weird question from my rheumie

[pamsline]

I went to a new rheumie a few weeks ago and I just realized she asked this(lupie-brain).
She asked if I was ever molested as a child. I wonder why she asked that. Has anyone else ever had a rhuemie ask them this question? She just sort of slipped it right in there with other questions about my symptoms. When I left there all I could think about was how long have I been on methotrexate? She asked this also. I have no idea. I guess I better look into it, just so I know when I'm asked again. Anyway, has anyone had this happen?
Pam :flowers:

[confused1]

Yes, I have had that questions asked but in very, very different contexts. Every gyno I have seen in the past few years has asked that question. I believe it may be part of what they're trained to ask. Sexual abuse in childhood can predispose a person to certain behaviors or risks that a doctor might legitimately need to know about.

But then again......I wanted to change gps and made an appointment with a well-known physician with a good rep here in town. At the beginning of the appointment, he asked a few simple questions then out came the biggy: were you abused physically or sexually in childhood? I sort of shook my head and went on trying to explain my problem. He stopped me and explained that "everyone" with the kind of "unexplained pain syndrome" I described has been abused in childhood. And, of course, all are women. His recommended treatment: go off all medications, get into life-long therapy and life-long physical therapy to help me deal with the emotional difficulty of living my life in constant pain, then learn to live with constant pain and "get on with your life." It was bizarre to say the least and I was left in stunned silence. I did not go back to that physician.

So there you go.

Sunny

[pamsline]

Hi Sunny,
Thanks for your response. I find it very strange to be asked that by a brand new rhuemie. It made me uncomfortable. ;) Before that question she told me she thought I had fibromyalgia not lupus. I have already been dxed with sle. Since I'm not have problems with my muscles, I was pretty convinced she was nuts. I'm in the process of getting a new rhuemie appt. I would expect that from a gyno (although I have NEVER been asked about it), but not a rhuemie. Hope you all have a good day.
Pam :flowers:

[Pixii]

well I tell ya.. if my rheumie ever decides to ask me that question or any other not pertaining to what I'm seeing them for, they'll see the back end of me fanny going out the door and never coming back!! cuz all their doing is trying to determine if your sane.. not physically ill.. sheesh.. let's get real here folks... having our kind of pain does not stem from being molested as a child or any other psychological crapola.. :angry:




(just my opinion...)

[birdie]

what planet are some of these drs on :hissy: You did right in not going back. Perhaps if some drs lived with the pain that we suffer then they would be more understanding. I have never had that question asked me. Hope you find another Dr who understand what lupus is and give you the right treatment and the respect that you deserve.

[MBarbee]

This post reminded me of a doctor I went to see years ago. I had filled out the preliminary paperwork including the fact that I was married. Well, during the course of the exam the doctor asked me if I was sexually active. I said' Yes" and then he asked me "With who?". I just looked at him dumfounded for a minute and then said very tersely' with my husband" . And I was thinking "Not with you buddy". I couldn't believe it. Never went back to him either.

Sometimes doctors can be jerks.

Just my two cents worth.

[flowergarden]

All I can figure out is that there have been some theories about whether people with sexual abuse (MAJOR stress) have more frequent A-I disease. It might be worth asking the doc why they want to know.

I'm SUPPOSED to be learning that it's better to clear up a question than let it sit in the air. It's something I've been working on in therapy. But I'm not good at it--yet.

I personally wouldn't leave a doc because of that question.

[Woofmonster]

Just had that question asked on the questionare for my Gastric doc appt. Also had on their if you were married how long, had YOU been faithful. I was like geez louise! Then it had some type of mental test questionare for depression, I forget the name, Their were nearly 20 pages of this crapola. I showed this to my husband and he said don't answer it that is ridiculous! So I decided to answer it in my own way.....I do have a bit of an onry streak... I said yes I'd been abused in that way as a child, but if he wanted more information, he'd have to buy the video, just like anyone else. I said I have been married 30 years, he hadn't messed around or neither had I, and since I was being so honest, had he? Then I said the only sex that been had lately was the two pelvic ultra sounds, both done by a woman, one's chance, two's a date? He was seeing me for a colonscope thing and a throat scope, and if he wanted to he could count those, no charge. Needless to say, my first meeting he sent his PA to do the intake, and he did not bring up any of that, he did bring up my depression which I am being treated for, and left it at that. The first time I met the docor himself was about 2 minutes before my procedure. He billed me 3 grand, maybe I should of charged after all? Wolfie :erm:

[mizpriz]

Oh my gosh Wolfie, that was way too funny!! I know some doctors need to ask those questions, but come on. :afraid:

Georgine

[Lily]

Way to go Wolfie :thumbs: :lol: We must share the same warped sense of humour :)

What is that saying - physician heal thyself :D :P

love
Lily

[teabellyjules]

:wave:

Hello all

I am glad that this topic has come up cos if I am asked that question I'll ask why I was being asked it and then I would say that erm..............actually me head gone blank. Give me a minute, yep that was what I would say, I would say that 'if' it was abuse then it sure has taken a LONG time to manifest as physical pain :rolleyes: . Do they ask that question here in the U.K, I don't know.

Love and hugs
Jules :coffee:
XXX

Ps I would say, "Do you want to know what colour underwear I'm wearing too?" Seriously though, it must be a VERY difficult question to ask someone. I know cos of my job (sort of ex job) cos I have had to ask personal questions but always apologised first before I asked.

[Pixii]

I got to comment on a couple of these posts here.. I was asked one time after surgery on my leg... by my surgeon.. "how's your sex life"? When I answered; "it's none of yer business, ya ole buzzard"? He laughed.. and said, "yeah.. she's awake" .. That is the only time I've ever had a doctor of any kind, ask me any kind of sexual question that was not a head shrinker.. :)

And the only reason he did so.. was because he knew me personally and wanted to be assured I was awake from surgery.. :)

Otherwise.. like I said in my other post.. I'd run for the hills if my rhymie ask me that question.. :hissy:

[raggedyann1]

Hello,

I thought the question from your doctor to be quite odd. This morning I was reading the Making Sense of Fibromyalgia book by Dr. Wallace. I have lupus and fibromyalgia (and other stuff) and was curious if one of the symptoms I am experiencing is found in both lupus and fibro.

To get to the point, the question if you have been sexually abused is a question Dr. W asks if it seems pertinent when he does a fibromyalgia workup. Previous trauma like that is one of the traumas that can cause/trigger fibromyalgia. So it is not off base like most of us thought when first reading your post.

Take care,
Karen

[Deborah Rumbles]

:afraid: Strangely enough I was asked this just 3 weeks ago,by a student doctor,as he was trying to find out who is prone to getting Lupus,and he seriously asked me some strange questions,about my childhood and about other things like how many sexual partners Id had and was I faithfull to them,I told him that I was a qualified psychiatric nurse and that he required help,he soon stopped the stupid questions.Deborah :nurse: