[~Christina]

A friend and I had a chat about seeing our own medical records from our T or Pdoc. She said she’s not sure her T would want her to read them..

For me ... all I would need to do is ask and they would available. My T and I sometimes pull up my history and randomly click on a date and he reads his summary of that session. When my T decides to retire and we are winding down our sessions .. I plan to get my records, he would have no problems my having a copy. I personally have no worries that any of it will bother me in any way. It will be a lot as we have been together for 8 years.

Your thoughts ?

[yellow_fleurs]

Interesting topic. Thanks for posting. I don't know what my T would say. However, I would hope if I really felt I wanted to see them or it would be valuable to me that she would be okay with that, at least as a summary of the appointments. Same for my pdoc. If I just wanted to obsessively check them due to OCD I could see her thinking that would be a not so good idea, otherwise I don't see the harm in my personal situation. I think I might even feel a bit patronized if I were told my notes were off limit. While some of it may be a bit tough to read, I question if it could be worse than living the symptoms if you know what I mean. I could see it being different for different people depending on what they are dealing with in therapy.

I'm not 100% sure, but I have the assumption one has the right to any of their medical records. Perhaps there would be a charge though. I had to pay a small fee for my hospital and IOP records when I needed them for my SSDI application years back. My pdoc never charges me for letters, but if I wanted 13 years of notes? Maybe.

Some stuff in records can be triggering.

[*Beth*]

As far as I know a patient's medical records belong to the patient. Years ago (14) I was injured on the job and had to be on disability for a year. As part of applying for the disability I had to have all of my medical records. I remember filling out a simple form and paying $12 for my psych records. I was glad to get them because I thought they'd be really interesting. Granted, those records were psychiatrist only (not therapist).

Much to my disappointment, the records were superficial and boring. "Pt says new medication causes headaches." That kind of thing. I was kind of hurt

I imagine that therapy records would be much more informative and interesting.

[yellow_fleurs]

Here is an article I found on the topic: Your Right To See Your Patient Records.
I seem to be finding different information about this on different sources, though.

[Nammu]

My doctor likes me and that's reflected in the notes. I think a lot of doctors and health professionals fear working with me at first, "deaf bipolar", then they get to know me and I'm easy to work with they are relieved. I remember decades ago, back in the 80's I demanded to see my notes from inpatient. The doc was worried about it but they were just disappointing. Can't remember what they said but they were boring. To me my hospitalizations were dramatic and event filled, to them I was just another tramia patient.

[bizi]

Originally Posted by Nammu

My doctor likes me and that's reflected in the notes. I think a lot of doctors and health professionals fear working with me at first, "deaf bipolar", then they get to know me and I'm easy to work with they are relieved. I remember decades ago, back in the 80's I demanded to see my notes from inpatient. The doc was worried about it but they were just disappointing. Can't remember what they said but they were boring. To me my hospitalizations were dramatic and event filled, to them I was just another tramia patient.

You have extra challenges!Did I read that right you are deaf?
bizi

[Nammu]

Originally Posted by bizi

You have extra challenges!Did I read that right you are deaf?
bizi

Yes. But I grew up mainstreamed. I was the first disabled kid to attend regular school, the only extra help I received was speech therapy. So I'm very good at reading lips. That's very reassuring to others. My current PCP though has a deaf son so he knows basic sign and that's nice.

[daladico]

As birddancer noted, patients have the right to obtain their own medical records for personal use through the Medical Records department. It may take weeks. And it may be triggering. I often have wondered about doing this myself, but am concerned it may cause more harm than good 🤷

[~Christina]

I worked health care all my life and yes medical records are your right to have. Every surgery I have ever had I have copies of the surgical procedures /reports and any path results.

When I moved to Florida I was actually in the middle of serious health issues , they found a adnoma on my pituitary gland by MRI and I had to immediately see a Endocrinologist and I had a lot of Neuro deficits, and also some possible cardiac issues. So I had copies of everything and they wrote up a summary of my heath issues for the 7-8 years I had been seeing them, they did not charge me for them.

