Medical Doctors

I saw an article on this topic, and wondered if anyone else has ever gone to the doctor for something non-psych related, and been treated unfairly because they find out about your mental illness?

I've had it happen 3 times, twice with the same issue, and I wonder how other people deal with it. My hemoglobin was FIVE, and I was having trouble breathing due to lack of oxygen (normal runs about 15 I believe, and under 10 is recommended hospitalization for blood transfusion), and I was told I was having a panic attack and to go home and take oral iron tablets. I'm sorry but if it was all in my head, it wouldn't show up that low on a blood test that he ran in HIS lab.

I've heard that some people will get a 'non-drug seeker' form put in their chart from their psychiatrist so that the medical docs don't assume that's your issue. I also know some people that won't even disclose their mental illness when seeing a doctor for something unrelated. Any other ideas on how to be taken seriously?

I never disclosed my illnesses in my medical records, but considering a med cocktail can interfere with whatever I have, my list of psychotropic drugs are there.

I know what you mean. I have a few physical illnesses (Asthma, heart problem, Anemia, low blood sugar) and everytime I see my general health doctor he or she assumes it is from a mental illness or from my medications. I went to the doctors a week ago for some phsyical difficulties, and she added them all up to my prior medication usage (which I havn't been on medications in SEVEN months!).

Although I do see it as stigma, many physical health problems can be attributed with mental illness. But the thing is, the docs don't even give what "it might be" a chance. They just assume.


Panic

That's terrible. I've never had a doctor not take me seriously when i go to see them; and my illness is recorded in my notes for all to see.

There are some crap doctors out there. I'm not sure what you'd do about it either to be honest.

I don't see mine very much now because I can hear the machinery in his head. But the other doctors in the practice are ok, and they've never written me off like that. I feel so angry for you both.