Pcp Doubts My Psychiatric Diagnosis

[Seasounds]

The sheer depression that comes, after wanting and expecting my PCP, to respect the diagnosis of PTSD, that his known and respected colleague, gave me failed. Being scoffed at, as a liar, a pretender, is as painful as telling my mother the truth, and being beaten for it. :cry: What made it worse, was I was at my PCP for a breast and pelvic exam! Yuck, someone denying my truth while they touch me, in intimate ways! I wasn't present enough to my feelings courageous enough, in the moment, to just leave. :bored::banghead:

Okay, then, that Provider is no friendly Practitioner of mine. :devilish::stop: Some Providers think PTSD 'looks like a war ravaged, incoherent person'. Those of us PTSD folks, you have WORKED, for decades to be 'functional and appropriate' (most of the time) members of society, don't deserve to be written off, with shame. :mask:

I didn't deserve the rudeness, the ignorance, the shaming distancing. All I know, is that from and with all of your support, is that I am truthful, and I am an intelligent, good, and hard-working individual.:happy:

Obviously, the Provider doesn't have the breath or depth of capacity to comprehend. I told my Provider two decades ago that Ii had PTSD; there was silence. Yesterday, was an attempt to see if i could create further rapport. I am working to let this be my Providers issue; I'm imaging shaking it off, like a dog shakes off water. Shew, any scorners!:mad:

I merely wanted my PCP to have all the names of the different Providers that I work with. The Provider is fabulous to work with, with all other aspects, of my care, except PTSD. This Provider was the first Provider, I informed, 20 years ago. At that time, the Provider stayed silent. Since decades ago, I've engaged the world, and, of course, triggers got worse, and I needed help to manage them. :bookworm:

What is that saying, trust someone once..., trust them twice, shame on .... .? ( I don't like the shame word in the phrase, but it does relate, in that life is a learning curve.

Anyone else hit this painful blind/get hit spot with a Provider? Support, so welcome :)! Thanks, ahead of time.

 

[Intrepid]

I haven't told my PCP. Each year, it seems, my insurance gets changed by my employer, and nothing stays regular.

But I tend to stick with telling people who don't have reason to scorn, doubt, or otherwise disrespect my life.

I'm finding there's a lot of ignorance about this and other mental health issues, among everyone, including people in all the health fields.

I'm glad to hear that your provider works with you in some areas. PTSD might not be one to bring to your provider.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

PCP

What is PCP? I googled it and found illegal drugs.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

I didn't directly have that kind of experience. My friend and I went to the same doctor. She went in for help with depression and anxiety. He told her basically there is nothing he could do and that there is no medicine that would help. He said she was just a tired mom and it would pass. I stayed far away from him after I figured out I had PTSD (I braved walk-in clinics and strangers). I finally got the courage to go to a new provider and she is so patient and understanding. I wish I had done it sooner. I am sorry you had such a horrible experience, but perhaps you can figure out a way to change primary care providers (pcp)?

 

[Seasounds]

:joyful:In this case my PCP was as bad as a terrible, gone wrong, drug trip.:roflmao:

In the US, PCP stands for Primary Care Provider; essentially a General Practitioner/GP.

 

[bell]

@change, if I were you, I'd ask myself why I'm so wrapped up in having a PTSD diagnosis? If multiple doctors say you don't have PTSD, you might want to entertain the thought that you don't have PTSD. You because you don't have PTSD doesn't mean you're not hurting or weren't abused or weren't traumatized, it just means you don't meet the diagnostic criteria.

Wrapping onto a certain diagnosis can actually make you worse as you're so focused on one particular diagnosis that you don't actually fix what you really have.

I told my Provider two decades ago that Ii had PTSD; there was silence.

Because that quote sounds like it's something you "think" you have vs. what you may actually have. Or am I missing something and you have been diagnosed formally in the past by a psychiatrist, as that quote sounds like you are determined to have PTSD no matter whether you actually do or not.

As we all know, PTSD is not something that can be self-diagnosed, and it's always surprising to me when people actually want to have PTSD, because it totally sucks. And just because you might have another diagnosis does in no way invalidate your pain or your past, it just means that: a) you may need different treatment, tools, and/or meds in order to get better and b) society has done a fine job of making PTSD seem like the disorder that's cool to have.

How about stop fighting your docs and seeing them as the enemy and trying to work with them? (Yes, sometimes docs are wrong, but they are there to help you. And if more than 1 doc is saying you might not have PTSD, there may just be truth to it.)

Also, if what I've written makes you even more angry, please please think about why you believe that a PTSD diagnosis equals validation. Because the only way they are equal is by miseducation or incorrect thinking. Try treating what you do have vs. fighting to have something you may not.

