Medical Anxiety

[Modestmale]

I'm new here. I have a normal life as a successful professional. I'm blessed with a great family and, so far, excellent physical health. Decades ago, when I was hospitalized for abdominal surgery as a teenager, I was terribly traumatized, brutally mistreated and witnessed other male patients mistreated and subjected to sexual impropriety by female medical workers. The adverse experience, at such an impressionable age, is so embedded in my subconscious that all medical encounters that may involve female providers cause overwhelming anxiety, spike in blood pressure, trembling, etc. My family is under strict orders never to call a squad for me. It may be a form of PTSD. Has anyone found a reasonable way of dealing with something like this so I don't avoid medical care due to crippling anxiety?

[ArchB]

Modestmale,

I too am a successful professional.

Similar happened to me when I was 5-6 years old, except my mind blocked it out. (I also don't want to know what happened either.) I have avoided medical care my entire life. Never had a complete physical exam, never did ANY cancer screening.

A relative who was a physician would bring immunizations when he came to visit and he signed all my medical forms (in to my 40's). I imagine that the abuse was quite severe because my entire family thought it completely normal that a child NEVER went to the doctor.

I deal with the issue of getting what I demand in healthcare by telling them that I am a "survivor of medical abuse." Sometimes I tell them that it is PTSD (sometimes not).

I simply say: "under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I am requesting the REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION of..."

This meets the provisions of the ADA: PTSD is a valid, diagnosable condition. You do NOT have to prove that you are (have) disabled.

I also have a Twitter account that helps people like ourselves: twitter.com/MadmanBantering

[Modestmale in reply to ArchB]

Sorry to hear of your experience. Thank you for the response and positive advice. It is a troublesome phobia that virtually no one understands or respects. Some extra ammo like this is a godsend and more than I expected. The usual response is: “You really are messed up and need to get over it.”

[ArchB in reply to Modestmale]

Reference DSM F40.23 and DSM F40.24 if you have to.

[Modestmale in reply to ArchB]

Thanks

[Hidden]

I have been mistreated by 3 different male urologists in one clinical setting. I am male and this happened at the age of over 50. I have not gotten "over" their behavior so I don't go to their clinic anymore. I did go to another clinic and was assigned a MD for my healthcare in and was not happy with the results. So they transferred my care to a NP. I have had nothing but glowing reports from others who have seen her. So my day comes to see her and she treats me as a human being not as a number. She has talked to me during our sessions about her family, husband, and things that they do while she is working on me. Time went so fast compared to the LONG drug out horrifying appointments I have had with the males. If I move yes I will still look for a male doctor but if I get the same treatment as the other male did I will not hesitate to find someone else male or female. There is good in doctors and nurses you just have to keep switching until you get them.

[writer75 in reply to Hidden]

It sounds like just humane treatment and attention to your feelings and concerns would go a long way to making you feel more comfortable. How appalling so-called helping people have little concern for having those in their care.

[Philip]

Hi, welcome to the mad house, reading you post, it sounds like you have been to hell and back in a bum pun hand cart, sadly as it for some it’s way of life for some and they don’t care for anyone, They are evil. I think you have come to right place as there are a couple of thousand people

[Philip in reply to Philip]

And mostly men maybe there are more just like you that are suffering very similar things. Take care.

Philip

[Philip in reply to Philip]

For got to say about your anxiety, I get it from head to toe and if it’s not to bad I do something to take my mind off it, I Adult color and that’s the American spelling lol therapy .