Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
Have you ever felt that you've gotten poor physical health care because of your mental health diagnosis/diagnoses?
Here is an experience I had yesterday that was really unnerving...
Last week I went and had a new birth control device implanted in my arm. Well, without thinking about what it could be, I began to get dizzy and lightheaded while hiking. We were at 9300 ft - didn't think much of it. Also fell into an awful depression after having been stable for 4 months. Monday I was at the gym and got dizzy and lightheaded after just one weight machine - not even cardio. Had to grab onto the machine next to me as I stood.
My husband finally figured out it might have something to do with the new thing shooting hormones into me. I looked up the side effects and dizziness, weakness, lightheadedness and depression were all common. I called my GYN and she said I was probably just anemic, tho I take iron every day and have never been anemic. Test came back negative. I decided I wanted the thing out of me.
Oh my gosh, my GYN and her nurse made me feel SO psycho and acted as if I were imagining it. She had the nerve to say that I probably was just feeling these things because I had read the side effects. I told her I had all the symptoms and that is WHY I read the side effects. By the way, she had told me that there were no real side effects. Also, I signed up for a class to become permanently "fixed" and the nurse said that there are NO side effects (no hormones) but if I "feel or think" side effects are occurring, it is irreversible so there is nothing they can do. Like I was dreaming this all up. Then, my GYN tells me that the device cost my HMO $600 and they might bill me for it!! So are you telling me that if someone has a procedure that their body doesn't agree with and it has to be reversed, they will have to pay out-of-pocket?? C'mon! I basically told her "my arse" (not really - I am terribly passive) and said, "Please take this out of me". She was NOT gentle in the procedure and meanwhile spoke to me in such a demeaning way.
I felt like I was getting lousy health care because my mental health diagnoses stand out like a sore thumb in these situations. Not the first time. I'm not really as mad as I am hurt and embarrassed. Just feel really belittled over it all. (God bless my husband for ALWAYS believing me). Scared for what's to come down the road. I already pay the price with having ADDICT stick out in my charts - BIPOLAR, BPD, GAD, OCPD..those don't seem to help either. At least my primary care doc talks to me like I'm human and not psycho. Arrrgh.
Here is an experience I had yesterday that was really unnerving...
Last week I went and had a new birth control device implanted in my arm. Well, without thinking about what it could be, I began to get dizzy and lightheaded while hiking. We were at 9300 ft - didn't think much of it. Also fell into an awful depression after having been stable for 4 months. Monday I was at the gym and got dizzy and lightheaded after just one weight machine - not even cardio. Had to grab onto the machine next to me as I stood.
My husband finally figured out it might have something to do with the new thing shooting hormones into me. I looked up the side effects and dizziness, weakness, lightheadedness and depression were all common. I called my GYN and she said I was probably just anemic, tho I take iron every day and have never been anemic. Test came back negative. I decided I wanted the thing out of me.
Oh my gosh, my GYN and her nurse made me feel SO psycho and acted as if I were imagining it. She had the nerve to say that I probably was just feeling these things because I had read the side effects. I told her I had all the symptoms and that is WHY I read the side effects. By the way, she had told me that there were no real side effects. Also, I signed up for a class to become permanently "fixed" and the nurse said that there are NO side effects (no hormones) but if I "feel or think" side effects are occurring, it is irreversible so there is nothing they can do. Like I was dreaming this all up. Then, my GYN tells me that the device cost my HMO $600 and they might bill me for it!! So are you telling me that if someone has a procedure that their body doesn't agree with and it has to be reversed, they will have to pay out-of-pocket?? C'mon! I basically told her "my arse" (not really - I am terribly passive) and said, "Please take this out of me". She was NOT gentle in the procedure and meanwhile spoke to me in such a demeaning way.
I felt like I was getting lousy health care because my mental health diagnoses stand out like a sore thumb in these situations. Not the first time. I'm not really as mad as I am hurt and embarrassed. Just feel really belittled over it all. (God bless my husband for ALWAYS believing me). Scared for what's to come down the road. I already pay the price with having ADDICT stick out in my charts - BIPOLAR, BPD, GAD, OCPD..those don't seem to help either. At least my primary care doc talks to me like I'm human and not psycho. Arrrgh.
Who wants to go back to someone who thinks you are dreaming up symptoms tho?? There's gotta be some level of trust, bipolar or not!!
Yes, I recently went through something similar with my "other doctor that I don't have anymore". They are not going to admit when a med or procedure effects us adversely. They take it as a reflection on them and their almightiness when we question a treatment.
Recently after a plethora of med side effects my "other doctor" actually screamed at me, "Don't test your blood sugars at home. "I" am keeping up with your blood sugars!!" He denied to the end that the med had anything to do with my blood tests and CT scans being abnormal. My family dismissed me as "in her head".
Now I ask you - Who has more mental issues than I do? Blood tests don't lie or make things up in their head. Like you, thank God I have a husband that can "see" me and believes in me.
You are not avoiding. You are being your own health advocate. I admire your strength and belief in yourself.
After a click-click here and a click-click there, I now have a doctor that treats me with respect and his staff is very kind and professional. My family have been put in a time out. Peace and recovering health have been restored. It will be for you, too.
((hugs)) It will be ok. There are good people out there.