've had a rough go of it in the current system of care. I really feel strongly, however, about the positive results that are possible through peer-support and community-based outcomes.☻ I wish we had the same opportunity in my area, but I have tried for ages (unsuccessfully) to establish a group-I think it is probably in part due to how rural the area is. I am also really stoked to hear that you were able to find a doctor with the new assistance! That is so wonderful; you should be super proud of yourself for all of the progress that you have made-you have come a long way already! ☻ I hope that you are still making headway(I have complete faith that you are doing great), and hope to see an update on things. I apologize for taking so long to check back. Take care!
Roxx
 
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