Hating Medical Doctors

[kris]

Why does it seem like every time I go to the doctor for something they throw my symptoms back at me and say its from being abused. I could accidentally step on a nail and go in with it sticking out of my foot and the damn doctor would blame it on being abused. Just seems like every time I go in this happens, and it seems I have to suffer even longer until my symptoms get out of control before they finally take me seriously.

So frustrated with things and am not doing the greatest after seeing a provider today who just kept drilling me about my ptsd and being abused, when it has nothing to do with why I was there. Seriously redness and pain and swelling comes from being abused.

 

[Hashi]

@kris, I'm a bit confused. Do the doctors think it's self harm, lack of self-care or because you're dissociated? How are they connecting it to being abused?

 

[Deleted member 1860]

If you are red, in pain, and swelling then it's their job to question abuse. Doctors are mandatory reporters of abuse and can be legally held responsible if they don't help.

Are you still in an abusive situation?

 

[kris]

I have no idea how or why the provider is connecting my breast pain to abuse.

I know doctors are mandatory reporters but no my abuser has passed away five years ago and hasnt abused me in about ten years. It seems like she saw ptsd in my chart and just wham this girl is messed in the head she doesnt have pain she is crazy.

 

[digger]

I have had doctors (wrongly) dismiss physical pain because of having a history of anxiety, but I'm confused as to how swelling and redness could be interpreted that way. Do you mean they think you are being abused at the moment and that is causing the symptoms, or do you mean they are dismissing your concerns because of your history? What did the doctor say to link it with abuse?

 

[kris]

Sorry didn't explain good yes they are just dismissing me because I have been abused. Just because I don't have a lump in my breast that she can feels means nothing is wrong even though I have redness and swelling and lots of pain apparently.

 

[kris]

Before the doctor looked at me she asked if I had been abused and obviously I knew going in I would have to have a breast exam. I was prepared for that and although was having some anxiety I knew I had coping skills I could use to help me. So then as she starts the exam she says I see you have ptsdfrom being abused. What did he do to you and she just goes on and on like she is my damn therapist. This caught me so off guard that she would even ask. Yes I have been in therapy for four years and feel I have made great progress but atleast during therapy the doctor is touching the parts that have been violated already. This threw me into such anxiety and disassociation and I just shut down. Then as i said she finds no mass and says oh sometimes women just have breast pain and since you've been abused and are in therapy thats probably why they hurt.

 

[digger]

Somatic pain is a genuine problem for a lot of people, but I get why you're pissed of at it being dismissed as that when there are other symptoms present as well. The thing that I find difficult is that I err too much on the side of anxiety when it comes to visiting the doctor about physical stuff, and they don't seem to understand that. I will put off and put off going and dismiss it myself because I know that they will too and i end up ignoring stuff I really shouldn't be ignoring.

 

[Bedbug]

That was incredibly insensitive of the doctor! She really should have known better than to question you on the abuse you suffered right in the middle of your exam. I'm not surprised that you reacted the way you did and I'm also not surprised at your frustration at having your symptoms dismissed so easily. Are you able to ask for a second opinion from another doctor?

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Sorry that doctor was so insensitive! I have had breast pain in the past and I know how awful it feels. But to be dismissed because you have a history of abuse? How ridiculous! I al so think this doc was way out of line by asking about your trauma. Please be prepared in the future to deflect these questions. I'm making a mental note so I am ready if I'm ever asked--- that is, my trauma is processed and nobody has a right to ask me anything deeper than to get confirmation that I was sexually abused as a child. That is doctors...nobody else has a right to ask me, period!

Do you have the option of finding a new doctor?

 

[Lucycat]

@kris do you have an idea of what you think is the cause of the breast inflammation? Is there a specific diagnosis that is bothering you as a possibility? I appreciate you are probably without medical training, which is why you went to a doctor in the first place, but I am curious what the problem might be.

You say the doctor found no mass - well obviously that is good news. However did she even acknowledge the inflammation?

I get your frustration. Pain is very subjective and clearly she was not concerned that you have pain. However redness and swelling are objective and I cannot understand her disregard.

 

[kris]

Not sure what is going on, I wasn't even concerned of a mass being found as its basically the nipple and area around it that's causing the pain and inflammation and redness. Not breast feeding or anything like that, I went in just expecting her to look at them and say oh you have an infection gie me antibiotics and I would be on my way. I never expected to be drilled and she wouldn't stop asking more n more questions even though I was giving vague half a** answers. Also totally understand the somatic pain thing but ya caught way off guard and now I am suicidal. Its all ok I have safety plan in place and I do NOT really want to die I just want to end the pain so not going to do anything.