Would You Let Sleeping Dogs Lie?
By Brian
@wolfie34 (26771)
United Kingdom
June 3, 2007 3:36pm CST
This is a follow on from 'Do you have a rapport with your GP' you know me I'm a worrier and I've been festering about this all weekend and I'm due to see her on Tuesday
The report in concern was made in August 2006 and she has tried to get referrals for me to get some help, but sadly counseling is not easy to come by and I certainly don't want to see another pyschiatrist.
However if I confront her about the report will it do me any good? A good friend of mine said leave alone, let sleeping dogs lie, if I start digging it up again then it could cause a lot of heartache, trouble
My housemate wants me to get legal aid and sue the practice and for what they've written about me, but this I am not happy to do, I don't want the fight, he does but if I don't get that report off my record it'll be haunting me for the rest of my life.
After speaking to him I thought NO, I won't say a thing and as time goes on it'll be past history, if I start discussing it with my GP it'll be dredged up again
Sorry but I'm real sick with worry, I'm due to start work next week after four years and I don't want anything going wrong for me.
Any advice real appreciated on this one!
6 people like this
11 responses
@patootie (3592)
•
3 Jun 07
It's a tricky situation for certain .. but they know you've had a copy of your notes .. and I am sure they'll be expecting some kind of 'discussion' from you ..
Could you possibly bring it up in a way that shows you read it .. and that it's causing you problems .. but that was then and this is now ..
Perhaps say something like .. you realise you weren't as well then as you would like to be or indeed are now .. thankfully that's all in the past .. but that unfortunately it's causing a few problems with work .. and would she be prepared to reassess or update what she wrote last year ...
1 person likes this
@egfitz62150 (645)
• United States
4 Jun 07
Don't tell her you're "worried." Tell her you are "concerned" that without an update about how well you are doing now, and that you are capable of working, that it might affect your chances at getting a job. It's supposedly part of their goals to get you better enough to hold a job -- after all, part of our self-esteem and general well-being is being able to support ourselves by working. On the other hand, I've never had an employer question my doctor about anything, except when I've had to miss work for surgery. I know that working with children probably puts you under a microscope, but depression shouldn't be an issue. I wouldn't say anything to prospective employers about your medical history -- unless they ask specific questions. Still, I'd volunteer nothing. It's one thing to be checked for pedophilia arrests, quite another to be checked for depression. If every depressed person were denied employment, there'd be only about 20 people working in the whole country!!
@RosieS57 (889)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Truthfully I doubt Legal Aid will take the case. Legal Aid really does exist to move things along in the courts and not for the actual representation of people without lots of money. Trust me on this one. If they did a good job my son wouldn't have a pittance for child support each month. It's a rubber stamp agency, ok? I'm saving you grief and trouble by clueing you in.
As for the depression -- as long as you don't have absenteeism at your new job and you can do the job then your being a depressive makes no difference...doesn't matter what the GP has written, they can't look at it under HIPPA rules.
My hubby is bi-polar and does the job and doesn't miss work so all is fine and can be with you, too. Try not to worry.
My recommendation is don't fight, switch docs.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
3 Jun 07
Thank you for that, that is very reassuring, one question if I may, because I'm out of touch for four years with employers can I just clarify
DO NEW EMPLOYERS ASK FOR YOUR DOCTORS DETAILS, or need to write to them for any reason? Like a reference or details about my depression
Thanks again!
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
3 Jun 07
Employers can't look at those kinds of records! So starting work won't be a problem for you with this on your records. Heck, if employers could see those sorts of things, I wouldn't be able to get a job anywhere. I've been in and out of therapy my whole life because of PTSD from abuse I suffered as a child.
Even if they did find out somehow, it still probably wouldn't be a problem. I even told my direct supervisor at one point that I needed to come in late once in a while to go to therapy, and she was really supportive of me. Unless there were actually some reason to think you were a real danger to anyone, I can't imagine why it would be an issue.
I really don't think it's worth going to court to change your records. The only people who can see those things are other doctors, so it's not going to affect any other parts of your life. But if you were really upset at your GP over this, you might think about seeing a different one in future, if it's possible.
1 person likes this
@aprilgrl (4460)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Just being yourself and yet I think you should tell her that something is bothering you. I know I am a worry wart. When you start back to work maybe things will be ok and try not to worry to much. Take care and do what you think it's right.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I am not familiar with a potential employer's right to delve into your mental status unless there is a necessity for it...but as with your previous discussion, my friend...I agree that there is no benefit that I can think of for attempting to be confrontational about this notation in your medical records....I spent 10 years as a nurse and what may be seen by one physician may not be shared by another licensed GP....it has been a year since this notation....so obviously it does not pose a current issue...or it would have been written all over the place....I hope that you understand what I am saying, Wolfie...
1 person likes this
@bananamanuk (835)
•
4 Jun 07
First off I don't like the sound of trying to sue the practice. You may not have an ideal relationship with your GP, in which case, could you not simply look for another one. Personally I think in light of the fact that you are starting a new job, it might be a good idea just to let things lie, put your efforts into concentrating on the new job and things might start to see a lot different.
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Wolfie, I know that you tend to put off things that are unpleasant. I know this well and you know why. lol. You need to talk with her or it will eat at you forever. Start by saying "May I talk to you about something that is bothering me?" Then just tell her how you feel. You can do it wolfie. I have faith in you :) You always will be my good friend :) Dont fret about things so. xxxx
1 person likes this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
4 Jun 07
That is strange to me what your partner said, about suing the practice, they only wrote what they think professionally, didn't they?
Now you have a problem, with what they wrote, and that is understandable.
I am sure that if i was in your position and saw what the doctor wrote about me i would have a problem dealing with it too.
I still can not understand why they let you look at this stuff, did they not know you will have a problem with that?
I think that you must open up things and talk about it with your doctor.
Just tell her/him the truth, and see what happens.
You can not keep all of this inside of you, it is not good for you wolfie.
@herrbaggs (1308)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Yes I have some advise, quit messing with doctors they are all a bunch of dips. As someone close to me once said, Doctors are just highly specialised technicians. What they are really good at is convincing you that they know a whole lot more than they do and then billing you accordingly. My cousin who I lived with for a while was a shrink and the one thing he told me was how very little difference thier was in any of us. If I may ask, what kind of work are you going to start after 4 years? Oh yes sue the practise about what they have written a bout you, I have already been down that road and would sure like to hear the follow up. If what you are writing is factual you need not worry about anything going wrong it already has.
1 person likes this
