Is it common for doctors to be dismissive?

Unfortunately, yes. Some doctors are dismissive and some are just overworked and overwhelmed. But, if I couldn't get in to see my PCP fairly quickly (within the week) for something that is an active problem (and not just routine), I would probably look around for one that is a little more responsive.

Not all vision problems originate in the eyes. I would think that the fact that your Optometrist doesn't suspect your problem lies within the eyes themselves would throw up some kind of flag for her. If he did suspect your eyes were the problem, a visit to an Opthamologist for a more in depth exam would make sense. But since he doesn't, an visit to your PCP does seem in order. I would go to the PCP your Optometrist recommends. You may find that he is a better fit for your needs.

I would also add that I think she is being dismissive of your Optometrist, a medical professional who has been trained to spot when something might require the attention of a medical doctor (diabetes or high blood pressure for instance). It's not as if your plumber wrote her the letter. That also would give me pause. If I have a problem that requires the cooperation of multiple medical disciplines, I would like to think they would work together. And a PCP is supposed to be sort of the gateway to the rest of your healthcare.

Post Edited (AustenFan) : 1/28/2016 11:04:49 AM (GMT-7)

Thank you all for the replies. I have been going to my PCP for years, she knows about the pain, muscle twitching, TMJ, IBS, headaches, lack of sleep, tinnitus, etc....she has never given me a diagnosis of anything even when all of this escalated last August to the point where I have been unable to lift, take walks, do regular housework, etc...her only recommendation has been to take 25 mg of amitriptyline before bed. As I have also been having problems with low blood pressure and palpitations I have not felt comfortable taking that med and so am waiting to see if I can get a diagnosis and find something else that will help. She is also aware of my blurred and changed vision and I have had two diabetes tests in the last three months, one was a fasting blood that had a result of 97 and one was an A1c test that was normal. All of my blood work; connective tissue panel, diabetes, electrolytes, thyroid, platelet count, etc.; has all been in the "normal" range. My one and only Lyme test came back with only one positive band out of all of them so that was considered normal. I do have arthritis in my neck and lower back but I am very familiar with the type of pain and the location of the pain that it causes - what I have been experiencing in the past few months is WAY out of the normal for me. My optometrist was trying to get her to work together with him to help me manage some of my symptoms and possibly get my vision under control; she is not willing to work with him. He has other patients with fibromyalgia and has gone out of his way to learn about it in order to best serve his patients' needs. If only my PCP would do the same!

Sherrine, I am currently on Lotemax (steroid drops) for my eyes as I suffer from dry eye quite badly, I also use Systane Tears and use both twice daily, the tear drops more if needed. My optometrist has run every test imaginable to mankind and his opinion is that my vision problems are the same as his other patients that have fibromyalgia (and also MS), he tells me that it is in the muscles of my eyes. I do not have irisitis, he has checked every month for four months for that; he has also checked the large artery in my eye in case I had polymyalgia rheumatic which can cause giant cell arteritis and cause blindness. At this point, I feel as if my optometrist is more helpful and more forthcoming with information than my PCP.

I should add that both my brother and my sister have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome; my sister also has a thyroid condition and eye inflammation. Two of my maternal cousins have MS. Ours is a family plagued with autoimmune problems.

Post Edited (downeaster) : 1/28/2016 2:31:02 PM (GMT-7)

Thank you, Sherrine, I hope so too! (I forget sometimes to put everything into one post and only remember it later!)

I have issues with my eyes too. Some days I need my glasses to read, and others I don't.

Doctors can be dismissive. I'm so grateful to have finally found one who is kind, listens, and discusses my fibro symptoms with me with a wealth of understanding. The good ones are out there. It might take time to find the doctor who is really willing to work with you, and click.

Good luck.