 

[catjudo]

I think you've misunderstood @bell . The way that I read the original post, she has been diagnosed with PTSD.

wanting and expecting my PCP, to respect the diagnosis of PTSD, that his known and respected colleague, gave me

It is only her PCP who is not listening to or accepting her diagnosis. Although, it doesn't really seem like he's discussed her history, etc with her...just seems to ignore or refuses to acknowledge the PTSD. She stated that she was given a PTSD diagnosis by someone that is known and respected by her PCP.

 

[bell]

Apologies for the misunderstanding and thanks for pointing that out @catjudo. :)

Then I'd ask, was the colleague who diagnosed you a psychiatrist? Because if not, then perhaps your PCP doesn't trust their colleagues judgement, which is between them. And if not, I'd go talk to a psychiatrist with related experience in order to properly diagnose you.

If your PCP is helpful in all other angles, why not agree to disagree on that front and establish that you're triggered by certain things?

Of course it's frustrating to not be believed, but some people are never going to believe in certain things they cannot see for themselves, leaving them somewhat tireless to talk to about things like mental health, faith, and hell, maybe even climate change. But, if they are helping you in other ways and agree to establish certain boundaries, then I'd do my best to shake it off and "use" them in ways they do help me.

Personally, though, I'd be more worried that your triggers have gotten worse over time and not better. That seems like a better thing to tackle than someone who will never understand. And if seeing your doctor is making you worse, not better, then perhaps it is time to get a new doctor.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Its NOT a generalists job to doubt the diagnosis handed down by a specialist! Not now, not ever. It is the same as a PCP/GP saying you don't have a heart issue after having a full workup by a cardiologist who has diagnosed you. Simply put, they're not qualified in such matters so they should keep their mouths shut. And, a specialist has better tools with which to diagnose than a PCP/GP. I don't see you as being attached to your PTSD diagnosis (and I'm clueless as to why this is even suggested as I see you as simply wanting validation, nothing more). And yes, this is very much a reason to switch providers. If you can't trust a doctor, then there really is no point, right?

 

[bell]

For what it's worth: It was suggested because: a) I missed the part (as @catjudo pointed out) and b) I wasn't sure if the other doc was a specialist, as I'm not sure what "colleague" means in terms of whether they are or not a psychiatrist. And because people do come here really wanting to have PTSD when they have been diagnosed otherwise, and it's often because they want validation that they really were hurt as bad as they feel.

And @change, I understand being angry and invalidated, but in thinking about it, maybe changing your doctor is the best thing you can do... to show them that you don't tolerate dismissal. And maybe it will help assuage the anger in doing something about it instead of continuing to see them. There's enough anger with PTSD in general, I hate to see it flare up regarding things that we can change, as it's hard enough to deal with regarding things we can't.

 

[Seasounds]

Thanks all! Your good intentions, wisdom, and suggestions, are very appreciated. I have learned to disclose only to those that need to know, and/or have demonstrated respect.

It is true, I truly do have PTSD, undeniably. As you can imagine, I live as it doesn't define me, and I still need to work with my symptoms. You were right to see that I was expecting my General PCP Provider, to become enlightened, with the hope that he could be as helpful as his Psychiatric Board Certified Psychiatrist colleague. Boy, did I get up-dated, where my PCP is at. Yes, i can even see how one might not even expect them to understand. Providers, and you.

As I knew I had PTSD, from speaking with a Provider, at the age of twenty, I kept it to myself, and coped by myself, as long as I could. After getting healthy enough to join the workforce, I got more triggered, a lot. That is when and why I did a 'litmus test disclosure' twenty years ago. After the PCP wasn't responsive then, I found other supportive mental health Providers.

Loved your help, and clarification!

 

[KwanYingirl]

@change I identify with you. I tried to hide my PTSD for many years. The shit hit the fan after a chemical injury at work. I had to have a Neuropsych exam because my pulmonologist thought my brain was damaged by the fumes. I had eight hours of testing every nook and crannie of my brain and the diagnosis was PTSD. I really fought with that specialist about that label. Through my tears I tried to convince her that I had put my past in the past. She'd say " no you didn't" and we went back and forth with it.
My GP was sorry to learn about my history but told me he had always suspected that I had been raped because of how phobic I was about medical exams. He tried to validate me but I rejected him. And I, like you, finally broke down. My ways of coping were self destructive yet I clung to them. I planned on taking my story to my grave. I am very careful about who I tell my diagnosis to. But, by far, the least supportive people in my life are my family of origin.
Shame on your GP for his lack of empathy. It's just another glaring example of a male dominated culture of dismissing women's issues. Why do you stay with him? And by the way, my GP and psychiatrist discuss my treatment and he also consults with my therapist. That's unusual, but I know it helps me get the respect I deserve from my GP. I'm going to make an assumption based on my history and way of coping, so please forgive me if I hurt your feelings. What I want to ask is do you stay with the devil you know rather than find a new doc? If he doesn't take your PTSD seriously, isn't it possible that he may one day tell you your chest pain is nerves, when in reality you might have a heart attack? It's a proven fact that many women have died because their doctors ignored their symptoms.