Do you argue with doctors?

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As I see it, a doctor is there to provide a service to the patient. I think of myself as a client, in a way.

I've had my car for almost 7 years. If it starts behaving differently, e.g. making a new noise, I take it to a mechanic. I may not know what's wrong with it, but I know what the symptoms are, and if he gives me a diagnosis that doesn't make sense against the symptoms, he needs to be prepared to explain the discrepancy. Same with the doctor.

My nurse practitioner the other day tried to diagnose me with bipolar disorder and put me on Lithium, based on a little half-assed questionnaire. She does not know anything about ASD, but I on the other hand have a pretty good 2nd-hand idea what a manic episode is, and I know I've never had one. Depression, yes, for most of my life, and I know that even the worst depression is not an unbroken black pit of despair -- every once in a while you get a ray of sunlight and catch yourself smiling, or every once in a while you latch on to something that you hope might make things better. I've had rages, but I recognize them in the description of Aspie rages, not at all like manic rage. She doesn't know enough to argue with about it, but I don't think she thinks I know enough either.

Trouble is I am applying for SSDI, so I DO need to be careful about being labeled non-compliant. But damned if I will be compliant with a complex psychiatric diagnosis like that from a generalist NP, when it doesn't ring true to me, and start taking Lithium for it. If a competent psychiatrist diagnosed it, and could and would answer my objections and convince me of it, then I guess I'd try it (although Lithium destroyed my step-aunt's kidneys, so I wouldn't be real enthusiastic about it). Anyway, I've got an intake interview Monday with a case manager who will be able to refer me to a p-doc who works on a sliding scale, and hopefully help me to advocate for SSDI too. Meanwhile the NP & I agreed to try Wellbutrin for now.....

I don't know how well I would deal with someone arguing with me as a doctor.

If you bring up a symptom I will go after the most common causes->Occam's razor rules medicine. Once those are ruled out I will entertain the rare, exotic causes ("zebras").

If you bring up a disease/disorder I do not know. I will take it upon myself to use sources I trust to learn about it. Only then would I look at an article someone brings in.

I have a hard time taking internet print outs seriously unless from a highly respected source. Anything goes on the internet, I can put "Rain causes autism" on the internet, so what? Doesn't mean crap. Now if you came to me with an article from "Lancet", the top british medical journal or "Uptodate", a highly respected medical database I would listen. On the flip side, if you give me some made up crap about using methotrexate on your child to "treat" autism, I will attempt to correct you and inform you of the intense danger you could be causing your child.

Also, I love people who come in with SHORT list. The worst is someone comes in for some quick complaint "sinus infection" or whatever, then right as your leaving they say "By the way....I also have been feeling (insert red flag symptom here->AKA"Crushing chest pain")

And... You are wrong about the length of medical training, at least in the U.S. First of all. We are required 4 years undergraduate + 4 years graduate(medical school) + residency (Depending on your area 3-5 years) THEN if you want, fellowship (usually 2 years). If you see a cardiac surgeon that is 15 years of school :O And the last 2 years of medical school, and residency, and fellowship aren't a "job". No "40 hour work weeks here". As I student I have done an average of 60-80 hours a week, sometimes 100 hours a week.

All too often, doctors think I'm trying to argue with them simply because I ask questions.

Actually, S_G, that is what anxiety is. Being upset and crying is a symptom of anxiety.

True - good point.

But when I had a miscarriage, I was also upset and crying a lot, and "anxiety" would have been an insufficient label. The drastic hormonal fluctuations afterwards sent me into all kinds of weird unpredictable states of depression and anxiety. The anxiety, irritability, and inability to think clearly were also symptoms of hypovolemic shock from the amount of blood that I lost. On top of that, I was going through a typical grieving process. I was so emotionally shocked and generally out of it, I couldn't process everything that was going on and kept under-estimating the severity of the situation, all the while trembling and crying at random (sometimes I didn't even feel sad while crying - must've been the hormones thing or the denial aspect of grieving).

So I agree with sinsboldly and relate to S_G too. In my case, it was so confusing and overwhelming, "anxiety" wouldn't have seemed like the right word to use, and I so shaken up, I probably would have argued with it as a reflex.

that's bad ass

I want to argue with my doctors but it all looks so pretty in my head and when verbalized it just moves to fast for my lips so I just glare and look bothered...

only if they are incorrect and my appointment is not over yet.

So every time I cried, I was having anxiety? So that means babies have anxiety because they cry?