Case (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
case) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomsecrets2012-10-16 06:43 pm
case) wrote in fandomsecrets2012-10-16 06:43 pm
[ SECRET POST #2114 ]
⌈ Secret Post #2114 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
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Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 061 secrets from Secret Submission Post #302.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ], [ 1 - unreadable ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
Campus health rant
(Anonymous) 2012-10-16 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)I am so pissed off about my campus health practitioners. I was admitted a month or two ago because I was having pretty severe weakness/dizziness. It was bad enough that I didn't even sign in or wait, as soon as I showed up, they plopped me in a wheelchair and took me into an exam room.
Apparently the nurse took my temp, and I was running about a 99-100. Later on, the doctor came in and was one of those old school brisk assholes that didn't have much compassion. In retrospect I'm angry, because at the time I gave no fucks, I didn't have the presence of mind to care.
She discharged me after a brief exam, saying I didn't have a fever because my temp wasn't over 101, but I could come back and have blood tests done.
Now when I think back on it, she was pretty dismissive of me. I'm pretty sure the doctor assumed I was either a.) drunk, b.) on drugs, or that c.) my symptoms were due to "stress", because I was a college student.
I was visibly weak. I was disoriented, I couldn't remember what day it was, what time it was. Moving literally hurt. I was running a fever (101 be damned).
But because I was a student there, with complaints often seen when drunk or drugged up, or due to a stress collapse, she didn't take me seriously.
There are still things wrong with me, and I'm afraid to go back and get them checked out. I don't want to my physical complaints to be dismissed because of my age group, which I know they will do. It's the middle of the semester, so lots of people are feeling stressed.
I'm not sick because I'm worried about school, or because I drank too much, or because I'm anorexic. I'm sick because I'm fucking sick, you assholes.
Re: Campus health rant
(Anonymous) 2012-10-17 12:21 am (UTC)(link)Re: Campus health rant
I can say that I understand how terrible it is to be dismissed like you're lying, overreacting, or just don't understand your own body. It's unfair that the doctor did that to you. You didn't deserve that kind of disrespect. Unfortunately when you're that sick it can be easy to go along with whatever the doctor suggests because you don't have the will/presence of mind to argue.
Still, your health is important and your symptoms sound like they could be serious. I hope that you can get tested and treated, and that the next doctor you see isn't such an asshat.
Re: Campus health rant
(Anonymous) 2012-10-17 12:59 am (UTC)(link)This is exactly the kind of time I wish I had a parent here to grill the doctor and be taken seriously. Although I'm at that age where I'm too old to have that done for me.
And you're right, I probably ought to go back and get rechecked. I have more worrisome physical problems that I really cannot afford to ignore, but I'm just... afraid of not being taken seriously.
I sort of want to show up and ask about the one thing they can't deny or discredit (the rock hard lump in my neck), and then bring up the other stuff, like the weakness and weight loss. Maybe then they'll take me seriously.
Re: Campus health rant
That's not a bad approach. Starting with a symptom they have address is a good idea. If you have things wrong that they can actually see or touch it might get them to start discussing your problems more seriously. Definitely tell them about being disoriented. Neurological problems might not turn up in blood work (not that it definitely is, but there's always a possibility). Being that confused is a big deal, they need to find the cause. Their duration is also important, it's been long enough to say that this is something worth investigating.
I'm going to echo those saying to document your symptoms. When was the first time they happened? Do you remember what order they started happening in? What time of day do they happen (or if they're constant what time they get worse)? Where do you feel discomfort or pain (if any)? How bad is it on a scale of 1 to 10 (one being completely fine and 10 being the worst pain you've ever felt)? Does anything at all make it better or worse? Write down everything you think is relevant. Even if it doesn't seem that important, it might help. And any time you think of a question for the doctor you should write it down. Take that list with you, I always forgot the things I wanted to ask the doc before I started taking a list.
You can take a friend back at the doctors with you if that helps. It helped me. I was too nervous to argue with the doctors and I had just become old enough that my Mom didn't come with me any more. I started taking somebody with me and if I got nervous they'd help me speak up. They also confirmed that I wasn't making things up, that it was serious. They don't always like to let somebody go back with you, but often you can insist. (In my case I have anxiety disorders and needed my friend to prevent panic attacks until I got comfortable with the doctor I now have.)
Even if you don't have anybody you'd want to include in this, definitely go back. Request a different doctor if it's possible. And I agree with the person who said to tell the new doctor your feelings about being dismissed. It will probably get their attention. If you can't get a new doctor and end up with the same person, make sure they treat you better. If they don't (or if another doctor treats you that way) make sure to voice your complaint with their boss, and with the doctor as well.
