Paranoia?

So a few appointments ago (probably like 6 or 7 months ago), I found out where pdoc lived.

He asked how I was doing. I mentioned I had just recently moved and he asked where. When I told him, he says, "Oh we're neighbors. I live in (blank) Estates." I was surpirsed he was so "open" with such information.

But ever since then, I have been overly concerned that I may see him in a grocery store or restaurant near me. I don't know how I would feel about seeing him outside his office. I'm not even sure how I would react.

I don't want to know where pdoc lives. It's not like I googled him and found out myself...he told me. Argh! Now I am even scared to go to my grandma's because 2 or 3 of the houses in (blank) Estates back up to her pasture...what if one of those houses is pdoc's? I might see him in his yard while at my grandma's.

Am I being overly "weird"? Or are my concerns valid?

I don't think it's weird at all. I don't want to see mental health professionals outside of their offices either. I ran into a therapist I used to go to at the grocery store once. She looked so different there, wearing weekend clothes and shopping with her husband - really kind of fragile. I don't know if she saw me or not. She wasn't looking in my direction, and she didn't speak to me. I just ducked down a different aisle. And that was that.

I don't think it's weird, either. In fact, I think it's good you feel you don't want to run into them outside. There are patients who don't get that "personal boundries" thing, (in all medicine fields.)

Once I was at the doctor because I was really sick (turned out to be strep and some other things.) I had to pee in the cup, so as I come out of the bathroom, one of our diabetes patients was standing right there, waiting for me! She says, "Hi! Can I ask you a question about when my next appointment is?" I'm all for good patient care but this was too much.

But, my advice is to ask yourself if it's a big area. You've never seen him before you knew, so there's a good chance you won't see him still. There are a lot of patients who live in my neihborhood that see us, because one of the clinics for my company is only a few blocks from my house. And in the 5 years I've worked here, I've only ever seen one of them at the grocery story (and he didn't see me, I just passed by.)

Yeah I guess it would be kind of weird if you saw each - well maybe awkward not weird.

If that happened to me I'd probably just smile - if it was my Dr though - she wouldn't even know who I was.

I mentioned pdoc telling me to T at my appointment with her that was the day after the one pdoc told me in.

She joked about it and said I should call his clinical cell phone and say, "Hey, meet you at Publix in 10 minutes?"

I was not please with her joke, but I did know she was joking. I haven't brought up my worry over this ever since then. I see her tomorrow morning, maybe it is worth bringing up and seeing her take on it. It's been over 6 months and I am still scared that I might see him (pdoc).

I live on an island that is 5 by 10 miles. I'm so freaked out about running into people that I never leave my house. My fear is a little extreme but it's not a weird fear imo. I think you're just nervous about small talk. You don't even have to acknowledge the pdoc, they are doctors and if you want your public and private life separate they will respect that.

I agree with volitile. Really, when doctors are not on call they just want to go to the store to grab some milk or whatever, like everyone else. You know? So if you don't want to interact in public I'm sure there will be no issues about it.