Doctors ........ need to rant

[pingu1997]

Went to see my GP today, not entirely for al related issues but part of the wider problem, and she said that she didn't understand why I was finding it hard now that I had given up drinking (ie staying sober). This is the second GP in the same practice who has said this to me. I am feeling paranoid now that I should not be feeling like this, or have I just been unlucky and seen doctors who don't really get it?

[Foamfollower]

Doctors ........ need to rant

Sorry you've experience this downer today of all days Corrine.

Unless they have physically and mentally experienced what we all here go through here, I doubt very much if anyone fully knows the anguish and torment we deal with every day.

Just give yourself a well deserved pat on the back, sending you :l:l




(by the way Pingu is the spitting image of our cat)

[pingu1997]

Doctors ........ need to rant

I don't feel massively comfortable posting it on here, and I;m not sure exactly what some of the issues are, but I can try to explain it on a PM if you will listen?

[KateH1]

Doctors ........ need to rant

Hi Pingu,

First of all, well done on 4 months AF. You now have a foundation to move foward and to live a healthy sober life! But, the work continues, and in many ways you have just begun. As Sheri mentioned, years of AL abuse wreaks havoc on us both physicly and emotionally and these problems are not solved in a matter of weeks or even a few months. It is a continuing process that we must work on.

As for your issues with your doctor. What did you want them to do for you? Remember, addiction and recovery is a "Medical Specialty" and, there is no simple, quick fix or medication that will return us to health and freedom from addicition quickly. Recovery is a process, and if you feel that you require medical attention, it would be a good idea to seek out an "Addiction Specialist".

Sheri offered several excellent resources and there is much on the internet. I wish you continued success and a return to health!
Kate

[pingu1997]

Doctors ........ need to rant

KateH1;1147668 wrote: Hi Pingu,

First of all, well done on 4 months AF. You now have a foundation to move foward and to live a healthy sober life! But, the work continues, and in many ways you have just begun. As Sheri mentioned, years of AL abuse wreaks havoc on us both physicly and emotionally and these problems are not solved in a matter of weeks or even a few months. It is a continuing process that we must work on.

As for your issues with your doctor. What did you want them to do for you? Remember, addiction and recovery is a "Medical Specialty" and, there is no simple, quick fix or medication that will return us to health and freedom from addicition quickly. Recovery is a process, and if you feel that you require medical attention, it would be a good idea to seek out an "Addiction Specialist".

Sheri offered several excellent resources and there is much on the internet. I wish you continued success and a return to health!
Kate

Yes I realise this but I didn't go to the doctor for anything directly related to alcohol, it was other issues, but alcohol dependence was I suppose a part of it. And I just wanted to say to her that I wasn't bouncing up and down now I was on anti-depressant medication because I still really struggled with the day to day stuff and living without alcohol because it was a big part of my life. And it was the way she just kind of smiled wryly at me and said those words that made me think I was making a big meal of it, and it wasn't really an issue and I was wasting her time, like she didn't really get it at all. Anyway I have blogged how I feel which always helps. Thanks everyone for your concern. Corinne

[Kimberley]

Doctors ........ need to rant

Flippin Docs - I have had some awful ones, some unsympathetic ones and ones who didn't know ANYTHING about alcohol dependence at all - one in ER springs to mind who barely spoke English and had never heard of librium. I was in massive withdrawal, all I can say is thank god I had a friend with me to speak on my behalf.

Whenever I have any medical problem now, I research it and work out what I think the best thing to do would be then basically I suggest it to my doctor until he agrees. Sheesh, but sometimes you just have to do it.

Best of luck Corinne!
K x

[ATLThrash]

Doctors ........ need to rant

Pingu--I totally empathize with you on the doctor issue. While addiction is a specialty I had always heard that if you feel you need help with alcohol issues to confide in your GP first. With medical training and knowledge of the physical issues that can accompany alcohol problems, they should be able to refer to more specialized help. They are sort of the gateway anyway since at least as far as I know in the US virtually no rehab or psychiatrist is going to treat you unless there is a referral from a GP, since insurance will usually not pay for those special services without some medical referral. I have awesome insurance and no psychiatrist would see me at all without a GP referral. I went in patient for anxiety issues and as soon as the insurance said they were not paying for more days I was miraculously "cured". I know this sounds quite cynical but I have heard of it happending to many people, not just me. It sounds like what you expected was at the least a less judgmental dialogue with your doctor. Sadly many in the medical profession, despite years and years of studies on alcohol addiction and the physical and mental changes it causes , still see alcoholism as a moral weakness which could be overcome as long as we just say no to it. Countless studies show that is not the case and many many people are highly functioning as alcoholics-- not some bad, loser people on skid row. I have seen many times on these forums folks who fear going to their doctors for help because of feeling that they will get just this type of response. I know for a fact that I did not tell my GP for a long time about my fear that I was drinking too much. And when I did, he told me "If you did not drink so much you would not be so fat and I think that is what is making you depressed". As if it was just that simple to quit. He then asked if I had a psychiatrist and told me if I did that was who I should talk to. That was a woefully poor response and really passed the buck (since most folks do not put a shrink on payroll, the very least would be to offer to refer) You would think that as the first responders so to speak of the medical community docs would at least use their medical skills to assess that a person needs more help than they are willing or able to provide. The GP should indeed be able to make a referral to more resources if they are not going to suggest tools to help in recovery (medication, therapy, in patient, detox, etc). I do agree with Sherri etc that feeling better is not an overnight thing and it will take work on your part to overcome depression but you should have been able to confide that things were tough and receive a more sympathetic response-- especially since your mental health is also something any GP sould be interested in

