[chaosrob]

I had just about given up on talking to doctors about anything. I went in to see my family practitioner in order to get a DNR signed and when he asked me why he started to talk about all these things he could do to try to help me.

I suffer from a variety of different pains and for the most part it has become difficult to know what is an actual symptom and what is just an oddity that isn't worth mentioning.

How do I talk to him without it sounding like I'm depressed and having him refer me to a psychiatrist. I've been through all the treatments and I know the routine better than most specialists.

I really am unsure what route I want to take, some days I just don't care and others I have so many ideas for tests and treatments. Usually my tests don't turn up much and it's too expensive to try to check everything.

Not sure if I should just stop going or try to talk to him again about it. I just don't feel like seeing a shrink is going to benefit me any.

[Omers]

can a lawyer do a DNR? I am clueless but it was the firstthing that came to mind.

[shezbut]

Hi chaosrob,

There isn't anything wrong with filling out that paperwork now. Better now, than after an accident, imo.

Doctors and staff typically don't ask for those papers to be filled out, unless you're about to be undergoing a major surgery. Staff at my hospital recommended that I fill the papers out before I had brain surgery. That's when it hit me, that the operation was pretty major.

A lot of things have changed in the 5 years post-op, and I really need to re-do my paperwork. I have to call the hospital, that I'm associated with, and ask to make a few changes to my will. They will then have my wishes in my file, for doctors to follow, if I ever were unable to express my wishes (and my family had different wishes for me).

If you haven't filled any papers out yet, go to your usual hospital ~ the one that your doctors work with ~ and ask for the paperwork regarding care decisions for the future.

Best wishes to you ~ hope things improve for you soon!

[Perna]

I would just have full blood and urine tests and see, what, if anything came up and work on that. Otherwise I'd start my own serious exercise and nutrition programs to see if I couldn't help how I felt. I know my aches and pains finally got a lot better when we discovered I had low Vitamin D.

There are a lot of other options for depression than just meds. If I thought I were depressed I'd try some of those, first make sure other bodily medical problems weren't in the way and then research vitamins, nutrition, exercise, etc. If I thought talking might help I'd find a less expensive counselor (since I've had a lot of therapy all ready and resolved most of my "life" problems) and decide on what I thought was my most pressing issue to work on, see if I could get behavioral changes in place to help with whatever it was.

[salukigirl]

I think it's smart to think about those things before the time comes and tell your doctor to mind his own damn business. Heck, I'm only 23 and have thought about at least writing down my wishes because you never know what happens. Granted, no one would take me seriously if I attempted to do it the legal way since I have really no possessions but still......I understand his concern but at the same time, it's also his duty as a doctor to do his patient's wishes. Some patients refuse other kinds of treatment for cancer or other things and they have to do it. Unless you are in there speaking suicidal thoughts to the point where he HAS to do something I would just be adamant. You know yourself better than he does. Docs kept misdiagnosing me and I wanted an EEG done and no one would do it. Finally I had to tell them to suck it and order the stupid test and look at that...I was right and they were wrong. Docs don't always know best. And if he still wont budge I would just go straight to a lawyer. Good luck getting this figured out.