I was just a bit taken back that my friends T might not think it’s a good idea for her and maybe in her case it would be wrong to read them for her stability ???

There is no charge for medical records going between medical providers a person just needs to sign a release.

Usually if a patient request records most providers do charge for them and I’m fine with that , 8 years of medical records will cost money in paper and ink.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I just have a feeling Matt wouldn’t want me to relive the past

[sophiebunny]

I've been in treatment since 1990. Who I am now is not who I was 30 years ago. I would find it shaming to look back on my records from a time I was being sent to a state hospital. It does me no service to look at my records. Assuming they are even available. I know I was very ill at the time and 30 years later I have a life I could never have imagined. I don't understand the obsession about reading things about yourself when you were ill. It would make better clinical sense to ask your psychiatrist or therapist about your progress, prognosis, and hopes for the future. What some inpatient psychiatrist said about you in the past is irrelevant. I don't see the benefit. Be in the who you are now.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

I just have a feeling Matt wouldn’t want me to relive the past

Do you think reading notes of your sessions would trigger you ?

[~Christina]

It would certainly not be some kind of “ obsession” reading my records. Honestly for me it would show how much I have grown and learned about myself.

[randal]

The VA allows full access to veterans to their medical records online (at least back to about 2012, when they went to fully electronic records). I'm quite Impressed.

We're able to see our lab reports, test results, radiology (see below), everything. You know that stuff your doctor scribbles down during your
appointments? We can even print those out.

That's my spine. - I downloaded a free program that even some doctors use to view MRIs. See the white heart on the left? That's my spinal cord, and it's supposed to be round.

I even have access to all the diagnostic notes and reports by my psychiatrists and therapists. I personally like the idea of patients being able to see their own records. For me, it's much better than the "You're doing pretty well" or watered down explanations you get from most doctors. There's much in them that a non-professional won't understand at first, but then, Google is you friend

[Under*Over]

I want to see my records but at the same time I would be a little bit afraid. I have come a long way and I would hate for anything to derail that

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by randal

The VA allows full access to veterans to their medical records online (at least back to about 2012, when they went to fully electronic records). I'm quite Impressed.


We're able to see our lab reports, test results, radiology (see below), everything. You know that stuff your doctor scribbles down during your

appointments? We can even print those out.



That's my spine. - I downloaded a free program that even some doctors use to view MRIs. See the white heart on the left? That's my spinal cord, and it's supposed to be round.


I even have access to all the diagnostic notes and reports by my psychiatrists and therapists. I personally like the idea of patients being able to see their own records. For me, it's much better than the "You're doing pretty well" or watered down explanations you get from most doctors. There's much in them that a non-professional won't understand at first, but then, Google is you friend

I think that’s fantastic, I have access to all my labs and testing through my GP Portal.

Is there anything you can do about your spine ? Do you deal with pain ?

[yellow_fleurs]

Randal, I have access to a patient portal as well (just not within the VA) and it has a lot of information like labs and other test results. I can see my medication and diagnosis from my psychiatrist, but there aren't any visit summaries or anything. Within the healthcare system that some of my doctors are part of, any doctor I see can see notes and summaries from my psychiatrist. I can't see those. I assume I could request them, though. I have not tried up to this point.

I have seen mine from a previous provider. Like others have experienced, they were very boring, even when things were a mess. ALTHOUGH, these were the notes she provided for SS administration (ended up denied, and I'm doing MUCH better than in those years). She had said she had her "other" notes. I'm guessing those would be more interesting, lol. I wouldn't find them triggering, but that's me.

Originally Posted by randal

The VA allows full access to veterans to their medical records online (at least back to about 2012, when they went to fully electronic records). I'm quite Impressed.

We're able to see our lab reports, test results, radiology (see below), everything. You know that stuff your doctor scribbles down during your
appointments? We can even print those out.

