Sick of not getting help because of my diagnosis

It seems like every time I see a dr for a medical issue they just say it is because I am bipolar and just have adjust my meds. I have been sick since March and all results having improved for kidney and liver function but heart tests haven’t. I am biding my time before they say it is just in my head because they can’t figure it out. The dr at the hospital put me on a psych consult saying I belonged in the psych ward and wasn’t worth his time. 4 drs said I needed to be there but he claimed he cured me but he never told anyone what I have.

The bias is killing me. I only have one dr that said it is not in my head since my blood work is way above normal.

In my experience, doctors have a very-very-very hard time saying, "I don't know what's wrong." You're a psych patient, so it's easy for them to defer to that.

What frustrates me is how western medicine separates the mind from the body.

It's pretty ridiculous to deny that something is off, since your bloodwork is abnormal.

I've also found out that with doctors sometimes the patient has to be extremely assertive and just plain not give up until there's a satisfactory answer.

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. The medical system can be extremely frustrating . Do you have a regular primary care doctor and/or psychiatrist? Or a therapist? I've found that your regular doctors can be advocates if they've known you for a while. I agree with Beth in that you often have to take things into your own hands and keep looking until you find someone you can work with. That is what I had to do to get the right psychiatrist and primary care doc.

It doesn't help when a lot of doctors these days only do it for the paycheck. I'm a PharmD. I see it all the time.

Unfortunately patients are just numbers to most doctors and nurses.

I am a person not a diagnosis.

I just went back to my old dr that I had for 20 years. She is as frustrated as I am.

I would be too

I'm having a similar experience. It's like one of these psych wards from hell in the movies. Once people decide you're crazy (i.e. as soon as they know your diagnosis), there's absolutely nothing you can say or do to convince them otherwise. Then if you get angry, sad, or frustrated, they just take it as further proof that you're crazy. It's cruel.

I had the opposite issue and my primary was saying something was medically wrong and all my mental health care providers were saying it was just anxiety and in my head. So now I believe that it is just anxiety even though I’m still having physical issues.

I’m sorry you have experienced this bias. It’s cruel and wrong. I have also been misdiagnosed and significant medical issues have been dismissed. I could write more details but I think I’ll just leave it here for now.

I’m a person, not a diagnosis. exactly.

I’m so sorry. I’ve had this problem too. My shortness of breath was blown off as anxiety until it became severe. It was cancer. After chemo and radiation my shortness of breath and the loud noises my lung made which I recorded because no one believed me were considered anxiety and made up. Had a CT scan after a doctor heard the noise. Lung damage from radiation. I ended up with a bronchoscopy and got a diagnosis. Jerks

I feel like medical doctors are terrible to people with mental illness or addictions. They see your meds and form an opinion before walking in your room. God forbid you are honest about stuff they are suspicious. Not all doctors. I finally have some good ones now but it took 20 years. The ER is the worst. After terrible stuff I wont go there unless my leg falls off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahsweets I feel like medical doctors are terrible to people with mental illness or addictions. They see your meds and form an opinion before walking in your room. God forbid you are honest about stuff they are suspicious. Not all doctors. I finally have some good ones now but it took 20 years. The ER is the worst. After terrible stuff I wont go there unless my leg falls off.

Agreed.