Has anyone ever asked for their medical records from a treatment center ... I just sent away for records from one place I was at for 9 months I don't know what compelled me I just feel the need to know I plan on asking more places I have been and i have not told my treatment team I just made this decision...not sure it will help but I just am sort of curious ...
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Wanting past medical records...
- Post starter hermione
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PointlessExistence
Silver Member
I got mine from a therapist once. I didn't really like reading them though and threw them out before finishing. If you're sure you can handle whatever might've been written about you, then go for it. If you're not sure, then don't. It can be certainly be a trigger, especially if they misquote you or leave a lot out as if they weren't even listening.
- Post starter
- #3
I have copies of all of my medical records. In my opinion, it is good practice to have them. I do not, however, have copies of my mental health records.
I realized that it was best to have a copy several years ago when I needed a test result as a baseline from a decade prior, and it took me six months to obtain a copy of it. At that point, I requested everything I could think of. They get harder to obtain the more time that passes. I now have a three ring binder with the records as well as an electronic copy, copies of all x rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc. If you ask when you walk out of the doctor's office, a lot of times they will make a photo copy right then.
I realized that it was best to have a copy several years ago when I needed a test result as a baseline from a decade prior, and it took me six months to obtain a copy of it. At that point, I requested everything I could think of. They get harder to obtain the more time that passes. I now have a three ring binder with the records as well as an electronic copy, copies of all x rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc. If you ask when you walk out of the doctor's office, a lot of times they will make a photo copy right then.
Tornadic Thoughts
VIP Member
I request all of my stuff and keep records now. I used to not bother until I learned I had no choice but to be my own best advocate if I wished to survive the medical and mental health systems with any shred of my health and sanity left in tact. Several years ago, I was told I had the body of an 86 yr old instead of a 46 yr old with no cartilage left between the ball and socket and needed a complete shoulder replacement if I ever wished to experience pain relief and have any quality of life.
I requested a copy of the doc's notes to share with my chiro, but then noticed on the notes he wrote "no surgery recommended at this time". WTF?! That's the exact opposite of what he told me in a tone that indicated urgency. He then apologized to me via his secretary for my total misunderstanding of what he said and wouldn't meet with me unless I paid for another office visit. Needless to say, I never went back, nor got the surgery, and have since experienced full range of motion being restored and the pain is gone, unless I overdo it. Like the old saying goes, if all you have is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail. I guess if all you have is a surgical knife, every problems requires surgery? Surgeons can remove everything but the root cause, it seems, but it sure is great for return business.
I requested my sister's mental health records after I helped her through a hospitalization that was such a bad experience in so many ways, and quickly realized how things need to be worded to get more complete records. Not sure if the terminology on the forms are the same in various states, countries, etc., but I learned in order to get more thorough information, you should always check the "Other" box, in addition to your relevant options, and specifically request narrative doctor, nurse, social worker, psych, etc. notes by writing those in. Otherwise, you just receive discharge notes and vague formal summaries.
A friend also shared with me that with mental health records, you are entitled by law to receive a copy of the clinician's summary notes (which should contain records of formal diagnoses, prescriptions, presenting complaints, etc.). However, therapy "progress notes" (more detailed comments on how a therapy session went, doctor's notes to self on next steps, details of what you said you were thinking, etc.) are not automatically included in this in all states. In some places it may be up to the clinician to determine whether or not they want to give you the more detailed notes.
I requested a copy of the doc's notes to share with my chiro, but then noticed on the notes he wrote "no surgery recommended at this time". WTF?! That's the exact opposite of what he told me in a tone that indicated urgency. He then apologized to me via his secretary for my total misunderstanding of what he said and wouldn't meet with me unless I paid for another office visit. Needless to say, I never went back, nor got the surgery, and have since experienced full range of motion being restored and the pain is gone, unless I overdo it. Like the old saying goes, if all you have is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail. I guess if all you have is a surgical knife, every problems requires surgery? Surgeons can remove everything but the root cause, it seems, but it sure is great for return business.
I requested my sister's mental health records after I helped her through a hospitalization that was such a bad experience in so many ways, and quickly realized how things need to be worded to get more complete records. Not sure if the terminology on the forms are the same in various states, countries, etc., but I learned in order to get more thorough information, you should always check the "Other" box, in addition to your relevant options, and specifically request narrative doctor, nurse, social worker, psych, etc. notes by writing those in. Otherwise, you just receive discharge notes and vague formal summaries.
A friend also shared with me that with mental health records, you are entitled by law to receive a copy of the clinician's summary notes (which should contain records of formal diagnoses, prescriptions, presenting complaints, etc.). However, therapy "progress notes" (more detailed comments on how a therapy session went, doctor's notes to self on next steps, details of what you said you were thinking, etc.) are not automatically included in this in all states. In some places it may be up to the clinician to determine whether or not they want to give you the more detailed notes.
- Post starter
- #6
Thank you everyone. i checked everything in the section to check off on the sheet i had to fill out i am doing another one for another hospital i stayed at some places i am not sure how to do that yet so i am trying to contact them at least via email about getting records..i have been inpatient many times i just sort of feel this need to know right now and see if i have changed...
- Post starter
- #8
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