Are you able to talk to other health care providers about your PTSD? (other than therapist and p-doc)

[Ecdysis]

Ugh... I find this topic sooo frustrating and confusing.

I don't seem to be able to talk to any other Dr's or medical providers (other than psychologist and psychiatrist) about my PTSD.

It's a real problem, because it does affect other (physical) health conditions, at least some of the time and if I speak to Dr's about it they're either like "Huh...?" or "OMG...!!"

It seems the only treatment outcome of telling them is negative.

I had a really serious lung embolism last year and when the symptoms started up, I kept being sent back home, being told that I was "imagining it" and that the symptoms were "psychological". In the end I had to go to Dr's/ the ER five times over the space of a week before one Dr finally listened and did a CT and found the lung embolism. It was massive and it was basically luck that I didn't die in the week where I was walking around with it, undiagnosed and untreated.

I saw a Dr today for physical issues... Had to wait an hour and a half in the waiting room with massive pain and nearly passed out... I ended up having to lay on the floor in the waiting room because they didn't have one of those examination benches free for me to lay down on.

When I saw the Dr, I tried talking about how the PTSD was affecting my physical symptoms and he point blank ignored it and I left the office in tears.

This particular Dr is particularly bad with this issue... I've put up with it for years because Dr's are so hard to find here, rurally. But today was the final straw and I've decided I'm never going back there and I'll just have to find a different Dr and may need to drive for an hour or two each way...

 

[Lost in the Woods]

Good for you, never go back. I am completely open with all my docs about my PTSD. I have had bad docs and I currently have a good team. They understand the emerging understanding of the relationship between trauma and physical health. They are the kind of dos people like us need. The other docs actually harm us.

 

[Muttly]

I don't tell them. The only exception was when I was having an invasive procedure and even then I didn't really say much beyond I had anxiety about the procedure. I don't know if that's the right way to proceed. I guess I learned too well to hide it.

 

[whiteraven]

I used to, but I have stopped telling anyone (and I absolutely NEVER tell anyone about the DID--been there, huge mistake!).

 

[parrotthepolly]

I avoid doctors like the plague so have no experience but it sounds frustrating that physicians don't take mental health seriously. They should be educated on stuff like this.

 

[Friday]

I don’t cross med & psych unless I have prescriptions my MD needs to be aware of… as a general rule.

Amazing individuals are always exempt from general rules.

 

[sidptitala]

Like others here have said, I've stopped mentioning it unless asked directly. And then will decide how much to say and how to frame the issue depending on the receptiveness of the Dr. I've always been very reluctant to share personal information until I'm sure it's a good idea.

I have an issue with fluctuating but abnormal stress hormones - without any real explanation. To me it seems obvious that it´s a physical manifestation of PTSD but it's being treated like a medical mystery - and the endocrinologist thought I was insane for asking if there could be a connection. It makes me laugh, and also I will never mention having PTSD again

 

[Ecdysis]

Yeah, I've kept PTSD a secret from my physical health Drs for the past 30 years.

I'm running into serious physical issues now tho, as I get older, where the crossover between those issues and PTSD is huge and continuing to keep it a secret seems really maladaptive.

Ugh... Ever since the pandemic, the medical system in my country has been stressed to the hilt. It's causing all sorts of major issues. I feel like Dr's are so stressed and over-worked that they're starting to make major treatment errors and behaving badly in the patient-Dr interpersonal space. This Dr today claimed PTSD was irrelevant and could be stopped "at will". I felt like I was back in some time travel things back to the 1980s where there was no awareness of mental health at all.

Patients are being ignored with things like heart attacks and being yelled at for being a bother. I think it might be a "new normal" and I'm struggling to adjust to it. Everyone you talk to is telling similar stories. For many issues, you can't get appointments at all anymore. Lots of Dr's are refusing to take on any new patients at all. Waiting list for a colonoscopy are 12 months, for a dermatology appointment are 18 months. You need to start either somehow "planning" your illnesses or start making appointments in case you get ill...? It doesn't make sense and I'm so confused as to how to navigate it.

Edit to add: I think I'm so upset by it because it's a repetition of the family stuff in childhood - ignore all feelings, invalidate them, trauma is irrelevant, etc. etc.

 

[Abstract]

I get this. So sorry. Its truly shitty.

I don't have any advice but do relate. I almost died beginning of 22 from autoimmune cardiac and lung stuff long ignored because no one was listening. Then since then it's been a fun one thing after the other chain of happiness leading to something that is progressive and isn't going to end in a fun way.

But the lack of listening has truly been getting to me, and I also recently realised it's the ignore feelings, ignore body, invalidate etc thing that seems to be threading into the past. And breathing issues dont help. I have purposely tried to hide everything mental health related as don't want to give them any additional ammunition or excuse to ignore my real physical concerns. Which then does trigger me in some way. Not many people are worth my trust, and once it's out there I have no control over it.

However, I understand your concerns about you needing to be open about your PTSD if it is going to NEED to be taken into account. I have that same concern for the future. It shouldn't be this problematic. Sorry that it is. Maybe changing to a new doc may help.

 

[Abstract]

Actually. I just wanted to comment on your strength of mind to go back 5 times in a week when you were dismissed as overreacting. Not an easy thing to do, and well done for knowing something wasn't right in your body! And in the face of someone in authority overriding what you were experiencing.

 

[Roland]

I wish doctors were more holistic and less locked into specialities. The whole body works together. Sorry you had a bad experience, I hope you can find better doctors.

 

[Jade-]

I never used to tell any doctors out of fear and embarrassment but it has really made a huge diffrernce for the better since I have.

It felt empowering the first time I said I am having major anxiety right now because I was once sexually assaulted by a doctor. Or I have PTSD and if you check my blood pressure again once I calm down I'm sure it will be fine then. Or when scheduling to be seen in urgent care letting them know I would prefer a female doctor and telling them why.

I know I probably used to seem so bat shit crazy just trying to see a doctor before but at least now they understand why i behave or react the way I do.

The only negative I have experienced was at a dentist appointment. When the Dr walked in the room I froze for a bit at first and then became extrememly starled and jumped and let out a little scream. Since the startle was delayed he assumed I was faking and made rude comments.