I wasnt sure where to put this so if it belongs somewhere else, mods, please feel free to place in a better location.

I have been thinking about this since yesterday at the surgeon's office...

Being a new patient, I had to read and fill out that standard pile of papers: 3/4 legalese, insurance info and payment promises, etc; 1/4 health history.

In the health history section (one sheet, last page in the pile), a question came up regarding "serious illness(es)".

It never occcurred to me to list mental health issues for which I receive meds and go to pdoc. Sure, I listed the hideous bout with gerd and stomach ulcers over 15 years ago and the endoscopy and overnight hospital stay, but I did not list anything else.

Under the current Rx section, of course, I listed my daily med, but it was just sitting there all by itself. I figured the type of medication pretty much tells the story (issue).

Why didnt I list my Dx as part of "serious illness"? My brain is hurt and/or overactive in certain areas, and that is pretty serious. But as I sat there, I sort of weighed it all out...and I wondered to myself why I didnt include my brain as part of the rest of my body. I thought of my grandpa that suffered from Parkinsons and our family friends that suffered from ALS and Alzheimer's and dementia...those are also illnesses of the brain.

The illness in my brain for which I receive treatment is more complicated to me. It isnt "just" severe anxiety, (sometimes) deep depression, SI, panic attacks, racing heart, weakness in legs, hyperventilating, stomach aches; anx/panic sometimes so debilitating that I cannot walk & I need to take a nap after the episode cuz I am so exhausted...

But it seems more "my story", a recounting of my life instead of a serious illness (which I find very serious). But which I didn't find applicable at the time.

Until I was escorted back to radiology and then the exam room and I started to feel panicky and triggered by memories of spending all that time with my F in the hospital during cancer treatment or visiting with my grandfather almost daily for months while he was in assisted living and then hospital for his final days. I felt the familiar symptoms of panic: feeling lightheated, sweaty, cold, scared, feeling as I could faint... memories flooding back that I was trying to keep at bay. Thankfully, they kept the door open while I was waiting for doctor. I could see the nurses, staff, a few other patients walking down the hall. It made me feel less alone. And if I did faint, they would find me.

I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on this... do you separate your head / brain from the rest of your body? Do you consider MI a different kind of serious illness? Do you feel there are degrees? Categories? Etc?

By not listing MI, did I contribute to continuing the stigma of MI? That I downplayed something that affects me?

Looking forward to reading your thoughts.

Hmm. I haven't started with a new medical doctor since I have been on psych meds/treatment/therapy, etc., so I haven't had to fill out initial paperwork for a medical doctor other than a psychiatrist. I have a had several procedures/tests through the hospital and was admitted for gall bladder surgery a couple of years ago. In those cases, I didn't really "fill out" paperwork, and it was more of an interview and the nurses filled out the information. Like you say, my meds sort of spoke for themselves at the time and I just gave them my psychiatric diagnosis while we talked. Now currently, I'm not on any psych meds and I probably wouldn't really include my psych history unless a specific question asked about it since drug interactions, etc. really aren't a factor right now.

[Perna]

Usually I have problem with that sheet of medical history because they have checkboxes for various stuff and the checkboxes don't tell enough of a story or are out-of-date. Yeah I have "anxiety" but. . .

[splitimage]

Hmm - Rose, you brought up some good questions - ones I've asked myself. On Dr's forms and stuff I usually do list my depression and PTSD, I mean I figure my meds list pretty much gives it away anyhow.

What I related to in your post was the question of "serious". I just don't view my MI / alcoholism as being that "serious", yes there have been periods of my life when they've been very bad, and I really struggle with staying sober, but by and large when I'm not drinking I function ok. When I hear "Serious" in conjunction with MI - I tend to think things like schizophrenia.

Yet I've had my addictions DR, tell me multiple times that I have a very severe form of alcoholism. When I was last doing an IOP for mental Illness, they tried to set me up with a community treatment team, which in Penny pinching ON, is seriously reserved to those with a serious mental illness. I told the RN's that I didn't think I was that sick & they all responded with "oh yes you are." And I've had several nurses and my psychiatrist refer to me as suffering from a sever illness.

So clearly they think it's severe. So why do I downplay it in my head? I don't know - maybe it's because I'm scared to admit how much it's affected me. Maybe it's because I need to keep believing that I will be able to get back into the workforce and work at a fairly senior level again. Maybe my own internalized stigma has something to do with it.

splitimage

[Mike_J]

It's hard to decide if you want to list mental health issues when dealing with a non mental health situation. Does depression really matter if you have a broken leg, probally not, but then it might or might not if you were going in for an ulcer. Depression causing stress, leading to the ulcer, or maybe there is no connection, would be sort of a case by case sort of thing.

I used to put my depression down on everything but now I'm seeing that as a bit of a mistake, medical records are not nearly as private as you might think, so these days unless they specifically ask about mental health I don't put anything down.

[lizardlady]

Rose, I probably would not have listed my mental health dx as a "serious illness." To me a "serious" illness means something lifethreatening or something that required hospitalization. My depression is under control thanks to my meds (and years of hard work in therapy!). I wouldn't list it as a serious illness. Like you, I pretty much figure my med list tells the doctor I'm taking psychotropic meds. Now, if the form asks for any medical conditions I am receiving treatment for I do list depression, along with a laundry list of other problems I have.

You asked if you were furthering stigma of mental illness by not listing it. In my opinion you didn't.