Medical Ptsd And Doctors - How To Disclose

[sun seeker]

I'm sitting here wishing I had something helpful to say, and not coming up with anything except to say I totally believe you and it all makes sense to me. Not very helpful I know. It reminds me of a cartoon in the New Yorker where a woman is sitting in a doctor's office, him behind a desk with a wall full of framed diplomas, and he's saying, "That symptom doesn't exist, ma'am."

Lots of hugs. Thinking of you. :hug::hug::hug:

 

[shimmerz]

A few of you have asked me how this one went. My appt was cancelled last week and scheduled for today. I went to the appt and the doctor, who I looked up to see how others felt about him, had a great review. I spoke with a dear friend mid week and we talked about a strategy.

I went in and asked him immediately how long it should take to recover. He asked why I would ask and I told him that anything even slightly taxing "out for an hour", will have me immobilized for a day and a half. He asked me if it hurt and I said, "I am the girl you had an issue with because I stated I didn't feel pain. I retract that in such a way that I am going to say I can't express it (thanks guys!), I have some a sensory disorder (thanks again!). I stated that I normally didn't have problems recovering from things (which is true), but this one has been a tough one and would he mind doing some tests to make sure that we weren't missing anything because of my lack of sensation.

All of your comments were so incredibly useful and I thank you so much for your thoughtfulness! I have a full range of tests to have a peek inside and when he was examining me he said 'Oh, that sounded like it hurt'. One victory! A big one at that! Thank you all again for all of your help. One very large potential problem is moving forward in a positive way thanks to all of you!

 

[Tinyflame]

Dear @shimmerz , I wish you the best, xoxox. I 'feel' pain but understand to the extent I can't express it unless it gets to the point I just faint.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

 

[ghotiff]

I'm so glad you found an approach that worked!

 

[greenleaf]

I wonder if different wording might work better with some doctors, if they are the type thinking everyone is a drug-seeking addict... like "I often block out if I'm feeling pain"... or "I got pretty used to ignoring pain a while back, and don't notice my body problems when it might be helpful"...
probably there could be better phrasing, but maybe just avoiding whatever they're linking to addicts might help, if possible. Ugh.

 

[shimmerz]

I am not positive why it happened but he switched entirely from the 'hospital doctor' to a much more empathic dude when I was in his office. Maybe I look more sane without a hospital gown, out of severe pain and without massive amounts of morphine in me.

Regardless, he got me in for a CT scan in less than two weeks from the date I had an appointment with him (he said it would be 1-3 months!) and I had my bloodwork done last Friday. Onwards!

 

[greenleaf]

@shimmerz -- maybe he realized he was being an unthinking jerk... you didn't deserve that unempathic treatment -- but actual addicts don't either; I don't think they are helped by that attitude but I bet it's a defense that doctors etc. use.

I am very glad you are getting better treatment!!! Less delay, less anxiety perhaps?

 

[shimmerz]

Less delay, less anxiety perhaps

Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much greenleaf.

 

[shimmerz]

Have been on a lemon cleanse regime the past few days. I feel great this morning and was out all day yesterday! Woooooo Hooooo! First day in 4 months!

GI Guy today (dr appt) I will post after I see him (5 pm tonight) Thank you all so much for your support in all of this. :hug::hug::hug:

 

[DharmaGirl]

I am a retired nurse, and I'm unhappy to say that I get treated like shit in the hospital where I used to work and was well respected. I couldn't understand why they would treat me so badly, until I read this thread. They don't believe me. They think I'm faking to get out of work. I was told to shake it off (my PTSD) and get back to work, that my chronic back pain was "all in my head", when it turned out to be completely physical, I was called all sorts of names, and even though my medical info is protected by hippa laws, rumors got back to me about my mental health. I really thought I deserved the treatment, because I hated myself for being so weak, but now I see it was not me, it was them. I'm so glad you posted shimmerz!

 

[shimmerz]

I have hospital horror stories. You don't want to know them. I will never post about them. No DharmaGirl, it isn't about you. There are some mentally ill people out there all right. And it isn't you and I.

 

[shimmerz]

Third time cancelled. Now April 20th.