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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by spriggy on December 22, 2005, at 14:38:07
I have a new doctor (rheumy) and I had to fill out 4 pages of health history.
Well, of course, it asks for family history and it asks about mental illness.
I checked "no" (which is a lie). I know that is wrong but I am sick and tired of being linked to my dad's bipolar and my mother's OCD/GAD-whatever else she has that makes her so mean- disorder.
If I told the doctor, " yes my father is severely bipolar, as was his mother (paternal grandmother), as is my maternal grandmother also, and my mother is severely OCD and mean as all get out, and my sister is ADD with bipolar.." well... where does that leave me any hope?
Then if we start asking about great grandparent's, well... they might as well just lock me up now.
I have this family heritage on both sides of serious mental illness/dysfunction.
In fact, they should probably have my family living in one of those hospitals where they do ongoing research studies on genetics and mental illness.
So I lied. I just said, " no." No family history of mental illness.
Anyone relate?
Posted by Lucia Francisca on December 22, 2005, at 16:09:25
In reply to I lied to my doctor... I feel awful.., posted by spriggy on December 22, 2005, at 14:38:07
Hi spriggy. Yes, I can relate. I never really know how much to divulge about my mental illness and family history of mental illness (My dad has bipolar disorder, like me. One of my first cousins is diagnosed as schizophrenic.) Especially to primary care physicians or even other health care practicioners that may or may not need to know. I guess you just need to make sure that any meds you may be prescribed don't interact with your psych meds.
I think it's hard to deal with a family history of mental illness--my dad was hospitalized several times for psychosis and severe insomnia when I was little. But it's interesting to me to see the similarities due to, I guess, both physical and environmental aspects in terms of mental illness amongst family members. Hopefully, there are some helpful coping skills your family members have used that you can use also. At least my father has been on Lithium for like 20 years, and my search for a better med for me has led to Seroquel, which has been helping me a lot for the last 2 months. I know families in which there is a really obvious history and incidence of bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, etc., and some members just don't or refuse to get treatment.
Anyways, I'm rambling on...
Take care, Lucia
>
>
> I have a new doctor (rheumy) and I had to fill out 4 pages of health history.
>
> Well, of course, it asks for family history and it asks about mental illness.
>
> I checked "no" (which is a lie). I know that is wrong but I am sick and tired of being linked to my dad's bipolar and my mother's OCD/GAD-whatever else she has that makes her so mean- disorder.
>
> If I told the doctor, " yes my father is severely bipolar, as was his mother (paternal grandmother), as is my maternal grandmother also, and my mother is severely OCD and mean as all get out, and my sister is ADD with bipolar.." well... where does that leave me any hope?
>
> Then if we start asking about great grandparent's, well... they might as well just lock me up now.
>
> I have this family heritage on both sides of serious mental illness/dysfunction.
>
> In fact, they should probably have my family living in one of those hospitals where they do ongoing research studies on genetics and mental illness.
>
> So I lied. I just said, " no." No family history of mental illness.
>
> Anyone relate?
Posted by linkadge on December 22, 2005, at 16:12:25
In reply to I lied to my doctor... I feel awful.., posted by spriggy on December 22, 2005, at 14:38:07
I think you did the right thing. If not checking that box means that you will get a more more acurate assesment then I think it was a good thing.
I remember telling one doctor my mother was bipolar, and from then on it was shut case without even asking any more questions.
I think the big thing is that you are honest with everything that he asks you about your symptoms.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on December 22, 2005, at 16:46:30
In reply to Re: I lied to my doctor... I feel awful.., posted by Lucia Francisca on December 22, 2005, at 16:09:25
Spriggy I just saw the new pdoc. Humm he didn't ask about family members with psychiatric disorders. See my Thread below . Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 22, 2005, at 20:41:13
In reply to I lied to my doctor... I feel awful.., posted by spriggy on December 22, 2005, at 14:38:07
Sprig, you can "correct the error" later. You'll get better assessment and diagnosis this way.
Doctors are human, too. They're subject to biases and stereotypes, just like the rest of us.
I'm sorry you feel bad about it, but you can come clean later. I would argue it's not relevant to your care, yet.
Lar
Posted by fairywings on December 22, 2005, at 20:42:54
In reply to I lied to my doctor... I feel awful.., posted by spriggy on December 22, 2005, at 14:38:07
hi spriggy, i think link is right, unless there's a need to know - like meds that might interact adversely, why would they need to know. Maybe those are just std. forms. I've told my pdoc and T the history, but wouldn't divulge it to anyone else unless they can give me a valid reason.
fw
Posted by spriggy on December 22, 2005, at 21:10:28
In reply to Re: I lied to my doctor... I feel awful.. » spriggy, posted by fairywings on December 22, 2005, at 20:42:54
I did this is because I am getting treated right now for a physical health problem; if they think I'm bipolarish or something, some doctor's imagine all the other illness's are conjured up in the head becuase of the bp. At least, that's what I've found around here.
I can be running 101 fever, have a rash across my face, and the doctor says, " Oh.. you have a history of mental illness?"
YEAH BUDDY, I imagined all this in my bipolar brain.
Can you see the tongue in cheek?
My throat hurts, so I'm in a bad mood. Plus, I need some Midol.
Posted by cecilia on December 23, 2005, at 0:33:28
In reply to Re: I lied to my doctor... I feel awful.. » spriggy, posted by fairywings on December 22, 2005, at 20:42:54
Yeah, mental illness is like being overweight-it doesn't matter what your problem is, they just blame it on your weight. Unfortunately, there's no way to lie about that... Cecilia
Posted by spriggy on December 23, 2005, at 19:17:05
In reply to Re: I lied to my doctor... I feel awful.., posted by cecilia on December 23, 2005, at 0:33:28
Posted by greenhornet on December 27, 2005, at 7:43:23
In reply to Re: I lied to my doctor... I feel awful.. » spriggy, posted by Larry Hoover on December 22, 2005, at 20:41:13
Spriggy,
I agree with Larry 100%+ I stopped checking that little box several years ago when I started seeing docs for arthritis/pain. Also the one on alcoholism/addiction. My experience has been that they are more objective that way..Hornet
---------------------------------
> Sprig, you can "correct the error" later. You'll get better assessment and diagnosis this way.
>
> Doctors are human, too. They're subject to biases and stereotypes, just like the rest of us.
>
> I'm sorry you feel bad about it, but you can come clean later. I would argue it's not relevant to your care, yet.
>
> Lar
This is the end of the thread.
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