[Mountaindewed]

I sent her an email asking if we could reschedule because I was not feeling good and I thought it might have been an upset stomach from the advil I shouldnt be taking because of kidney issues. I've had muscle aches and a headache since last Thursday but I stopped the advil yesterday. I was just in a lot of pain last week and advil is the one thing that really works.

From that email she somehow thinks I've taken too many advils and I need intervention and an ER trip. Wtf. No I dont. I just don't feel good and I don't want to not have a productive session or be charged for missing it.

I sent her another one explaning things in more detail

But I dont get how they read into this kind of stuff.

[LonesomeTonight]

Sorry you're dealing with that. I think some T's are just really jumpy about possible attempts. Or taking unsafe amounts or combinations of meds, even if accidental. Maybe she had something happen with a past client who took too much Advil, for example?

It seems like something that would be good to talk about next session, how she reacts if you share things like this. Maybe you could come up with some sort of agreement where you'd tell her if it was something you thought was unsafe? I hope she got back to you and was willing to reschedule--and that she won't charge you.

[sarahsweets]

Hey @Mountaindewed I have seen quite a few times where you self medicate or "play" with your meds. What makes you think you do not need some sort of intervention? Think of it from your T's pov: a client willy nilly takes what she feels she wants without consulting anyone. I would be concerned too.

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

I sent her an email asking if we could reschedule because I was not feeling good and I thought it might have been an upset stomach from the advil I shouldnt be taking because of kidney issues. I've had muscle aches and a headache since last Thursday but I stopped the advil yesterday. I was just in a lot of pain last week and advil is the one thing that really works.

From that email she somehow thinks I've taken too many advils and I need intervention and an ER trip. Wtf. No I dont. I just don't feel good and I don't want to not have a productive session or be charged for missing it.

I sent her another one explaning things in more detail

But I dont get how they read into this kind of stuff.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

Hey @Mountaindewed I have seen quite a few times where you self medicate or "play" with your meds. What makes you think you do not need some sort of intervention? Think of it from your T's pov: a client willy nilly takes what she feels she wants without consulting anyone. I would be concerned too.

And dewd recently said they wanted to meet with not sure which t to plan out a good eat sleep med schedule. So are they getting in their own way, like self-sabotage? That is to me very hard to stop.

[SprinkL3]

If taking different meds are due to dissociation, maybe trying to do a team approach with your doctors and therapist will help. At the VA, Vet Center, and those who are connected to that (my T is also a veteran, so she is aware of both, and she used to work for both before she went back into private practice) makes sure that my entire health is working harmoniously with one another. So I try to now stay coconscious, grounded, and in communication with my entire treatment team at all three different institutions. It works great, though I sometimes get embarrassed about some stuff (like flatulence issues, for example). But perhaps that is what Mountaindew might need if there are periods of time she is unaware of - either through the result of medication causing loss of memory or something, or through dissociation (not necessarily a dissociative disorder, but sometimes it happens when we're stressed, traumatized, or triggered/retraumatized).

I just thought I'd throw this out there in case this might relate.

If this does NOT apply, just ignore this.

[Mountaindewed]

I explained things to her. Then she replied back about half an hour later and said "thanks for clairfying." Then she said I could cancel but I'd still be charged. Yet they get to cancel all the time and we're just supposed to deal with it

But there is no sabotage or anything going on. I just really don't feel good. My therapist wants me to ask my doctor for a food allergy blood work test to see if something I'm eating is causing issues.

[SprinkL3]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

I explained things to her. Then she replied back about half an hour later and said "thanks for clairfying." Then she said I could cancel but I'd still be charged. Yet they get to cancel all the time and we're just supposed to deal with it

But there is no sabotage or anything going on. I just really don't feel good. My therapist wants me to ask my doctor for a food allergy blood work test to see if something I'm eating is causing issues.

I'm sorry you are struggling so much, Mountaindewed. (((safe hugs)))

I think your T is correct in asking your doctor for tests. It could be food allergies or something else, and hopefully the meds didn't interact with each other to affect your liver or kidneys. Seeing a GI specialist couldn't help either, if you qualify for an upper and lower endoscopy, for instance.

I'm glad there's no self-sabotage or self-injury going on. That's a good sign.

The self-medication thing is something everyone does whenever they find an over-the-counter product to alleviate symptoms they are feeling. The problem is when we don't know how those OTC meds will interact with one another or with the foods, herbs, or prescriptions we are also consuming. A doctor can help answer that.

I hope you feel better. Tummy problems are the worst, as are other physical problems. I've had to deal with irritable bowl syndrome most of my life, as well as GERD/acid reflux. I used to have ulcers, and I also have undiagnosed GI issues.

I won't know more about my GI issues until I turn 50 or so, when a colonoscopy will be required. I was supposed to have one done in 2019, but I moved and the new doctors won't prescribe that to me until I turn 50. So I'm waiting for that time, if I survive this pandemic.

Polyps might be an issue as well for many people, but only an upper endoscopy or lower endoscopy (colonoscopy) will reveal any intestinal issues or other digestive system issues from the inside. Those are more severe tests though. It might be something to consider speaking about with your primary care physician when you see them next.

Please be safe with the medications, and I hope you feel better.

[sarahsweets]

Watch out for Your Kidneys When You Use Medicines for Pain | National Kidney Foundation
Painkiller Choices with Kidney or Heart Problems | Choosing Wisely
Painkillers and the Kidneys: Analgesic Nephropathy

[Mountaindewed]

She wasnt mad she was basically just like "next time dont go into so much detail in your email. Just say you want to reschedle/cancel. Not why." Because she thought it was a crisis email and she knows I have a history of sending those to other therapists.

[Rive.]

Glad it got sorted out but she might have freaked out reading this

it might have been an upset stomach from the advil I shouldnt be taking because of kidney issues.

It does read as rather scary, coming from a client.

[stopdog]

Why do you keep telling them if you don't want them to act like therapists and over-react and threaten you?

[Mountaindewed]

Originally Posted by stopdog

Why do you keep telling them if you don't want them to act like therapists and over-react and threaten you?

Because I wasn't trying or meaning to tell her anything bad. Just why I wasn't feeling good. I have a bad habit of oversharing.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I don't think there's such thing as over-sharing in therapy.

I don't know why you decided to share that information with your T. I do wonder what you thought you would gain from sharing. Empathy? Concern? Love? Acceptance? Maybe you wanted her to be concerned, to care, but not to overreact?

I think the issue, however, is that you do seem to have a medication issue: running out, taking too many, taking the wrong ones. I think your Ts reaction is appropriate. My Ts would react the same if I had a history similar to yours.

[Mountaindewed]

Originally Posted by ScarletPimpernel

I don't think there's such thing as over-sharing in therapy.

I don't know why you decided to share that information with your T. I do wonder what you thought you would gain from sharing. Empathy? Concern? Love? Acceptance? Maybe you wanted her to be concerned, to care, but not to overreact?

I think the issue, however, is that you do seem to have a medication issue: running out, taking too many, taking the wrong ones. I think your Ts reaction is appropriate. My Ts would react the same if I had a history similar to yours.

Ok this is gonna sound super strange. But the reason I went into so much detail was because I really wasnt feeling good and I didnt want to get charged a late fee so I figured giving her all the details would make me sound like I was being legit and she would know I really was sick and wouldnt charge me.

Thats why I went into so much detail. Not to get sympathy or anything. I just honestly didnt want to do the session but I didnt have the money not to do it either if I was still getting a fee.

[SprinkL3]

@Mountaindewed - ((((safe hugs)))) Just stopped by to give you a cyberhug, in case you needed it.