No Wonder Doctors Label Us--Anxiety

[wingnut19]

Hello to all of you wonderful forum people!

I just found an interesting link while surfing. I just could not believe my eyes when I read ALL the symptoms that having anxiety can make a person feel!  
I am not saying that I agree with it, whatsoever, but it just made me realize that because of so-called "lists" like these, it's no wonder a lot of us LimboLanders are labelled as "anxious", or "crazy" or "stress", etc....
Now please, I am not undermining those people with severe and diagnosed anxiety disorders--I know that is very real, but a lot of doctor's are too quick to use these terms to cover up their own inadequacies!

Here's the link:
http://anxiouslife.tribe.net/thread/6706e212-50e0-42b6-be36-6368c33f8e8f
I hope I made sense, because today is a HUGE brain fog day....Sorry!  :)

Tammy

[wingnut19]

You know what's funny?  I struggled for a LONG time last night on whether or not to post this post because I didn't want to upset anyone....
It looks like it's a good way to vent how we're feeling after all, and I'm glad....

Also, I heard somewhere (could have been here) that doctors have to rule out every possible physical reasons for symptoms before labelling someone with anxiety, don't they?  
JMO--Malpractice is an excellent word for it.....It's a shame!

Tammy

[IUMOM2]

Good thread! Here's another thought. Maybe someone else brought it up too, but it is also quite possible for someone to have anxiety and MS (or another disease). Why does it have to be either/or.

Once they label you as anxious it's as if they want to give up on findng another diagnosis. In my opinion, that is almost mapractice (especially if testing or exams have shown problems). And, of course, if no testing is done they cannot find anything. It makes it easier on them. I'm guessing some of it is the limits that are placed upon them to keep costs down.

JMO

[slightlybroken]

This is kinda like the what came first question,"The chicken or the egg". Some doctors don't seem to get that sometimes, the SX of being sick result in depression not depression causing SX. Then the whole issue is compounded when they can't find any answers to why you feel the way you do.

When I was going to my last neuro, I would call the nurse and practically beg for something for the spasms and pain. They did finally give me something but my neuro's nurse was so rude. She more or less said," You don't have a DX. What do you want me to do about it." You can treat my SX, that's what you can do about it!

It's bad enough having unexplained SX for months that can be painful (who wouldn't suffer from a little depression from that), but add on the way the doctor treats you or the nurse and there you go.

-Tammy
Yes from personal experience in my family the medical field has failed there too. The doctors actions were to just change meds and that was it or in other cases not do anything at all. The result was devastating to say the least.

On different TV programs, they have discussed how not enough care was given to people who have severe mental issues. I'm sure that there is a lot of good places out there that offer the best in care but it doesn't seem like that is the case around here.

[young at heart]

IF A MALE DR. WOULD LOOK AT THE ASPECT OF A WOMENS LIFE THEY WOULD NEVER LABEL US AS DREPRESSED OR WITH ANXIETY.

LETS SEE

WE GET THE KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL
WE CLEAN HOUSE
WE PAY BILLS
WE DO THE SHOPPING
WE DO THE LAUNDRY
WE DO YARD WORK
KIDS COME HOME FROM SCHOOL,WE HERE THEM COMPLAIN ABOUT SCHOOL WORK OR SO AND SO WASN'T NICE
WE DRIVE THEM TO FUNCTIONS
WE DRIVE TEENAGERS TO WORK
WE DO DINNER
WE DO DISHES
HUBBIES COME HOME COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND BEFORE THEY GO TO BED OUR ONCE CLEAN HOUSE LOOKS LIKE A TORNADO.
HOW MANY WANNA HEAR ABOUT OUR DAYS

WHY IN THE SAM HEY-DEY WOULDN'T WE BE DEPRESSED OR SUFFER ANXIETY

WE DO THE SAME **** EVERYDAY,SPEAKING OF ****,SCRUBBING **** OUT OF A TOILET BOWL EVERYDAY IS NOT MY HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY AND THAT DANG TOILET BRUSH AIN'T MY MAGIC WAND !!!!!!!

GEEZ AFTER THAT LIST WE ALL SHOULD BE DEPRESSED !!!!!

T-LYNN

[wonko]

As an undiagnosed, I agree.  My first neuro told me this was all in my head, and wanted to prescribe me Prozac.  I decided to explore that my problems were psychological.  After all, I want to feel better.  I met with 2 therapists who were shocked that the nuero ruled out any physical source to my symtpoms based on a clear mri.  Neither felt I should be on Prozac.  I also went back to my PCP and discussed for about an hour what else this could be, based on the tests and progression.  She just repeated over and over that I need to see another neuro.

Not only did the neuro just not care, but he made me feel so stupid I didn't want to pursue the matter, and it took lots of talk from firends and 3 professionals (2 therapists and my PCP) to finally convince me to make an appt. with a 2nd neuro., scheduled for next week.

It is irresponsible of doctors like this to scare/insult/bully patients (who are already scared!!) into thinking they are wasting the dr.'s time.  The least they could do is admit they are not willing to follow up with these unclear cases.  

Good luck to all, and thanks for posting these thoughts as it helps my ego in its ongoing recovery from my first experience with a neurologist!

[wingnut19]

GREAT POINTS YOU MADE T-LYNN!  

ANOTHER THING IS:  HOW IN THE WORLD CAN WE "NOT" FEEL STRESSED OUT, ANXIOUS, DEPRESSED WHEN OUR LIVES, AS WE USED TO KNOW THEM, ARE NO LONGER THE SAME!
I MEAN, OF COURSE I'M STRESSED OUT----GEESH!