That's my spine. - I downloaded a free program that even some doctors use to view MRIs. See the white heart on the left? That's my spinal cord, and it's supposed to be round.

I even have access to all the diagnostic notes and reports by my psychiatrists and therapists. I personally like the idea of patients being able to see their own records. For me, it's much better than the "You're doing pretty well" or watered down explanations you get from most doctors. There's much in them that a non-professional won't understand at first, but then, Google is you friend

Cool! Thanks for sharing these pictures randal! I would have no clue what I was looking out if they were mine. Actually, once my psychiatrist ordered a PET scan for me and he didn't quite know how to interpret the results. He had to send me to a neurologist for that.

I think it's great when patients have copies of such reports and images. I've had so many MRIs, EEGs, the PET scan I mentioned, and a CT scan. They are soooo expensive, so I'm glad I own the results. I have had consultation appointments with two other doctors where I brought these results. It was helpful! I definitely wouldn't have wanted to get any of these tests again, if not needed.

My nephew is able to create 3-D images of brains with a printer he owns. He specialized in creating such things in college. I have long ago promised to loan my results to him. He may even create an image of my brain...though that almost seems scary Really, such images could potentially be helpful in the future.

[bpcyclist]

"Pretend every note you write in a chart is going to be blown up on a big easel in your local county courthouse someday. That's how you write your notes."

Wise professor somewhere in some medical school many moons ago, to his students.

[Wander]

Last September I fell into a severe mixed state. I ended up IP for the whole of October. I had ECT and it erased my memories of the episode, and most of the year. Desperate to put the pieces of my life together I requested the October hospital notes. My pdoc approved this. Unfortunately, unknown to me, my pdoc, or T, I was heading back into a more severe mixed state with psychosis. Initially the notes helped me see how unwell I was and why I ended up agreeing to ECT. Over weeks though I became obsessed with those notes, and finding another way to ‘heal’ from Bipolar. Down the rabbit hole I went until I was convinced that all mental health clinicians were out to harm me. I went manic for a week and believed I could heal myself by tapping into the energy of the universe. It was an ecstatic experience until I fell into the mixed state. Suddenly I was unable to ‘tap into the energy of the universe’ to heal myself. I became suicidal and my T and pdoc got me IP. It was awful. I felt utterly trapped and terrified. If Geodon hadn’t have worked so swiftly I doubt I would be here. I have been well since March now!

Anyway, although it helps now having those notes (if I ever doubt I have Bipolar I just need to flick through them) it was the wrong time for me to have access to the notes as I had not even recovered from the episode that put me in hospital last October. Having those notes was just one piece of the puzzle, but they did add fuel to the fire. We have a right to read our records. Just be careful what state you’re in when you do.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I have all my records up until 2013. I needed them for filing for disability. But since then I’ve had worse mental health crisis happen annually. I’m very curious what my notes say from my stays ip earlier this year as I was completely out of my mind with psychosis and being suicidal. I also had 15 rounds of ect.

When I requested my psych evaluations from my therapy office, I had the option to get my therapy notes for free. I declined. I don't want to know what they say. lol. Well, not after my therapist verbally went through her notes with me. She skimmed her notes, so I didn't get the full details, but that was more than enough for me.

I have never been to IP before, so I don't have IP notes. Same with IOP (if they do notes there too).

I've only considered IOP once recently when my depression got severe after a hypomanic/manic crash. I felt I needed to see my therapist very badly everyday, but (1.) both local IOP program websites said the IOP programs were only designed for people with drug and alcohol addictions experiencing an "acute crisis," and (2.) the depression got better within a week once my pdoc increased my rexulti back to 4mg from 2mg after I had complained about being on 4mg in the past. (I guess you can't win 'em all. )

[Victoria'smom]

One of my t's asked me not to request my record for myself. She doesn't think with my distrust of the system would be helped with seeing my record.