View Full Version : Feeling of distrust in doctors
Maybe this should be listed as an anxiety symptom. I don't know. I've been experiencing a huge feeling of distrust in doctors lately. I think my reasons are solid. Examples:
- My GP/family doctor is the main reason I've started to distrust doctors. He's rather young (I'd say he's on his early 30s). He's been my doctor for 2 to 3 years now. I've seen him tons of times and I've always told him about my heart-related symptoms. Believe it or not, he has never bothered to move his butt out of his chair to auscultate me and to take my blood pressure. I find this absolutely irresponsible and I would classify it without hesitation as bad medical practice. I know that he got all my medical history from my previous GP/family doctor, and that he is aware that I have been diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder back in 2006, but that shouldn't be used as a sort of excuse on which to impute all my symptoms. It's true that in the beginning, when we met, he referred me for heart tests, but now he simply refuses to refer me and tells me that what I need is psychiatric and psychological help. Be it as it may, I think that he should perform on a regular basis a basic clinical cardiovascular examination on me. At least, a pulse palpation, a cardiac and pulmunary auscultation and blood pressure and heart rate measurement. All these simple clinical examinations are done in the doctor's office! I think that any patient presenting heart-related symptoms, whether they are due to anxiety, panic disorder or any other condition, should have their cardiovascular system regularly monitored. Well, he seems to think otherwise.
- I've been prescribed some drugs that have high hepatotoxic side-effects, among other dreadful side-effects on the skin, heart and kidneys. American and European authorities such as the FDA and EMA, and medical guidelines issued by international medical associations, recommend that the liver function is assessed prior to prescription of those kind of drugs. What I can tell out of my experience is that none of three doctors I've seen followed that recommendation. They just told me to take the drugs and only two of them told me to have my liver enzymes checked... But ONLY after 1 month of treatment. The guidelines recommend to check the liver enzymes before prescription and on a monthly basis during the pharmacological treatment.
- Adding to all of this, most doctors I've come to contact with seem to be permanently in a hurry during appointments and don't allow me nor do they put me at ease to ask them all the questions I have in mind in order to feel reassured. That leads to one thing: anxiety, anxiety and more anxiety. And searches on Dr. Google, of course.
Do you feel the same or are you luckier than me in your relationship with doctors?
I feel the same hun. Im worried about chest pain some docs don't even examine me my faith in gps isn't very good. Could u change your doctor?
I feel the same hun. Im worried about chest pain some docs don't even examine me my faith in gps isn't very good. Could u change your doctor?
It takes some paperwork to do and ultimately it can be refused if the other GP isn't available to have more patients added to his list. I am considering to do it though.
...He's been my doctor for 2 to 3 years now. I've seen him tons of times and I've always told him about my heart-related symptoms. Believe it or not, he has never bothered to move his butt out of his chair to auscultate me and to take my blood pressure. I find this absolutely irresponsible and I would classify it without hesitation as bad medical practice. I know that he got all my medical history from my previous GP/family doctor, and that he is aware that I have been diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder back in 2006, but that shouldn't be used as a sort of excuse on which to impute all my symptoms. It's true that in the beginning, when he met, he referred me for heart tests, but now he simply refuses to refer me and tells me that what I need is psychiatric and psychological help. Be it as it may, I think that he should perform on a regular basis a basic clinical cardiovascular examination on me. At least, a pulse palpation, a cardiac and pulmunary auscultation and blood pressure and heart rate measurement. All these simple clinical examinations are done in the doctor's office! I think that any patient presenting heart-related symptoms, whether they are due to anxiety, panic disorder or any other condition, should have their cardiovascular system regularly monitored. Well, he seems to think otherwise.
Do you feel the same or are you luckier than me in your relationship with doctors?
I highlighted the parts of your post that stand out to me. First though, I want to answer your last question.
Without a doubt, YES, I trust my doctors. If it weren't for my GP doing what he should be doing, I wouldn't be here. It it weren't for my cardiologist, the ER doctors and nurses, my cancer team at Johns Hopkins, I wouldn't be here. If it wasn't for the diligence they all show with follow up blood work, tests and scans, I could very well be getting worse or developing issues I wouldn't know about until it's too late. So YES.. I trust my doctors implicitly.
Concerning the parts of your post I highlighted.....
Junot, please take this as someone who's observed HA behavior for a while now. You fit all the criteria. You're also only 29 years old. The chances of you having a serious heart condition in light of all the testing you've gone through over the last 8 years or so are slim to none. You so much as state this in your posts. Your anxiety says otherwise, leads to reassurance behavior, mistrust, gives you real physical symptoms which are exasperated by your anxiety as it ramps up.