TAKE CARE!
TAMMY  :)

[young at heart]

HECK, I HAD TO ASK MY GP FOR A MILD ANXIETY MED JUST TO DEAL WITH MY NEUROLOGIST AND NEUROSURGEON.BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM THEY WERE SENDING ME OVERBOARD.

I'M VERY FORTUNATE WITH MY NEURO,HE HAS A SMALL PRACTICE AND VERY LAID BACK AND NO NURSES.HE DOES IT ALL HIMSELF.HE HAS A RECEPTIONIST(WHO CAN BE A BAG) AND A BILLING CLERK.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED SEEING HIM HE ASK IF I FELT IF I WAS DEPRESSED,NOPE,IF I FELT IF I HAD ANXIETY,NOPE.HE LEFT IT AT THAT.

AFTER 3 YEARS, AND THE DX OF AA ON TOP OF MS I DO TAKE A MILD ANXIETY MED.

ITS VERY SAD THAT NEURO'S DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO HEAR THEIR PATIENTS,NOR PROPERLLY EXAM THEIR PATIENTS.

T-LYNN

[Heather3418]

This is an EXCELLENT thread.  It allows so many of you to voice your opinions and get out alot of frustration.

This is GREAT!

Heather

[wingnut19]

slightlybroken:  Is that ever true what you said about people who need that psychological care don't get the proper treatment either!  I didn't even think of it from that perspective...Amazing!


zan244:  We wouldn't kick you off for having an opinion!  You should hear what I have said about my doctor!  LOL

Tammy

[zan244]

I do not mean to totally disrespectful to  docs. But they get so caught up with their growing practices, which they have to have to be able to make the quota the clinic or hospital or is requiring them to see so many people everyday.  They get so caught up in making that number that they want to drop a simple label on everything , all in under five minutes, so She/He can move on to the next person.  Humm lets see the patient is complaining of various problems which are all totally unrelated (Except the CNS ya DA)....I think they may be making themselves sick with worry, Prozac? Zoloft? Valium? Xanax?_  

I had a doctor tell me one time that he could never nor can any other physician screen for all he things they should with each patient.  He explained their time limits, the insurance companies money limits, and the small part of the person/patient who came to see the doc but might accept a brush off "You'll be fine in two weeks."  After all, even when you are determined to find out what is going on with your body, it would be nice to believe that with a little b12, some sleep, and scheduled time out, and a touch of pixy dust will just magically make all our aches and pains go away.  

Wow seems like hey might be finding where all the orders for the body are coming from and o shocker, ITS THE CNS!!!!  Now here is were some of he really smart ones do he hand off AKA referral.  They will refer a person who specializes in every single symptom the MSer is having.  And have u ever noticed how offices run you through machines, take your blood, and send you the bill while THE PATIENT calls the front desk, then nurse, then to answering service  trying to find out what the results were and could you explain what that means to.  I gonna have to stop before they kick me off.

[slightlybroken]

I think doctors label people depressed because they don't want to do the WORK in finding out what's really going on. I'm not saying that there isn't people out there that suffer from depression but when a doctor can't figure something out, they jump to the conclusion "It must be in there head DX.'

The ironic thing about this issue is that people who have severe mental illness usually are failed by the medical field too. They aren't taken care of enough and on the other side of the coin, people are labeled depressed and given meds when really they aren't.   The doctors have failed to find out what they are truly suffering from in those cases.

[monotreme]

Yes, sad and disgusting all at the same time.  I am glad you were honest with your answer!

Elaine

[smittygirl]

Just have to add to that, my 2nd neuro asked why the first hadn't done a 2 brain MRI as it had been 2 years since the first.  I just looked at him and said " because she doesn't care".  He just looked at me and said  "you're right and I am so sorry".  Sad isn't it?

Sue

[monotreme]

You know, I am so sick of doctors telling Craig that the spasticity in in his head etc.  So when Craig went to his new PCP last month for the first time, he saw Craig's legs and asked why no neuro has done anything.  So I said, "because they think he is depressed and it is all in his head".  The PCP just dropped his head down into the chart and said a quiet "oh".  He looked embarassed.

We did the same thing when Craig went to the physiatrist.  We told him what the neuros say.  He had the same reaction.  I think that the nice doctors are truly embarassed by the actions of the egotistical lazy doctors.

Elaine

[CtResident]

I'm sure there'd be more if they used a thesaurus!

Suzanne

[wingnut19]

No kidding, huh?  When I read that, I thought, "Wow, there is just about EVERY symptom known to man here!"

So, does that mean that no one has anything wrong and we're all just anxiety ridden?

Sickening

Tammy

[CtResident]

Uh, wow, I think the entire population of the world could fit into this (Jello) mold.

Wobbly in theory?

Suzanne

[wingnut19]

Hi Ada!  :)

What you said, all of it, is sooooooo very true!  It's really heartbreaking and frustrating for all of us....I have not heard that yet from ANY doctor, but it could possibly happen any day, to any of us....You're right, it's sickening!

Another thing that doesn't help is that a lot, (if not most) Neuro's have a "sub-specialty" of Psychiatry.....PFFFTTT!
Take care, Ada!
Love ya right back!
Tammy

[spastic]

I think they have special psych 101 classes in med school.  I had one student today label me with depression.  As if, right?  I think the med students need to take some investigational courses like forensics, even autopsy courses.  Too quick I tell ya when they label LimboLanders with that.  Why can't Dr's see past that?  It makes me sick to my stomach when I hear it.  I can hear the pleas for help, why can't they?  Your not the only one with brain fog today, Tammy!!!!

Love Ya,

Ada