Medical Hugely triggered by anything related to health care

[DharmaGirl]

You have hit upon a great divide in medical care. Any hint of mental health issues and they see you differently. I now tell them that I am anxious, and they usually give me something for anxiety to rule out anxiety as a cause of why I'm there. Maybe you could let them know when you check in that you are anxious. If they are thinking something that isn't an issue for you, tell them, they won't know unless you do.

I hate ER more than anything. They always think I'm full of shit. I never go unless my doctor insists. They look at all the appointments and see someone overusing medical care, instead of someone who has several real chronic illnesses. I don't see my doctor as often as she would like.

 

[whiteraven]

I can completely relate @whiteraven and I hate it. I've doctors make errors as well resulting in near death for one of them. And one time a misdiagnosis forced me to have a test which could cause paralysis. I later learned he was looking at the wrong thing to diagnose me.

I finally found a therapist who allows me to talk about three life threatening and one eye sight loss possibility incidents. And she says I have PTSD from those incidents.

I am so sorry that you have had those kinds of experiences, too. :-( Having a therapist who is open and just allows whatever you need to discuss is critical, I think. I have one of those, too. He doesn't downplay my worries and my lack of trust; he thinks it contributes significantly to my reactions and general state of well-being.

Maybe you could let them know when you check in that you are anxious. If they are thinking something that isn't an issue for you, tell them, they won't know unless you do.

I do this most of the time. I have a LOT of trouble trusting anyone who is supposed to be taking care of me.

I hate ER more than anything. They always think I'm full of shit. I never go unless my doctor insists. They look at all the appointments and see someone overusing medical care, instead of someone who has several real chronic illnesses. I don't see my doctor as often as she would like.

Oh my gosh, yes. I've been accused of "doctor shopping" and have had family doctors and specialists both diagnose me with disorders I didn't have.

Interestingly, the opposite is also true. I've been in medical situations where it absolutely was the anxiety or depression or PTSD and they've insisted it was something purely medical, with physical causes.

The chest pains, soreness etc - could they be caused by stress and ptsd?

I definitely think the chest pain and breathing issues are. Not sure about the pain, though. Except I'm sure not being able to breathe over a long period of time contributes to the rib soreness.

Fibromyalgia - the symptoms you describe fit well for this.

You are the second person to suggest this recently. I agree. I was diagnosed with costochondritis a long while back, but that is generally left-sided. And I have issues all over now. Very painful.

I don't know anyone like me in this? I love going to the doctor.

I can really related to what you said here. I used to be like this, 100%. It was the only place I felt cared for. I don't know what suddenly opened my eyes to all the abuses, but once I did, there was no going back. Good and not.

Would it help if I explain some Doctor Thoughts about how medicine and ER work in particular?

Thanks, @Swift. Actually, I have a degree in nursing (and worked as a psych nurse) and my father was a Physician's Assistant. I work now in a facility that has many doctors, most of whom I have a very good rapport with. I'm not sure if that makes it worse or better.

I just love you guys! :-) :-) :-)

I've never had as much support and learned as much as I do here!

 

[Swift]

No worries :) that's why I ask instead of just blathering on, because people often already know or know more than I do!
Medicine is weird.

 

[Skywatcher]

Do you have any person to advocate for you during these difficult appointments? I once met my friend at an urgent care because she was worried that she had swallowed foil and that it was lodged in her throat. I thought she needed my help because she had her autistic son with her. I quickly realized how anxious she was and it turned out she needed me more than her son did.

 

[DharmaGirl]

I think it's worse when you are a nurse. They expect you to get better more quickly than others. I had a car accident that almost totaled my car, $25 away from it, 2 months after major back surgery. Why is it taking so long to get better? Hmm, let me think here.

 

[Deleted member 8714]

I'll agree with you there @DharmaGirl and @whiteraven . I'm an RN and that makes me extra weary of doctors and nurses treating me.

On Fibromyalgia: I was told I had this by a doctor who had refused to treat my hypothyroidism. If you've got pain in more places than the costochondritis, which covers both sides of your sternum by the way not just the left side, then check your TSH level and make certain it's between 2 and 3 if your not diagnosed with hypothyroidism and around 1 if you are. I had aching all over my body and body pains and was erroneously diagnosed with Fibro when in fact it was hypothyroidism. It truly messed me up not getting treated in a timely manner for the hypothyroidism. I've never fully recovered from being that messed up. It caused five different medical complications which went undiagnosed for many years.

On chest pain: I've had this a lot with anxiety and panic attacks. Though this was also my number one symptom when I had perimyocarditis. So I'm always thinking in the back of head, 'Is it that again?'

I had serious heart palpitations back when my mother died in 2010/11 and finally had to see an cardiologist (The same one I had seen in the hospital for perimyocarditis so I at least knew him.). He told me that if he was remembering that a relative was a serial killer and a pedophile that he'd have heart palpitations as well. That helped me considerably and stopped me from feeling like something bad was going to come of it. I eventually had to go on medication until I resolved the problem on my own by taking magnesium supplements. Turns out stress makes the heart muscle use more magnesium and magnesium is one of the most important supplements which the heart needs for normal rhythm.

 

[whiteraven]

Do you have any person to advocate for you during these difficult appointments? I once met my frien...

I don't. That's another thing. I don't really have any friends that can act as advocates or support for that matter.

I'll agree with you there @DharmaGirl and @whiteraven . I'm an...

Yeah, I know about the costochondritis. It's must more common on the left and I've never had it on the right.

I checked and the last time I had a TSH level was February of last year - 1.88.

Turns out stress makes the heart muscle use more magnesium and magnesium is one of the most important supplements which the heart needs for normal rhythm.

I was also told Omega-3s are helpful for depression. I have both (and I have also had palpitations) - maybe I'll try.

Thanks, @Congruency. So much to think about.

 

[Freida]

I don't. That's another thing. I don't really have any friends that can act as advocates or suppor...

Most hospitals have a patient advocate/social worker in duty...you could ask to have them come see you in the er.....they can help translate what is going on for you....

 

[whiteraven]

Most hospitals have a patient advocate/social worker in duty...you could ask to have them come see you i...

My problem is not understanding, it's not being heard. Not being able to get the doctors to understand how hard things are for me. And I think it really needs to be someone who knows me.

 

[Deleted member 8714]

I checked and the last time I had a TSH level was February of last year - 1.88.

And you're being treated for hypothyroidism? If so, 1.88 is too high. If not ignore this next part.

I found and have read in many endocrinologist journals that a TSH around 1.0 and fluctuating between 0.50 to 1.50 is ideal. For me anything above 1.25 and I'm feeling poorly. Many people do best between 0.75 and 1.25. That's my sweet range.

My youngest brother thought his TSH was normal until I showed him the journals and website written by endocrinologists. He's now seriously rethinking the numbers that his doctor has thought were "fine."

When I'm under medicated my PTSD symptoms are more pronounced as well.

 

[whiteraven]

And you're being treated for hypothyroidism? If so, 1.88 is too high. If not ignore this next part....

No, not being treated. Even if I thought I needed to be (maybe, maybe not), I can't get within a couple miles of a health care provider without intense anxiety and upset.

 

[Deleted member 8714]

That's a great TSH then! Sorry about the medical. I'm in the same boat right now. My new T is on the top floor of the medical building where I used to see a doctor who wasn't very good. It's trigger city.