I Hate (((stupid))) Doctors!!! (but Not Good Ones...)

[Pilgrim]

Saw my psych dr and confronted him about having swept away the diagnoses my previous Dr, of 3 years, had given me (including ptsd..) I left there SO ticked off, bc he thinks that labeling me 'Borderline PD' "pretty much covers all of my symptoms. So, as long as we're treating the symptoms (which he's NOT), what difference does it make what my diagnosis is?" And, why do I care so much about it, anyway.. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!! This is what he actually said. I am soo angry! He also said that I am not "trying hard enough" to start sleeping at night, (right after I had explained to him that I am terrified to go to sleep at night, and fight it all night, bc I do NOT want to have nightmares and if I go to sleep, i know I WILL.) Disgusted beyond reason, here.. oh, did I mention he wiped out my previous diagnoses, and rediagnosed me borderline and depression - IN THE FIRST 30 MINUTES HE KNNEW ME ??? Yeah - apparently it only takes a half hour ish to know someone better than other drs who've seen you over a period of years. Arrogant jerk! He is SOOOO fired! This was only my 4th appointment with him. I'm done.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Good for you. This doc sounds like he doesn't know a damn thing about trauma. Its not about what ONE diagnosis will cover everything. Many people have more than one diagnosis.

Find someone who knows about trauma. This guy obviously doesn't if he is telling to to just try harder to sleep at night.

When you find your next doc, don't even mention to him how this doc UN-diagnosed you. If he/she asks, just say it was a bad fit. Don't even have records transferred from this guy, either. No sense muddying the waters with false/incorrect information.

 

[Skylynx]

Hurray for you! You certainly don't have to see a therapist that can't harmonize with you even from the get go. I have the same sleep issues and just go ahead and get Ambien from my primary care doc...they don't seem to be so hung up on the "morality" of sleep meds. and even if I have a formal diagnosis of "dependent" on Ambien, it isn't the same as the term "addiction" because I have the psychiatric diagnosis as well as the insomnia diagnosis, according to the authorities. Hohum, everything has to be by the books, and we have to spend so much time on learning how to cook the books just to survive a day without agony, instead of focusing on getting well. Stupid shrinks, yes there are so many! As far as I'm concern, my diagnosis can be anything my insurance will pay for. I agree with you, it doesn't matter so much what the diagnosis is, but a T can get off track with your case when he comes up with something so way off your opinion. They don't seem to understand that we aren't total dummies even if we do have certain problems in life.

 

[joeylittle]

@Pilgrim, I'm going to offer an opposing viewpoint here - truly, take it or leave it.

Bottom line is that you need to be able to work with your care provider, and sticking with one you don't feel good about is never really worth it. So I do believe moving on makes sense for you.

However, it's important to remember that a diagnosis is one piece of a puzzle, and getting second or third opinions with an open mind is hard, but sometimes part of the process. You don't say why you left your previous doctor, but you imply that you had multiple diagnoses, PTSD being one of them. Had you been making progress on those? Borderline can be present alongside PTSD, is it so completely out of the question that you shouldn't even consider it?

Obviously you are going to another doctor. I'd just encourage you to not go into that situation carrying defensiveness from this one, because it might keep you from getting useful information that can help you make more informed choices about how you want to focus your treatment regimen.

Something I did find helpful was making sure I pulled as many referrals out of doctors I have liked, who have really known how to work with me. Because usually they will have naturally built professional relationships with peers that work similarly, and they can be really helpful when transferring care.

 

[Pilgrim]

@joeylittle I didn't leave my last Dr, he left the clinic I saw him at and went into private practice. I would have followed him, but he did not accept my insurance in his private practice. Yes, I've had multiple diagnoses over the years, and borderline was one of them. I don't dispute that fits me, to a point. But it does not encompass the entire picture. Or even most of the picture at this point. I've made enormous improvement over the years. Different sets of problems seem to take the lead at times, while others fade into the background. PTSD is strongly at the forefront at this point in time..

 

[joeylittle]

I would have followed him, but he did not accept my insurance in his private practice

That's always tough. Perhaps he has ideas for someone else you could see? I do hope you find someone you feel good about working with - it's such an important thing.