I cannot help but feel having a mental health problem negatively effects my quality of heatlh care in other areas.   I have a dr appt tomorrow about my knee and I feel it will end in frustration yet again.    I don't feel heard by many of the health professionals.

ex:

My mom and I both developed dry itchy skin this winter.    Her's was diagnosed by her doctor as a dematitis and treated succesfully.    Mine was diagnosed as an anxiety picking issue.   It was explained to me that the itching was in my head.   Funny the exact same issue my mom was having was not in her head?   Frustrating

My rheumotogist asked me about my medications and then asked me about my mental health when she saw what I was taking.  At the end of the appointment she told me that she did not think she needed to see me any further and that my family doc could request an appointment if I needed one again.   I need one,  and she is now refusing to see me because she is "to busy".    Hummmm...I believe it is because I have a mental illness.   She likely figures it is all in my head.

When my knee first started hurting I could not get a doctor to listen to me.  They dismissed it as being part of my mental health.  "sometimes the body will ache because of mental health".   It took me 2 years to get properly diagnosed with osteoarthritis. 

My rhuemologist refused to believe I had ankylosing spondilitis arthritis,  her boss had diagnosed me years prior.  She said I was just fat and she would be surprised if I had arthritis.  When she took an x-ray it showed AS,   no apology,  just I don't think you have that and she diagnosed me with fibro.   Seriously,   I am not sure I have fibro.   I think she just thinks I am stupid and she cannot be wrong.

My doctor refered me to the arthritis society and put on the referal I had mental health issues.   Why?  I got there,  saw the physiotherapist and he said my joints moved well,  just lose weigh, exercise and yes it is going to hurt but you have to learn to deal with it.   I left feeling like I was being a baby about it.   No follow up required because I was not realy bad.  My pain level has me thinking at times that I cannot take it anylonger and fighting urges to end it to get out of pain.   I cannot wait for it to get worse.   Hummm...perhaps he thinks it is all in my head.

The ortho dr,  had a nurse stand at the open door while he talked to me.   He was nervous.    My chart showed pysch visit but he could not access details because I had it sealed.   He was scared of me and just down played my knee injury as being nothing to worry about.   It was osteo arthritis.   

The sports medicine doctor I know see tells me I am to young for knee replacement surgery.   Just excercise and lose weight.   We had a plan before he found out I had mental health issues.   The plan was, 5 years in a brace,  surgery to increase the gap in my knee which woud give me 10 years and then knee replacement surgery.   Now he knows I have mental health issues,  there is no plan,  surgery is not the answer.   Just lose weight and exercise.    Surgery is major surgery and it should not be done.   I reminded him of the plan and he said there was never a plan in place.    bull crap.

Why is it so difficult to get help when you have mental health issue.   Why do professionals and doctors assume it is all in your head.   My frustration is growing everyday as I try and get relief from the pain in hip and knee.  That is right,  the knee is causing ankle and hip issues now.   The sports doc acknowledges it is being caused by the knee but refuses to entertain the idea of doing anything about it.  

Why bother going to see a doctor?   They just tell you it is in your head or not listen to you or make you feel like you are just being a suck.   It sucks!  

I go see the sports doc tomorrow for a follow up.   It is a huge waste of time.    He will look at my knee.  tell me to lose weight and exercise.   I will tell him I have been in so much pain I have been unable to drive,  never mind exercise.   He will tell me,  it is going to hurt but you have to do it.    They do not get it....I CANNOT MOVE...I CRY IN PAIN and it is NOT IN MY HEAD! 

I want my life back,   I want to be be able to walk around the block.   I want to walk without a cane again.   I want to be able to hike again.  I want to be able to drive again.   This is not a good quality of life!

Sorry...bad night.   Frustrated