Since I’m new to the forum, would like to add that I suffer from Gastroparesis, which is basically a stomach paralysis disease. Every time I go to the E.R, which has been 8 times in the past 3 months, the doctors always ask for my previous diagnoses. Is it okay if I DON’T tell them I am schizophrenic? I’m sure they have it in the records by now, but I’m so afraid that the doctors will treat me differently or refrain from giving me the pain medicine I need if I tell them this.
Anyone in the medical field have a suggestion?
I know it’s best to always be honest, but I hate the judgmental glances.
I don’t tell the physical docs about my diagnosis… when I go in for minor injuries, swimmers ear or recently… felt like I broke my foot… I didn’t say a word about my Sz.
Do you take meds for this? That would be the only thing. You want to make sure they are compatible. All you would have to tell the doctor is what meds you are currently taking.**
Well I technically take Klonopin for anxiety. Prescribed. I could just say I have an anxiety disorder, but I’m usually in so much pain when I visit, that I fear they will think I’m just having a panic attack. I’d rather just tell them the meds, but if I say klonopin then they will know what it is for. If I say I’m schizophrenic they could just think I’m a drug seeker or lying or being delusional. I don’t know how much knowledge E.R docs actually have with mental illnesses. The hospital I go to doesn’t really have any mental facilities if I’m correct, not too sure. haven’t had to use them yet.
Well hopefully since my blood work has shown up clean the last … 5 or so visits? they will trust that I’m not drug seeking and give me the pain medicine that I actually need. A paralyzed stomach is extremely painful. I read a post somewhere about not comparing it to cancer (ex. “At least it’s not cancer!”.)
What’s weird though about the hospital that I go to, is that they prescribed me dilaudid and morphine in the same few hours when my blood test shouldn’t have come up clean and instead positive for dilaudid already. Maybe they just don’t know what they’re doing haha, or maybe they realize how painful a disease it is. Or maybe they assumed I was self-medicating the pain.
Either way, I’ve gotten my pain meds each visit, no big issue about it. I just would like an alternative to saying I am schizophrenic every time I visit. haha.
When I went to the Emergency Room for an allergic reaction to this imported Green Tea - I did tell the Head Nurse about my SZA diagnosis - the Hospital sent a security guard to “keep watch” of me when I was waiting in the room for hours - the Emergency room doctor kept saying to me that I was doing good - referring to my quiet and polite behavior (he seemed surprise) Yes even doctors carry on to stigma
Sore throat? My Sz
Feeling run down? My Sz
Small fever? Must be a med side effect
Itchy skin? Must be a med side effect
All those little red dots? Again… Sz and med side effect
Then my sis got little red dots too…
Official second opinion? I caught chicken pox from my toddler sister.
It was amusing to see how very angry my Mom was. She wrote this Doc and others that we… this 7 person family will never be using their services again if the docs can’t even figure out a common childhood illness.