Do you fear Doctors?

[Ronald Zeeman]

Just found a good dentist, my stroke sensitized my mouth. previous dentists did not understand asked lots of questions let them know I do not put up with arrogance you are the second brightest person in the room I need implants dry mouth if you want real money implants pricy listen to me or my wife's instructions or we walk.

 

[The Pandector]

800 years old and still Britain's best contribution to the world.

You're welcome

Better than the Beatles? Gimme a break.

 

[Jeff T]

Don't fear them.
Going to the dentist isn't looked forward to, unless a tooth's gone supernova.
He's been my dentist for over 40 years. I have to go in often to have the teeth cleaned, root canals, implants and crowns.
The various regular doctors in the HMO I belong to have been pretty good. The mental health division is overworked but is good too. They have a lot of classes that can be attended to by remote.

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

Not really afraid of doctors but I am afraid of the idea of getting a prostrate exam which is the result of being sexually assaulted for months.

 

[Masked Man]

I don't have a fear of doctors - I work with quite a lot of them. They are regular human beings. They are very good at their jobs. The issue some of them have is that they are not very good at recognizing that they have to sometimes alter their delivery depending on their audience. In order words, they're not always good at reading a room. I think the specialists do this more than the general practitioners.

I think some patients are afraid of doctors because they are afraid of being scolded. It's like when children do the wrong thing, and they know it's the wrong thing, and they're afraid of their parents finding out.

I also think people fear facing evidence of their own mortality and frailty.

 

[grommet]

I have a terrible fear of doctors. It is so bad I have stayed away even when I thought I might have something life threatening.

I am not afraid of needles or test or examinations, or even surgery. It is the communication. They are not autistic and we cannot understand each other. I am literal. I give literal answers to their questions and it always causes problems. I cannot take it any longer.

I have prayed I could find services for autistic people but they do not exist. My medical clinic offers services in so many different languages and would even provide a sign language interpreter but I have asked and they have not one person who is trained in autism including the psychologists and counselors they have on staff. I have asked so many times in so many ways. Everyone has told me they are not trained for that.

My doctor does not understand me and I am baffled by what she says so I just lie when I see her. She likes it when I say everything is okay so I say that. There is so much I have not told her.

I had a physical therapist who I told I was autistic and explained some things to. I told her I am literal and more. She told me not to do anything that hurt. This is impossible literal advice. It went on and on like that until I stopped talking.

I have been the the Emergency Department many times over the years and they are very kind people, all the nicest people I have ever met worked in Emergency Departments but the communication problem is the same. I once explained I am autistic, do they have someone who could help me with the process, they said they did not have anything like that.

I have tried for years but I cannot find any medical services for autistic adults and I cann take it any more having the communication problems so unless something hurts too much or frightens me too much I will stay away. This has made me believe that most autistic people get sicker or die because healthcare is not accessible.

 

[Au Naturel]

There's nothing to fear from a doctor. I have yet to meet one who wants me to hurt. OTOH, I have had to get cross with a couple of doctors who seemed like they just wanted me out of the office so they could get to the next patient.

There is a problem with the healthcare system. Unless you can afford to have a personal primary care physician, you're going to get one that works for a major healthcare business or a government agency. Either way, the emphasis is doing the easy and obvious because that is the most cost-effective. Doctors who aren't as efficient as their employers would like will come under great pressure to work faster. Nurses get more and more duties piled onto them.

Limited funding is chasing virtually unlimited demand. Doctors are getting burned out, and nurses are working overtime because it costs money to hire more staff. Medical and nursing schools limit their graduates, and getting your MD costs more than the mortgage on a house.

The pressures produce doctors who perform below the standards we would like. For that matter, below the standards they would like.

 

[Suzanne]

I would say it is two fold for me.

When a child, I actually saw drs as some kind of god, because they seem to miraculously state the problem and know the exact and very long winded name, prescriptions, so yep, I was pretty much in awe of them, as a child.

Then, I suffered at their hands and that stopped me even wanting to respect them. I fear talking to them, because they are deeply closed minded and basically, your health is in their hands!

I could have died twice from malpractice and it was only me, taking charge of my own health, that I survived.

If there are any good drs out on here, then props to you, for doing what you are supposed to do.

I now dread drs appointments. But, as I said at the beginning, it is two fold. The other part is the waiting room with the deafening silence around me and if there is a room full of people, I start hyperventilating and have to stand up!

I take charge of my own health now and due to that, even though I am not healthy, as it were, I am certainly not grossily unhealthy.

The only chemical meds I take, is omeprazol for acid reflux and even then, when I discovered the false information about acid, I decided to reduce my meds. I used to have close to 80ml but now, 10 in the morning and 10 in the evening and the dr cannot understand, how 20mls just once a day, is worse for me? Basically, I do not have enough acid, whereas we are taught, we have two much.

Dr Berg is a youtuber and has taught me a lot.

Oh and although I have diabetes, it is controlled WITHOUT MEDICINE.

One does not have to let themselves go, because they do not see a dr.

 

[kale]

OK, so 24-October-2023 was my second visit since sending the first letter on March 5, 2023. Before my visit, however, I sent a second letter as a refresher and some additional information.

I can say with absolute certainty, that this October visit was the best doctor visit ever in my life. Again, everyone in the practice re-read my original letter as well as the refresher one. Everyone was extremely respectful and really knew and practiced everything in the letter. I couldn't believe how everyone retained all six pages of the letters. The doctor thanked me again for the letters and how much it has helped them with other autistic patients.

They never touched me without asking permission first and explaining what the touch is for and that a NO answer is OK. When some touching was done, it was always with an instrument, like a stethoscope, for example. Also every test or measure was done with respectful delicacy.

They made me feel totally welcome. The visit lasted one hour. Not the traditional 18 minutes. I was never hurried. They were extremely patient with me. I never felt pressured for anything.

In all my life, I have never communicated anything about my person to anyone that was taken so literally and so completely.

I don't mean to make anyone jealous, but I think I may have the best primary care physician on the planet!

Prior to this visit, I sent the same letter to my dentist and optometrist. No luck there. No one in either office read the letter. I asked the dentist, dental hygienist and everyone in the optometrist office if they read it and none even knew anything about it. So, I asked the person at the front desk, of both practices, if they received the letter I sent. They said, "Yes" with a very happy smiling face. I asked why no one ever read it. They said, "Oh that's OK, the letter is safely in your file." I reiterated that no one actually read it. Their response was just a shrug of the shoulders with a big smile.

Perhaps one thing that may make a difference; my PCP is a lifestyle doctor. The difference is that while they are a traditional doctor, they also study and pay attention to lifestyle causes and influences in ones health.

This is brilliant! I’ve decided to seek a PCP who is autism/trauma informed and started with searching this forum. I love the way you approached this. It gives me hope and inspiration. Thank you