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Need Advice - 1st PCP appt Today

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Posted 4/24/2014 11:20 AM (GMT 0)
Today at 12:;45 EST I meet my family dr for the 1st time. This appt was made mainly, I guess, as a 'Meet and Greet' type of thing. Gotta love all the health care changes. I'm on dissability, and Medicaid. This Dr was selected for me, and it took 1.5 months to get in to see her. I need to start somewhere with this Dr, so today is the first appt.

I am torn between disclosing my positive IGeneX test, or not saying anything at all about my LD/co.

I am concerned about saying anything because of all the years of non-belief concerning my mulitple and multiplying health/mental issues that I would tell to all the other docs I've seen through the years.

On one hand I want to tell her, in the hopes that I'd finally get some help. On the other hand, well, how much more abuse from the medical field can I take? I'm experiencing my monthly herxing, and so I'm in a pretty tough place today. I've tracked that every 19 -23 days I get like this, where my mental issues and my physical pain is overwhelming and I'm in a state of crying and distress for about 2-4 days until I'm on the other side. So, right now I'm in that very raw stage.

Thanks in advance. I feel like such a cry baby. : (  But, I'm positive others here get it all to well. This is so tough.

 And, I'm really scared. Before all of this LD stuff, I was a strong, independent and capable person. Now, I feel like a beaten down coward hovering in the corner. I'm afraid to go in there today and get denied, again. I want to think positive thoughts and trust, etc... it's just so much has not helped up to this point with the medical field... well, you know. Prayers would be much appreciated. My faith at this point is hanging on by a thread. I know it will be strong after I get through this cycle and today's appt, but my faith is thin so any prayers and support I could get I would really appreciate. Also, I hope I don't go in there today and have another sudden crying fit. That would really be awful. If that happens, I can only imagine what that Dr would think/say: It's all mental. I think if that would happen, I'd walk out. If I didn't, God help me and what I'd say. It's getting that bad. Not sure how much more I can take.

Thanks again.

Post Edited (In_A_Cocoon_Now) : 4/24/2014 6:00:46 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/24/2014 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for helping me with this concern.

A big thank you to the moderators.

Your help and support is appreciated.
Posted 4/24/2014 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cocoon,
I completely understand, and don't feel anything bad about asking this!!!

Forgive me for not remembering, but Are you in treatment with someone else for your tick-borne infections?

I didn't and won't say a word about having Lyme unless I know that they are Lyme Literate - which doesn't happen in my neck of the woods. Why set myself up for more abuse? It's not like they will be willing to help out anyway.

Heck! I can't even find anyone that wants to help me with my thyroid issues!!

If you are just using this doc to help out with an ingrown toenail kind of thing (things not related to Lyme & company), then there is no reason at all to risk being labeled or abused. You in particular have had enough of that!
Posted 4/25/2014 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
I hate to say it but I'm starting to think full disclosure about lyme does more harm than good. It's so insane and unfair because it's just a diagnosis like any other - shouldn't carry some sort of stigma but here we are...

I always go into it thinking I should tell them all the infections I have because it'll help them give me the best possible quality of care being able to take all of my conditions into account but the reality of the situation is that this isn't what they're going to do - it's not what they're trained to do. They're doctors of medicine - they studied diagnosing and treating conditions, not health and maintaining and restoring health. Unfortunately most of them aren't even going to think anywhere near as thoroughly as the doctor as we do as the patient which is a scary, scary thing.

If you can, I'd try to just describe your illness in their language. Doctors like labels. They don't like the most accurate label of lyme disease but if you approach it at a different angle (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue - if you've also been diagnosed with those as so many of us have) it tends to work out a little easier. I kind of have to explain these things to my doctors because I'm on disability for all of it so they're obviously gonna ask why. Sometimes I sort of act like the diagnosis is still a mystery to me as well and just describe it as having all these nonspecific symptoms (although then you kind of run the risk of them trying to diagnose everything you have as either fibromyalgia or depression, and prescribe accordingly).

I'm sorry you have to go through this - I know exactly how you feel - this exact thing has been plaguing me over and over and over for the last few years (and I have had to see a LOT of new doctors grasping at straws for them to help me with the simplest parts of my healthcare) - I know it's hard but it will be over before you know it and then you can move on. Just remember that it's the system that's the problem, not you. You just unfortunately have to go through the motions of a really crappy system. Hang in there!
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