[piano97]

I had posted several weeks ago that I injured my chest moving furniture out of my 80 year old house's narrow front door.

Terrible pain, no improvement, was not sleeping much because pretty much any movement caused pain. Finally called PCP, she was out that day, told me to go to prompt care. I did, he basically said I was fine, I inflamed the tissue between sternum and ribs. His take home directions focused on mental health. It even said in the diagnostic description that it 'it often happens during times of emotional distress'. It didn't say...use ice, avoid lifting, rest....it said basically 'to get ahold of myself'.

I was not frantic, dramatic, etc, not even slightly.

It got no better, bad pain, swelling, etc. I started ultram which eventually caused manicky symptoms which is a seperate discussion. I went back to PCP, she said I strained a chest muscle. Come back in 7 days if still swollen/pain. I waited 11 days. Pain was improving but not swelling. I asked to come back in. Instead she ordered a MRI, which took 8 days to get in for.

They posted the results online this morning. I did not injure a muscle, I broke a rib. And it has fluid surrounding it which is just part of healing, thus the swelling. It's been almost 5 weeks now, so this was not just an itty bitty tiny hairline crack. It would not be swollen still if so.

So that jackass, pardon my language, sent me home with a broken rib and take home instructions of 'getting my emotions in order'.

LOL. You have to laugh at it.

Some, though not all, doctors see psych meds, and it's gotta be in your head.

It is so important to advocate for ourselves. In the end, would the treatment have been different? Probably not. Ribs have to heal on their own. But he shouldn't have put me on ultram bc it's somewhat of an SNRI. Which led to manic stuff and cycling, which I'm still trying to reign back in.

And he shouldn't have mentioned ANYTHING in the diagnosis, or take home instructions, about mental health. I broke a ****ing rib. WTF.

As I said, you have to laugh about it, the alternative is severe anger and it's not worth it.

We know our bodies, just like 'normal' people do. And if we go to the doctor and say there's a problem, there's a problem.

As to how I'm doing now, the pain has continued improving daily and is more of a nuance now than a problem. I can't sleep on that side, I need tylenol in the mornings and sometimes afternoons. Not a big deal. The swelling is about the same still, and I think that will just gradually improve as the bone tissue heals.

[Daonnachd]

That’s a painful narrative. I’m glad you’re healing.

[Shazerac]

Geez! I’m sorry you had to go through that. You are so right advocating for yourself is soooo important. Getting proper medical is difficult enough. Trying to get past the mental illness stigma make it even more difficult. I’ve been down that road so many times.

Doctor: your in pain because your depressed...
Me: NO! I’m depressed because I’m in pain and not getting any help from you!
(X-ray revealed I had a broken ankle)

Doctor: you are having trouble breathing because you are having panic attacks.....
Me: NO! I’m having panic attacks because I can’t breathe!
(Pulmonologist said I had undiagnosed late onset asthma)

Was hospitalized with a bowel obstruction. They wouldn’t let me have anything by mouth even water. So they wouldn’t let me have my night time psych Meds. I stayed up all night freaking out in agony. A call from my Pdoc and my very large and very furious husband storming the doctor get me my Meds. Thank god I had him to stand up for me.

[emgreen]

I don't know what to add that hasn't already been written, but I hope your situation was an isolated deal. I can't believe a PHP would blame physical symptoms on mental health issues! BTW, I've had broken ribs before & can sympathize with the pain. I'm glad you're feeling somewhat better, but wish you a quick & full recovery.

[Shazerac]

Originally Posted by emgreen

I don't know what to add that hasn't already been written, but I hope your situation was an isolated deal. I can't believe a PHP would blame physical symptoms on mental health issues! BTW, I've had broken ribs before & can sympathize with the pain. I'm glad you're feeling somewhat better, but wish you a quick & full recovery.

I have had so many times when my doctor blamed my depression for what was an actual physical illness or injury . Then I have others who just totally discount psych Meds as “optional.” I had an endocrinologist look me in the eye and say “the only way to get your cholesterol down is to stop taking psych Meds. They are just going to damage your liver and you will die early.”

I can’t even describe the dimension of pissed off I got from that statement. My go to response when angry is sarcasm. I said “so what you’re telling me that to keep my cholesterol down I should instead risk such severe depression that I end up jumping up jumping off a cliff? That will certainly cause me to die early also.” He actually turned pale. Bleh!

[Wild Coyote]

I am very sorry this has happened to you. I recall when you had first written about this experience.

Just absurd!

Thanks for sharing as your experience may help all of us to have more courage when it comes to self-advocacy.

I hope you continue to heal without further issues.


WC

Ouch! Wishing you a good recovery.
I'd be pretty tempted to go by that urgent care office with the broken rib dx to make a point. Wouldn't have to be angry. Just seems that maybe they should be made aware of how ridiculously off the mark they were so maybe(?) they think twice before pawning off someone else's physical pain on their psych dx.

I admire you for being able to laugh about it. I would be absolutely livid and launching a complaint. The standard should be to treat it as an injury, unless injury is ruled out and mental issues are obviously suspected. Grrrrr.

[piano97]

Thank-you all. Sounds like others have had this happen too. It's bizarre. You do have to laugh at it some. Anger isn't good for me. I will do something about it, polite and professionally, so he is aware. All kinds of ethical things were broken here.

I likely would have had symptoms of perforation, but to not have ruled that out (via xray) was very dangerous. A fracture was not something I had thought of, at all, honestly. But in hindsight my symptoms said muscle tear or rib problem. The one test he did do was an EKG, which he told me was fine. It was not fine. It had 2 tags on it. 'Borderline EKG' (rarely concerning) and 'possible left atrial enlargement' (not necessarily concerning, but unquestionably worth telling the patient, informing PCP, and noting to both parties that it bears doing a follow-up upon resolution of current problem). Given that I'm 30 pounds overweight now (thanks seroquel , on antipsychotics, and now have high BP, with strong family history of cardiac problems, to not even mention it to me and ignore a potentially early warning sign of problems is just outrageous. (I actually told him each of these things prior to the test).

As I might have said, I see PCP on Thursday for my annual (actually two years...oops). We can discuss all of these things during appointment. Technically she misdiagnosed as well, but largely based on previous assessment which was much closer in time to the injury. So I don't blame her at all. And she did order the MRI which showed this. The MRI was technically a huge resource waste, but I understand why she did it. Xray should have been done with the first doctor as I mentioned.

I like her a lot and has always been very good with me (even though I am way late in having a check-up/labs/etc).

I strongly encourage folks to always get copies of their records. And read any dc paperwork in depth. Get copies of doctor notes, tests, labs, etc. Do your own research if you do not know what things mean. (Be careful of over-googling things of course). It is always OK to call your doctor's nurse and ask questions. The records BELONG to you and are an invaluable source of information to help you navigate the health care system and monitor your health. Don't be obsessed with it or think folks are out to get you, but knowledge is power. This guy meant me no harm, but ****ed up in multiple ways. Your health is ultimately on the line.

[Shazerac]

I hope all goes well for you at your check up. I’m glad you have a good relationship with your Doctor. I apologize for highjacking your thread. This topic kind sends me off the deep end and I lost it, but that’s no excuse. Thank you for your advice about reading all medical records and staying on top of treatment plans.

[piano97]

U did not hijack!!!! You are totally fine. It actually made me feel less isolated and am thankful for your comments, here, and throughout the board