Does Anyone Have Issues Telling Medical Personnel You Have Ptsd?

[Britt.f7]

Today I had to speak with a nurse about my various medical issues in preparation for surgery. As she went down the line of my physical issues, she never brought up any mental issues. It wasn't until we got into my medication, towards the end, that she heard two meds that either she wasn't aware of or could have multiple uses. I'm not sure which one. She asked me what I take them for.

This was difficult because one is specifically for depression, though a few of the other one's I mentioned that she didn't question, are also for depression. So, when I said it was for depression, she repeated it back to me. Then I had to tell her the other was for bipolar. Though, frankly, I'm not 100% sure if I have it or not. Would definitely explain things. The bipolar answer was much, much, more difficult to get out of my mouth.

Now, here is the thing, I do not tell anyone about the PTSD. I would just rather say all my meds are for the depression and anxiety. I just don't want to get into it. In surgery situations, I generally keep all the panic inside. I've had to keep myself from jumping off the table. They probably see the fear on my face, if anything is showing, but they don't say anything. I hate the idea of not being in control and the minute they put that mask on you you are not in control.

Does anyone else have trouble admitting to their mental illnesses, including PTSD? I know medical personnel should listen without judgement, but I still have difficulty. Pretty much with all of it because I've had doctors who, once they hear I have a mental illness, just stop listening to anything else. How do you get through this?

 

[piratelady]

I have a lot of difficulty uttering the words, "I have PTSD" to anyone - medical personnel or otherwise. I am lucky, the therapist that diagnosed me works for the same hospital as my primary doctor, so he can just read the notes from the old doctor. I have never admitted my PTSD, except via email to the new therapist I'm seeing now. That was simply to determine if he has experience in that area.

 

[Abstract]

Britt and Piratelady, I relate a lot to both of you. I don't have any answers but am the same. I will do almost anything to keep things to myself and it has actually sabotaged me at certain times.

 

[timid_flower]

I have a lot of difficulty uttering the words, "I have PTSD" to anyone - medical personnel or otherwise.

Same here.

For me, there's this irrational fear that the moment I say I have PTSD they will somehow know what happened to me.

 

[Venusian]

I don't have a problem talking to medical staff about my PTSD. I only tell them if I think anything that I am there for will trigger something either there or later on at home. Sometimes just talking about it can stop the triggers. I have had hospital staff change procedures to make me more comfortable. Keeping patients calm is better for everyone, especially the patient. Small things you don't even know to think about can make all the difference.

Having PTSD can change the way you look at symptoms. I have asthma that was diagnosed last year, which I gather is unusual to develop at 47. My PTSD triggers can heighten the attacks. I was suffocated as a child so when the attacks happen they trigger flashbacks and the attacks get more intense. If the doctors didn't know that I would most likely be over medicated. Once the doctor was aware of that and after he had run a lot of tests, my medication was decreased and I haven't had a problem.

There are always people that do not understand, even in the medical profession, but luckily in my experience they are far between. I have read other posts about the same subject and other people have not been so lucky. I think it depends on your own level of comfort talking to your doctor.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I think it depends on who I am talking to. Most people do not know what it is, and I am very comfortable not telling them. So I think you have to trust your gut instincts. If you do not want to talk about it then do not. I do not know how I would handle the same situation if I was in your shoes. Until it happens to me, I do not know. So I wish you the best with this one. I feel for you. That must have put you on the spot having to explain what you toke the medications for. Sorry you were put on the spot. It sounds like you handled it well.

 

[Britt.f7]

Thank you Gizmo. I did feel a bit put on the spot and froze a little. I took a deep breath before I told her what they were for and I'm pretty sure I held it afterwards just to hear how she was going to react.

I don't think I am comfortable talking to anyone about the PTSD, so that would make it understanding that I don't want to talk to the medical establishment either.

When I told my therapist I was on this forum she said, so you think you have PTSD? I pretty much stuttered trying to get it out that I had been diagnosed by two different people of the mental health establishment and telling her that I found this site comforting.

This is probably the only place that I feel okay about it, even if I don't talk about what got me here. I just don't feel alone on here.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Britt, I am happy that you are not feeling alone anymore. I think you did the best you could with what you had to work with. I am sorry you were put on the spot. Now you can be prepared of what you will say the next time somebody asks you at the hospital, and with your upcoming surgery I think that is not too far away. Hugs.

 

[Lucycat]

I have the same problem. Recently I was 'doing my bit' by going along to a blood donation session. They only come here once every 4 months so I feel it is important.

But..

Yes, you do of course, have to declare what medication you take. For me it is only Quetiapine, but I absolutely hate it when they ask what it is and why I take it. I usually say it is to help me sleep - which is not entirely untrue. I am always aware that other people can overhear the discussion as it is in the local community centre with no privacy. I just cannot say it is an anti-psychotic and I have Complex PTSD.

Part of it is about the stigma, and the associated fear that my clients would lose confidence in me if they knew, even though I am perfectly able to do my job and do it well.

 

[aka]

Yeah, I have major anxiety about telling health professionals about having PTSD. The (what medications are you on?) question is one I dread. I am on four different meds for varies symptoms so I get some interesting looks like (why the hell is this person on all these meds) luckily they usually don't ask why but it is still an uncomfortable situation.

The worst incident I have had was when I needed a state ordered medical form to be signed so that I could work at a daycare. It consisted of a drug test, blood pressure check, etc. The nurse came back to me after all the tests and said that because of the meds I was on none of the them would sign the forum saying that I was 100% able to work with children. I understand their reasoning but it really was embarrassing and I had a good meltdown when I got home. This taught me to take those types of forms to the nurse practitioner that regulates the medication.

 

[Meza]

It saddens me to read that just because of the medication you take for PTSD discriminated you from obtaining work with children. I, too, learned the hard way that some people, and surprising to me, many in the medical profession do not have a grasp on what it means to have medications we are being prescribed (like anti-psychotics), they are off-label and do not mean we have psychotic episodes. Now I will only list my anti-depressant along with my physical health meds when it comes to certain forms. For the really important need to know people I rely on my family doctor to relay the information. Fortunately I know I can trust him to understand and I can also trust him to refer me to specialists who (like him) have an open mind.