[Guest]

Doctors ........ need to rant

I usually am the one informing the doctor, or at least 50:50 and I don't assume they can have any understanding. They can't unless they've been through it themselves or with a loved one.

[whatmesober]

Doctors ........ need to rant

ATLThrash;1147744 wrote: Sadly many in the medical profession, despite years and years of studies on alcohol addiction and the physical and mental changes it causes

I guess you're referring to other people's years and years of study, because doctors get practically no training in addiction or alcoholism while in medical school or afterward. Only in the past couple of years has it even been possible to do a residency in Addiction Medicine. Now the University of Florida Medical School and about another dozen institutions have been certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine to provide residencies, and in the next few years we should be seeing more practitioners out here who know their -- ah -- knees from their elbows when it comes to our problems.

With regard to the insurance: there are many treatment centers, detox facilities and similar operations that take insurance without referral of a physician of any kind. They have their own physicians on staff, and the necessary certification for the insurance companies comes from them. One needs to do some calling around, and depending on where you live you might need to leave the area or perhaps not be too choosy about the accommodations, but I assure you that the services are there, and available. I've worked in the field for many years and know this to be a fact.

With regard to the PAWS article, Connie, if you have questions feel free to message me. I wrote it.

Keep on keepin' on...

[whatmesober]

Doctors ........ need to rant

Doctors and addiction

This post will get me past the link limit, and then I'll post one about the medical training if anyone's interested.

[whatmesober]

Doctors ........ need to rant

Good article: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/health/11addictions.html?_r=3

[ATLThrash]

Doctors ........ need to rant

Actually, whatmesober, I am not talking about studies that GPs undergo as part of a curriculum but rather academic (usually) studies about addiction, its chemistry and new meds etc. There has been a great deal of work done and it is still ongoing on the physiology, psychology and sociology of alcohol abuse-- my own father edited the Journal on Alcohol Studies for numerous years starting back in the 70s and pretty much had a career working with doctors that worked with alcoholics and with local and national government entities that wanted to implemenbt more resources in their communities for those who had alcohol issues. This included pretty detailed studies of specific cultures where drinking is prevalent and even looked into the particular psychology and physiology of those cultures , such as American Indians and other groups. Even then there was a lot of data on addicitions and I am pretty sure there is more now. Presumably these studies are available to doctors. I am pretty sure that the general medical effect of drinking alcohol is or should be known to GPs or family docs, since every one of them that I have been to asks on paperwork how many drinks you drink and how often (as well as the litany of other lifestyle and medical questions they ask). My point to Pingu was only that the info is out there and a GP should be able to direct to more specialized services not that they had read every study out there or should be the doctor in charge. I am aware of some non-profit or community mental health options for non-insured care of course and that all rehabs have docs on staff to assess (it would almost be malpractice if they didn't) but one has to realize that that is what they need and since that is often a medical determination having supportive or at least engaged GPs is key. Folks in trouble often do not know where to start or what is available and while it is true that we all have to be responsible and active in treatment there is no shame in feeling let down by some of the attitudes of the medical profession-- that was how I thought Pingu was feeling and I have obsevred many times others on site feel that

[Guest]

Doctors ........ need to rant

I had a look through the website for my Drs surgery, the area of specialisation/experience and further qualification is listed by each GPs name.

Most specialise in contraception, gyneacology, obstetrics, child surveillance, maternity care and no-one has anything to do with addiction listed after them at all.

GPs can go on courses in addiction but I do not think they are popular courses. I'd guess the things I've listed above are more commonly seen. I have occasionally met GPs who do specialise in alcoholism, this has only ever been attached to rehab centres. Currently GPs almost always refer to local drug and alcohol teams, and I'm guessing they don't see any need for any training themselves since they just hand over the them.