Your doctor is right! You truly do need to seek help with this. You are practically a walking cardiac dictionary due to Dr. Google. Your knowledge of anatomy and drugs is impressive. I dare say if you invested as much effort in yourself and defeating the Dragon, you would be much better off. Your doctor has no reasonable cause to refer you for further testing as there's nothing to test for. It's like those that want a biopsy on a node but there's nothing to biopsy.
I've stated so much on previous replies and your reaction is "Thanks for the input" and it's right back to the same behaviors and doubts. Again, please take what I'm saying as an effort to try and help. As one who doesn't suffer from severe anxiety, I can look at things with objectivity. I have heart disease, have had two heart attacks, triple bypass surgery and most recently cardiac stents and cancer. You've had more tests and scans than I had and I actually have heart issues! It's time to get some help so you can live your life. I've said this many, many times on this board. I have issues that can bury me six feet under ground. Your issues are doing the same thing above it.
Positive thoughts
I can undersand where junot is coming from doctors today seem so much in a hurry It can be hard to find an understanding one who listens gives u time and makes u feel a ease. I suggested junot maybe change her doctor to find someone she feels comfortable with.
The problem is anx mum is that while you can find another medical professional that is willing to refer for more tests, the results will be the same and they have access to the records. When medical science cannot find a physical reason for symptoms, then it leaves one thing.
There are many who "doctor hop" due to what's being discussed. It just lends itself to feeding your anxiety as opposed to treating it. That being said, if you truly do have a serious medical issue, a second opinion is prudent and I did so with my cancer diagnosis. when it comes to mental health professionals, finding one that you're comfortable with is vital.
I understand what you're saying and I have met doctors like you describe in my life. Just like any profession there are those that are better than others. However, there are those that see things the way they are and cannot help when there's nothing to fix.
Positive thoughts
Fishmanpa,
I understand what you mean and the rational part of me says that I need to get away from this vicious circle I'm in and seek help in case I'm not able to do it on my own. I'm afraid of psychiatrists though. I've been on antidepressants for too long and thanks to them, prescribed by psychiatrists, I've gained too much weight (and that bears physical and psychological consequences). I've been losing the exta pounds these past months with the help of a strict diet and physical exercise so I wouldn't like to resume antidepressants. Maybe CBT would work on me, I haven't tried it yet, but I am thinking about giving it a try. Anyway, when the symptoms set in all rational thoughts evaporate and I can only think that I'm going to die or that I'm seriously ill and have been misdiagnosed. Because most symptoms are in my chest, I think that I have one or several cardiovascular conditions. Now, doctors in a hurry, doctors that don't follow international recommendations (it's how I see it), doctors that don't even bother to auscultate me in routine appointments, they don't help when it comes to deal with this issue. You're lucky to have a team of doctors looking after you at Johns Hopkins! Those are amongst the best of the best in the world and can't compare to average GPs/family doctors or even specialists elsewhere in a city or village no one knows about (as an exemple). Besides, the healthcare system here is a bit different from the healthcare system in the U.S. The healthcare system is mostly public-funded and I was assigned to a random doctor in my residential area. It seems that we don't sympathize nor empathize with one another. I can request a change of doctor, but it takes some paperwork to be done and availability of the other doctor I choose to accept me as his patient. Moreover, if I want to see a specialist, I need a referral from the GP/family doctor. That, or I'll have to pay out of my own pocket to see a private one (that's usually what I do to avoid waiting times). Anyway, you're essentially right. But a calm, empathic doctor, who takes some of his time to hear us and to calm us down, one who tells us that he understands our fears, that everything will be all right, that lets us ask all the questions we have, sometimes that's just what it takes for people like me to feel a little bit better and less worried. My GP is much like a machine with no feelings. Anyway, I'm fighting this issue, I hope I eventually win. It won't be in a blink of an eye though.
Junot,
Your reply sends a sense of hope into me and thank you for seeing my post as intended. You really shouldn't fear a mental health professional. I've sought help several times in my life and truly, it's been great. I was on meds for a time after my 1st heart attack and surgery. (Zoloft). While I didn't care for the way it made me feel and I had side effects (stomach/bowel issues), it did help me get over the hump and into the light again.
A psychiatrist can prescribe medication that can help. I know your aversion to meds but you must be open to whatever will assist you in overcoming your anxiety. Yes, meds are a hit and miss thing. My daughter suffers from anxiety and depression and it took three tries t find a med that's working for her (Lexapro). That along with one on one therapy and the improvement has been amazing and encouraging. She went from basically mentally crippled to going back to school this Fall. Her Mom and I offer encouragement and have her back when she needs us.
One step at a time. There's a really good CBT course offered here that I've used personally and can attest to it's effectiveness. You have to work at it but that's a given. You can download it HERE. (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=131665) You possess a heck of a lot of rationality so I think you'll gain much from it. It just makes sense.
Positive thoughts
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