I'll repeat something my mom always told me when I wasn't feeling well. "You know what's going on inside your body, nobody else does." They aren't you, they don't live inside your body, so you are the only real authority on what you feel. Your doctor shouldn't dismiss that. You have a right to be taken seriously in medical situations, always remember that.
Re: Campus health rant
I will say as somebody who has several chronic illnesses: I had to fight for my diagnoses. It turned out to be a very good thing I did because at least one of them is progressive and if I had not gotten it diagnosed it would have caused permanent irreversible damage. It took me 3yrs to get somebody to take me seriously. It was hellish.
I cannot stress the importance about insisting on a doctor checking out that hard lump. If your school doctor will not take you seriously, consider the ER.
Re: Campus health rant
Re: Campus health rant
The better part of a year.
I was refused help. Only after I insisted on blood work did she realize, oh shit, I have anemia. Oh, and my migraines? Hormonal imbalance.
But I only got better because I fought for it. You need to go back to the doctor and get checked out. Maybe you can request someone else? You don't want whatever you have to get worse. I wish you luck, strength, and patience.
Re: Campus health rant
(Anonymous) 2012-10-17 01:11 am (UTC)(link)You're right in that I should go get it all checked out. She did order some blood tests and she said they looked normal, but to her a temp of 100 wasn't a fever.
Maybe if presenting with something undeniably physical they'll take me seriously. Maybe the rock hard lump in my neck will make them take my loss of weight and fatigue seriously.
I just feel so stupid. On one hand, I don't want to be dismissed. On the other, I'm not sure how badly this could mess me up.
Re: Campus health rant
If I were you I would document each symptom every day. Be detailed. If you feel dizzy or disoriented, how bad was it? What did it feel like? How aware were you? How long did it last? Did anything you do make it better or make it go away? Or if you have pain, where is it? How bad it is? Can you describe the pain? How long did it last? Did anything you do make it better or make it go away? You get the idea. Any detail you think the doctor should know, document it. Then when you go in, give them this information.
I know how you feel and let me say something. You are not stupid. You are not. I'm not going to lie, you may be dismissed again. I was dismissed multiple times before my doctor actually realized something was wrong. But if you feel that this is serious then you need to go back. It may be nothing but it may be something. It is better to be safe than sorry. Your health is very important.
So ask for a different doctor. When you get this new doctor tell them how you feel about being dismissed, that may get their attention. Give them your documentation. Hopefully you will get help.
And if, just if, it is stress, at least then you'll know for sure that's what it is. At least then you'll have peace of mind.
Re: Campus health rant
(Anonymous) 2012-10-17 01:11 am (UTC)(link)I hate assholish doctors like that, too. If they give you shit, you're gonna have to make them understand. If they don't listen, you keep going higher up. (If you're at university or away from home or something, maybe there's a campus advisor or someone you can ask about this?)
Fight for it, it's YOUR health that is at stake here. Please don't let your wellbeing be ruined by their incompetence.
Re: Campus health rant
Detail on paper everything that's wrong. How you feel, pain, etc. EVERYTHING. Write down if it's worse at night, during the day, if you haven't slept enough, if bright light or weird smells or a certain food triggers anything.
Of if having to run up three flights of stairs does something to you, or having to lift something heavy. Anything that wasn't any issue before but now *is*.
Write down your questions that you have. It's easy to forget when you're in the actual office, stressed and uncomfortable.
And - bring a friend. Tell them you get angry/shy/tongue-tied/stressed and might not be able to stand up for yourself/make yourself clear. Tell them you need them there to support you and keep the doc from dismissing you out of hand. NOT to yell or make a scene, but to back you up and insist the doctor give you time and listen.
Hope you find a solution. Be well!
Re: Campus health rant
Can you bring a friend along? Even if they're the same age, it might still help to have someone with you who can ask questions you may not think of, or just provide moral support so you don't feel so alone and have someone backing you up.
Worse comes to worst, do you have access to medical care outside your campus health center?
It might help, too, to go in with a plan. I get the sense that the first time you went in, it was a semi-emergency and the possibility of not being taken seriously didn't occur to you (and honestly, why should that have to occur to you? We should be able to trust that doctors will help us!). Now, take advantage of the experience and use it to plan ahead about how you'll describe your symptoms and how you'll respond if you feel like they aren't taking you seriously enough. It's possible that you'll have more of an advantage going in with a clearer head. You can also emphasize how long these problems have been going on.
Re: Campus health rant
You're in a shitty situation that shouldn't happen to anyone, but you're entitled to be healthy and feel your best, OP. Stand your ground. And ask for a different doctor, if possible, and let them know what happened.