I'm battling so many injustices with my healthcare providers, it's not even funny. This issue is a very small one in comparison but I'd like to get your take on it and see if you agree my doctor was stigmatizing mental illness.

A few days back I had an appointment with my medical doctor. I explained I didn't agree with my schizoeffective DX and do not feel I meet the criteria for schizophrenia. He said "you've got schizoeffective, not schizophrenia....schizophrenics have no concept of reality, are completely out there in their own little world and can't function". I said, "excuse me doctor but that is not true at all, my grandmother had the illness and was an elegant lady who worked hard her entire life, did well financially but struggled with relationships because of her paranoia. She was not totally out of it, always worked and had a strong concept of reality in most regards". Schizoeffective is schizophrenia with mood disorder attached. He seems ignorant at best and I believe his views are stigmatizing and really further my belief that my physical issues are being ignored because I'm being discriminated against for my mental illness. Please share your thoughts if you have any. Let me know if you agree or disagree with my interpretation and why. Thank you.

[still_crazy]

a lot of doctors view those of us w/ psychiatric labels as less than fully human. Weaklings, basically. I've experienced it myself, so I can kind of empathize with your situation, to a point.

Plus, doctors have $$$ AND they're generally more conservative than a lot of the rest of us (most of them also come from affluent, conservative families). And then the medical establishment itself tends to be conservative, rigid, dogmatic, and authoritarian.

Also...in private, a lot of medical people are skeptical of psychiatry, even in this day and age. I've seen it myself, and its odd. Around the general public, they'll go along with DSM whatever, but then in private they'll say stuff like "psychiatry isn't real medicine," etc.

Sorry to ramble. I've had probs with doctors, too, so I'm kind of venting a lil bit. Hope things improve in your world. :-)

[greentires4me]

why can't you see a pdoc or is this your general practitioner who is diagnosing you with schizoaffective?

Thanks Still Crazy. I'm sorry you battle this too. Yes, they primarily come from conservative, affluent families and I suppose that means they can't help but not be able to relate to most of the world. Doesn't make it ok and it should be their job to keep their biases outside the patients room.

My doctor was giving me professional medical information and it was all flat out lies. Shouldn't this be illegal? I came to him in a professional capacity, and he gave me mental health information under the guise of being educated. Isn't this illegal? It should be, he's going to kill someone with this incompetence.

Also, this man refuses me tests like MRI's (claiming that X-rays and blood tests are all that's required which is a flat out lie and I have proof) and relies on guess work himself, so why does he consider his guess work superior to a mental health professional? Seems they both work from the same guess making playbook.

Originally Posted by greentires4me

why can't you see a pdoc or is this your general practitioner who is diagnosing you with schizoaffective?

My PDOC diagnosed me erroneously and it's now listed for my primary care physician to see as an ongoing illness. I'm fighting with them to have the DX removed and taking them to court for abuse I received as a result of that diagnosis.

[still_crazy]

hey, elsamars. Sorry about all this. I didn't mean that its OK for doctors to act like that--its not, and I've been there--but...it is, what it is. ugh.

Psychiatric diagnoses are a major source of stigma. That's one reason I'm sticking with my current pdoc, because he'll call my "afflication" Bipolar I, not invalidate me completely with "Schizophrenia" like a lot of (upper class, snobby) doctors tend to, basically because they can.

I hope you can get your diagnosis removed or changed or...something. I was reading about it, and one reason people with more severe mental problems don't live as long as "normal" people is because of this sort of stigma. Sadly, its not just you (or me, either).

:-)

[greentires4me]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

My PDOC diagnosed me erroneously and it's now listed for my primary care physician to see as an ongoing illness. I'm fighting with them to have the DX removed and taking them to court for abuse I received as a result of that diagnosis.

well you could tell your primary care physician what happened with your pdoc.

Personally its not the first time the I was wrongly dx for 4 1/2 years, until 2 years I got the correct dx after I changed pdocs.

[Nammu]

I don't know anything about schizophrenia or affect to comment on that part of things but doctors being snotty and agreeing with a chart over listening to a patient, that part unfortunately rings true. There are good docs out there that don't automatically dismiss patients but I find they are rare. Don't know if you can make a case that what he's doing is illegal but you can copy articles that show facts that those of us with mi are often ignored when it comes to physical health. I find it best to let my emotions out before I see doctors so I can be as impartial as possible, they seem to react to emotional pleas like donkeys asses. Hope this is making sense I'm struggling to write thoughts today.

Originally Posted by still_crazy

hey, elsamars. Sorry about all this. I didn't mean that its OK for doctors to act like that--its not, and I've been there--but...it is, what it is. ugh.

Psychiatric diagnoses are a major source of stigma. That's one reason I'm sticking with my current pdoc, because he'll call my "afflication" Bipolar I, not invalidate me completely with "Schizophrenia" like a lot of (upper class, snobby) doctors tend to, basically because they can.

I hope you can get your diagnosis removed or changed or...something. I was reading about it, and one reason people with more severe mental problems don't live as long as "normal" people is because of this sort of stigma. Sadly, its not just you (or me, either).

:-)

I knew you weren't saying it was ok...I was just ranting. I'm sorry if it came across as ranting at you and assure you it's not my intent. (((Hugs))). Everything you write rings true for me and I appreciate it. I'm sorry you have battled this too and appreciate your advise.

Originally Posted by Nammu

I don't know anything about schizophrenia or affect to comment on that part of things but doctors being snotty and agreeing with a chart over listening to a patient, that part unfortunately rings true. There are good docs out there that don't automatically dismiss patients but I find they are rare. Don't know if you can make a case that what he's doing is illegal but you can copy articles that show facts that those of us with mi are often ignored when it comes to physical health. I find it best to let my emotions out before I see doctors so I can be as impartial as possible, they seem to react to emotional pleas like donkeys asses. Hope this is making sense I'm struggling to write thoughts today.

You made perfect sense and your response was very validating and helpful. I'm so sorry this has happened to you too. I need to get a lawyer who specializes in arbitration but my mother did discuss the treatment I received in the ER with a lawyer who believes I have a strong case and my husband who worked in mental health and knows the laws because you had to follow them or else, said my rights were morbidly abused as clear as day and is the one who insisted I not roll over and instead, fight to the top. I'm scared as heck but going to do it. We shall see how it goes.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

My PDOC diagnosed me erroneously and it's now listed for my primary care physician to see as an ongoing illness. I'm fighting with them to have the DX removed and taking them to court for abuse I received as a result of that diagnosis.

I believe that more than a few primary doctors (GP's) are appallingly ignorant regarding mental health matters and are up themselves and incompetent.. it's very sad.

I agree fuzzy....it so sad and frustrating. (((Hugs)))

ElsaMars,
No comment (I feel like I know less than you) about the mental diagnosis but I am glad you are fighting to have your physical problems further evaluated. You might have something going on that really needs treatment. Obviously, we can have both physical and mental issues at the same time that are not related. You are suffering and deserve help. It does seem like there are some primary care doctors that do not want to deal with people who they think are mentally ill or dismiss some of the things we say. My primary care doc stays far, far away in regards to my mental issues. She says, "I am unqualified to discuss that, you need to see..." (She loves to give referrals within the system. the more specialists you see, the more the group can bill?)