![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sonya on December 30, 2005, at 15:18:59
I've got an appointment with a potential new GP. His office sent me paperwork to complete on my history. Naturally, there's a section to check if there's a history of psychiatric assessment, anxiety, depression and psychiatric hospitalization. Yup - all of them could be checked, but should I? I'm also supposed to list meds and who prescribes them (pdoc - which will give away everything anyway). I just don't want my psych history to influence a new GP's assessment of any physical complaints. I'd be very interested in what others would do.
Posted by Phillipa on December 30, 2005, at 22:02:56
In reply to Getting a new GP - to lie or not to lie?, posted by Sonya on December 30, 2005, at 15:18:59
Sonya I would check them but especially list the meds as you are concerned about a rash and he may think it's from a med. And what if decides to prescribe something else? He needs to know what you're on. And not all doctors will treat you like your old GP. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 30, 2005, at 23:19:36
In reply to Getting a new GP - to lie or not to lie?, posted by Sonya on December 30, 2005, at 15:18:59
> I've got an appointment with a potential new GP. His office sent me paperwork to complete on my history. Naturally, there's a section to check if there's a history of psychiatric assessment, anxiety, depression and psychiatric hospitalization. Yup - all of them could be checked, but should I? I'm also supposed to list meds and who prescribes them (pdoc - which will give away everything anyway). I just don't want my psych history to influence a new GP's assessment of any physical complaints. I'd be very interested in what others would do.
I've been thinking about this. What if you annotated those sensitive areas of the application, with e.g. "to be discussed"? So that you have a chance to do a face to face interview. He's interviewing for the job of being your doctor, just as much as you are seeking his training and care. Ask him questions, eye to eye, about whether you'll be treated as a person with physical illness, or a mental person with other problems. Whatever suits your character, but I think you'll be able to do two good things. You can assess his responses to overt questions, but more than that, you also begin to shape your expectations of him. It could be a profoundly good investment in building the relationship you want to have.
Lar
Posted by Sonya on December 31, 2005, at 14:12:10
In reply to Re: Getting a new GP - to lie or not to lie? » Sonya, posted by Larry Hoover on December 30, 2005, at 23:19:36
Excellent suggestion. That's what I'll do. Thank you.
> I've been thinking about this. What if you annotated those sensitive areas of the application, with e.g. "to be discussed"? So that you have a chance to do a face to face interview. He's interviewing for the job of being your doctor, just as much as you are seeking his training and care. Ask him questions, eye to eye, about whether you'll be treated as a person with physical illness, or a mental person with other problems. Whatever suits your character, but I think you'll be able to do two good things. You can assess his responses to overt questions, but more than that, you also begin to shape your expectations of him. It could be a profoundly good investment in building the relationship you want to have.
>
> Lar
>
Posted by Sonya on December 31, 2005, at 14:18:13
In reply to Re: Getting a new GP - to lie or not to lie? » Sonya, posted by Phillipa on December 30, 2005, at 22:02:56
I know you're right in principle, especially because of possible med interactions. My thought was to not reveal my psych history and list that I'm on no medication, then if and when he ever rx's a new med, I'll tell him then what I'm taking.
I stopped the Depakote because I think it was the culprit causing the petechaie.
Posted by spriggy on December 31, 2005, at 19:08:41
In reply to Re: Getting a new GP - to lie or not to lie?, posted by Sonya on December 31, 2005, at 14:18:13
I just had the same problem/dilemma.
I decided against sharing the info with my new doctor for several reasons:
1) I have never been given a formal diagnosis on my mental health
2) I am currently not taking any psych drugs besides a super low dose of Klonopin.
3) My current health problem has nothing at all to do with my mental state- in fact, I imagine it's vice versa (being sick and tired making me depressed/anxious).
4) I have a serious family history of mental illness; father severely BP, mother with major depression with suicidal tendencies and GAD, a sister with ADD and bipolar, and a grandmother that was BP and committed suicide. If I told the doctor all of this, I know exactly how his response would be toward treating me- he would treat me as if I have all of the above as well.It's already happened to me so I've stopped sharing family history about mental illness.
Posted by kid47 on January 11, 2006, at 12:47:23
In reply to Re: Getting a new GP - to lie or not to lie? » Sonya, posted by spriggy on December 31, 2005, at 19:08:41
My doctor and my attorney. If you feel divulging certain info has influenced negatively your docs diagnostic insight, I'd try and find another one you are more comfortable with. I guess I'm lucky. My Dr. is always very thorough when addressing my symptoms and is never presumptuous or patronizing
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Health | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.