[gina_re]

Have any of you actually seen yours? I requested a copy of my hospital records from when I was in PHP in 2015 and IP in 2016. Definitely some interesting notes in there, the ones I can read anyway (why do doctors write so bad!). I apparently have had diagnoses of Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, Bipolar NOS, Major Depressive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Plus some of the notes in the IP chart made me laugh. I know they weren't meant to be funny, but how some things are written are hilarious to me. I wasn't really surprised about anything I read (well the BP I diagnosis was suspect to me), but I find it helpful to at least be aware of what is in my chart. I'm still waiting on my records from my previous psychiatrist, that office seems to be taking forever and I requested those at least a week before the hospital records!

If you have seen yours, were you surprised or was it what you expected?

[HALLIEBETH87]

Yes I've seen mine bc I needed dates and dr names to apply for Ssdi. What was most surprising was I got the bpd dx when I was 17 and never knew it. Here's a few of the diagnoses I was given through the years:

Bpd, major depression, alexithymia, generalized anxiety, panic d/o, bipolar 2 with mixed features, bipolar 1 with rapid cycling and PTSD.

Now?
Bipolar 1 with psychotic features, panic d/o, PTSD, and bpd

I'm in a situation where I now need to get my records and comb through them as I have evidence the doctors have flat out lied about my demeanor and behaviors. They have violated my rights and lied to say I was "running around trying to kill myself" as justification for how they treated me. If I was running around trying to kill myself, why did they release me an hour later? They have violated my rights and hospitalized me against my will when I did not meet the criteria for forced hospitalization and when I complained, they said I could try to fight it but the doctors have notes about my behavior so nothing could be done as it's my word against theirs. This is some SCARY crap and I'm taking them to court. I'm scared to read what they've written since I now have evidence they are full of it. They shot themselves in the foot with the letter they recently sent me. I'm not rolling over like usual....I'm prepared to stand up for myself and hold them accountable for what they have done to me and others. I've looked into it and they have KILLED people with their incompetence.....I'm far from the only one they have abused. I recommend everyone look through their records....your life, reputation and freedom could be on the line someday if they misrepresent your symptoms.

I'm glad to hear you mostly agree with yours Gina.

[gina_re]

I would love to see my medical records from when I was a complete mess and didn't know what was going on. But that's over ten years ago and I can't remember doctor names and I was living in another state. Those would be the good records to read!!

[Moose72]

I've seen bits of them. It's interesting to say the least. I didn't realize I was that bad off from the ER reports I read!

[BipolaRNurse]

It was from my hospital records that I learned I'd been diagnosed with bipolar 1. Up till then I'd been dx'd with bipolar NOS. It was weird that a depressive episode led to my definitive diagnosis...what probably did it was the psychosis I experienced during that episode. I saw black and grey cats running under the linen cart in the ER. There was no mention of it in the summary, although there likely was in the progress notes, which I didn't get to read. Who knows?

[Victoria'smom]

I want to but have agreed with former T not to.

[MBM17]

You agreed with your therapist not to?

When I switch from my old pnurse to my new pdoc I had to physically deliver my folder full of hospital records. I ended up reading all of them. Nothing was really surprising except for one hospitalization where I was dx'd with borderline personality disorder and they said a lot of crap like I refuse to admit something's wrong.

[BPMan]

How do you get your records?

[Victoria'smom]

You agreed with your therapist not to? Yes, she worried it ruin the little trust I have in psychiatry.

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by BPMan

How do you get your records?

Contact your doctor's office or the hospital, they should have a form you fill out. Sometimes there is a charge, depending on the policy.

[Ripose]

I live in Alberta, Canada and I was told I would have to get a lawyer to get a copy of my medical records from my GP. I would also have to pay a certain amount per page.

Why the hell should I need a lawyer to get my own records?

I have never requested a copy of my records, curiosity strikes me now and again. But I haven't actually done it. I do know my GP messed up once after I was IP and transfered a list of DXs that were in a locked private record from the hospital into my public facing PT record which allowed me to see through the PT Hospital Portal all of my DXs at that time. And then again at the end of this year some bug allowed them all to get published from the walled off records to the public records showing me my definitive DX of BP1 W/ Psychosis. Although I knew that is what I had anyway because part of my last IP was due to hearing voices.

[scatterbrained04]

I've not seen mine. I'd be interested to read my mental health records, but I think it could be awkward too. I would feel comfortable requesting them from places I no longer go though.

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

You agreed with your therapist not to? Yes, she worried it ruin the little trust I have in psychiatry.

Maybe I'm jaded, but BOY-OH-BOY does this raise some major red flags for me.

[glowsinthedark]

I recently requested records from 2 different health facilities. I wish they went further back (learned they get destroyed after a certain point if you are no longer a patient). The hospital I go to know is very transparent - all records are available to read online within a day or so after the appointment. It's kind of weird actually...I definitely think reading their notes has changed the way I act during my appointments - it's like I now have too much insight into *their* beliefs and thought processes. But I read anyway out of morbid curiosity. At one point I was diagnosed with BP I but I'm almost 100% certain this was for insurance purposes only, as it was during the time they were pushing latuda. I have experienced brief psychosis in the past, but I think this was more anxiety and stress-related. My record now says that my current issues include Bipolar Affective Disorder, Panic disorder, and Mood Disorder.