When I was in the medical with serious anorexia problems....my GP who was the one that admitted me put me through almost $70,000 in tests just to prove that it wasn't something physical.....but along the same lines, the hospital staff pdoc & psychologist didn't listen to me about the trauma that I was & had been going through which was the major trigger for the anorexia situation at that point in the first place.

MY GP was new to me that previous summer & really didn't take the time to get to know me even during the time that summer I was in the hospital with a horrible asthma attack from forest fire smoke that engulfed the valley where I was living while I was sleeping in my jeep on foal watch. While in the hospital that summer, it was only supposed to be for 3-5 days but I ended up loosing my voice.....I was smart enough to realize it was a reaction to the medication I had been given......& when he finally LISTENED to me (had to write it down because I couldn't talk).....he discontinued the medication & it took 3 days for the effect to go away.....it was definitely a side effect to the medication.......something that is a very normal problem for me.

I wish that GP's would get to know their patients better.....not just a drug screening process. I know many people who don't go to a T....who need to have their GP or a specialist to talk to & feel good that someone actually is willing to listen. I have a friend who is a Physician's assistant & she always talks to the patient. It's well known that physical & mental are tied together with the health & many people don't go to T's like we do & don't necessarily have mental health problems but really do need someone to talk to about things in a place where they know it's safe.

If a patient comes into a GP with a problem & there are family issues & huge stressors that they are going through...many times the anxiety can be tied to what the patient is experiencing unless it's flu or a cold or something that is obvious....but when a patient come is with a "something's bothering me" without it being a specific illness, it's important to know what's going on in their life because it can seriously help point to what the problem is.......just like stressful situations in my life if they are long term normally trigger my anorexia. Also I have noticed that when a patient does have a psychologist/T, the MD is less likely go get into even wondering about that area of their life even though there still can be ties between the mental & physical problems that are going on.

The whole person needs to be treated & unless there is a serious determined problem, the MD doesn't even consult with the pdoc/T.

I love my pain specialist group has their own psychologist group they use in helping the people who have chronic pain......as they understand that there is definitely a connection that is necessary