Psychiatrist (update and question)

[UnBaked_Cake]

So, as some of you know, I saw my psychiatrist for the first time yesterday! It went okay, she got information down and everything.

I did want to ask everyone, is it typically a normal thing for someone else to be in the room? There was someone else there who was also typing on a computer, and I was too nervous and stressed to ask, but I'm asking if this is a thing? I wasn't sure what he was there for but he was the one who took me to her office and they both typed on their computers, tho she asked me all the questions.

[gajh]

Wow. Is it like a teaching hospital or something?

[UnBaked_Cake in reply to gajh]

No, it's just a doctor's clinic

[gajh in reply to UnBaked_Cake]

Would you feel comfortable to call and ask them?

[UnBaked_Cake in reply to gajh]

Maybe? They're closed for the weekend but I might try Monday. I'm really nervous about asking but I was just expecting to see the psychiatrist herself and I was super nervous saying my information, but I know there had to be a legitimate reason he was there and that they wouldn't just shove a random person in the room with us. He looked like he was also taking in information. But I don't know why he was there

[gajh in reply to UnBaked_Cake]

I don't know why he was there either. Why are you nervous about asking on the phone? I can understand that you would be nervous in person.

[UnBaked_Cake in reply to gajh]

I'm just nervous in general bc I have anxiety so it's always going to make me nervous to ask about stuff

[gajh in reply to UnBaked_Cake]

Well I would definitely encourage you to call and ask. I would have endless anxiety if there was someone else in the room. I am surprised you were able to do it. I am glad you did.

[UnBaked_Cake in reply to gajh]

Me too and I'm also surprised I did to be honest, but I'm very good at either dissociating or stimming. Or I'll just start doing like a "mismatch" (???) thing. Like I'll look and say "okay so he was brown shoes but she has brown boots, both brown different shoes. All the tiles go up but this tile has this mark that's off from all the others so it's new." Just things like that which is fine but isn't great when I can't really remember everything that happened 😂.

[gajh in reply to UnBaked_Cake]

I think you did great for your first visit. You did what you had to do to get through it. Hopefully it will get a little easier as time goes on and you get used to her.

[Downinil in reply to UnBaked_Cake]

Hi Unbaked cake! I’ve noticed a one way mirror on the exam room at my GPs. I noticed once being in an office with camera lenses during a psychiatric appointment. Never with someone in office. It’s very nerve wracking when there seems to be no privacy anymore.

[UnBaked_Cake in reply to Downinil]

Yeah, it's also just nerve wracking for me to ask questions in general even if it's beneficial for me bc I'm so anxious all the time I don't know if I'm being rude or not so I tend to just be quiet. However I am going to call them tomorrow before my shift!

[Hidden]

so glad you got to talk to someone about some help.

I like the idea of a second person helping to take i trial notes and info down

[Downinil in reply to Hidden]

It can be helpful for both provider and patient but I thought all doctors appointments were supposed to be 100% confidential.

[UnBaked_Cake in reply to Hidden]

I think I would too, but I was also only expecting to be seeing one person, and so I had to get the courage to see the one person, and then it was even more stressful when it was two people if that makes sense

[Hidden in reply to UnBaked_Cake]

it definetly does

[Dolphin14]

Hi

I'm glad you made it to your appointment

It's not very professional to have someone else in the room without introducing them and their role.

I'm guessing it was a student in an internship or medical rotation. You have the right to know this and you also have the right to refuse.

Some Drs do use " scribes", people that take notes for the Dr during the exam. This applies more to a hands on Dr. Again, they need to introduce themselves and their role

My suggestion would be to say " the person in the room did not identify themselves and I would like to know who they are" This also gives them the heads up not to make that mistake again.

🐬

[UnBaked_Cake in reply to Dolphin14]

Okay, thank you. I'm going to call tomorrow but I'm so nervous about sounding mean about it, bc I just want to know is all.

[Dolphin14 in reply to UnBaked_Cake]

Can you let us know? I'm curious also

[UnBaked_Cake in reply to Dolphin14]

So I called! She said that he was a medical student working under head and they profusely apologized and said they were very sorry the introduction failed to happen. I told them it was okay and I was glad they apologized so I think it'll work out.

[UnBaked_Cake in reply to UnBaked_Cake]

Working under her*

[Dolphin14 in reply to UnBaked_Cake]

Great outcome.

I'm so glad you were able to call and that they apologized.

Thank you for letting us know

[gajh in reply to UnBaked_Cake]

Well done.