Hi everyone,

I'd like to get some input on this situation. This will be long and I apologize.

To preface my explanation I'd like to acknowledge that I come off as obnoxious on here often. I probably appear to be a very difficult personality to many. I doubt it would be assumed by my behavior on here that I'm mild, meek and let people walk all over me 90% of the time but I do. Not intentionally mind you...but because I forgive bad behaviors towards me easily. I assume people are having a bad day or life and try not to take things personally. On this board however, I'm more open with thoughts and feelings and assert myself frequently. It's anonymous which helps greatly and helps me to share my inner thoughts and feelings with those who understand that life is far from lollipops and rainbows all the time. I probably come off as a very difficult personality on here, but please understand that I'm typically not at all.

I'm trying to decide if I should file a complaint about something and would like your input. I recently lodged a complaint against the ER for treatment I received and KNOW I'm doing the right thing in this case but not positive about this situation. I don't want to be considered a complainer and dismissed but I also want better more considerate care going forward and must make sure others are protected from this kind of stuff happening to them.

I deal with chronic pain and sickness as some of you may know. If it's not one thing, it's another. Since late November, I've been very sick which was making me horribly depressed/suicidal. My husband and I both have watched my patterns and my period plays a big role in how I feel mentally and physically. When I've had "breakdowns" in the past, my period starts within 2 days or I've recently started. Physically and mentally I become very unwell and it seems to start close to 2 weeks before my period, get progressively worse and not ease up until a few days past starting.

I talked with my primary care doc and he recommended an IUD as I have risk factors making the pill a less viable option. I made an appointment with my OBGYN as I needed my yearly exam, needed to discuss the IUD and I also have a rash constantly on my left upper breast, lower legs, feet and unfortunately my private areas. I cancelled my appointment about 5 times because I was too sick to go. Couldn't shower, shave, trim or any of the things I needed to do before this appointment. I had ice packs on my lady parts for weeks to keep myself from maiming myself. I finally get to the doctor and this is what happened:

He walks in the room and makes note of all my cancellations. I explain to him I've been very sick and he sits down next to me with a sheet of paper with my diagnoses boldly displayed "schizoeffective". I didn't like this as I don't agree with this diagnosis but that wasn't too big a deal. When I tell him I've been sick he says "yeah, I looked at the notes from your last appointment with your psychiatrist, have you been taking your medications?" My brain went....WTF!!!!! Reading my psych conversations? I said I'm working on it and proceeded to redirect back to my reasons for coming. The Rash, my yearly exam and the possible PMDD and IUD.

He starts the exam and says "I'm really surprised you don't shave". <---WTF??? I don't know if he was talking about my legs or what but it was uncalled for!!! I almost didn't make it to this appointment for a 6th time because I was embarrassed and ashamed by my lack of "grooming" and it was just an odd thing for him to say while between my legs. Felt awkward to put it mildly. He said I wasn't "red down there" so ignored the itching. I wasn't red because I'd had an ice pack on the area for weeks. He offered nothing for the itching and told me to schedule my IUD with the nurse. I won't go into what happened during the IUD procedure but I feel VIOLATED. Maybe I will talk about that later but it was riddled with problems and possible malpractice. When I went into my GYNO appointment for the IUD, I expressed I was concerned with him reading my psych file. He said it was part of his job and he's required to talk to me about it once per year and we got that part over with until 2018.

Should my Gyno be allowed to read the details of my psych record? I feel violated. I've discussed personal, PRIVATE things that I had a hard enough time telling 1 person about.....let alone anyone with access to a computer in their building. Can my othomologist read these files? The nosey lab tech? The janitor? I think a complaint should be filed. My trust is shattered and it was already hanging on by a thread.

What do you think? Am I making something out of nothing? We're my rights violated cause it sure feels that way. Thanks for reading if you got this far.