Somatoform disorder

Okay, so I had to get some of my medical records for an insurance appeal and I find that they have under Dx: Somaform disorder. I have never heard of this word before, it would be nice if they'd tell me what they are DXing me with!!

Michelle,

You are right that doctors are terrible about not telling you anything. I wouldn't worry too much about the somatoform disorder being listed, it was most likely listed because they didn't have any other code that would fit. They need to code to tell your insurance what was done, etc, and to get paid. Sometimes docs fudge these things, etc, and you will find a diagnosis on yourself you never thought you had. It's happened to me. It really is interesting to read your medical records and see what they say about you. I am a nurse, so I frequently had to document on patients behavior and such, but the doctors really chart some interesting stuff, and seem to chart more subjective and opinionated things versus objective. Meaning they write what they "think" is going on, what they "feel" is going on instead of just the facts.

As far as you stating they were giving you Ativan but really giving you NS, how do you know this? What were they doing, a test or something?? Cause the use of placebo is really looked down upon. That person LIED to you about giving you a medication, and that is grounds for falsification of records. If you are SURE they did this, I would pursue it by making a complaint against the person who did this, as well as writing a letter to the CEO of the hospital where it occurred. This is a serious matter. Placebo therapy is alright, as long as you are INFORMED that they are trying it. It is not OKAY to LIE to your patient about what you are administering to her!!!! This just BURNS me up

I hope this makes sense. I would not worry about the diagnosis in your records, but if it really bothers you, you can look into getting it removed. More than likely, they used it for coding for payment. If they would have thought you were faking, they would have wrote that. Believe me, they don't joke around about writing that you are seeking in your chart. It would be written. Psychological stuff like even stress can bring about very debilitating symptoms...seizures, etc. Very serious stuff. It doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing.

But please look into this NS/Ativan thing. That is so unethical and wrong on so many levels, and the person who did it needs to be punished.

I hope I've helped you a little bit. If you have any more questions, please let me know.

Also, I wanted to say that most docs don't put a lot of weight on previous diagnoses. They can tell be reading your history and physical and notes and hospital records and know that you don't have bipolar disease. I would not worry too much about that, but like I said, if it really bothers you, you can get it removed. It's a pain, but it can be done.

The notes in my med. records state that the nurse administered NS while stating out loud, 'We're giving some meds to stop the seizure" outlound, to see if I was faking, seeking drugs etc. A lot of time with Psychogenic seizures, I patient will stop seizing witht he method, and it is sometimes use to 'induce' a seizure as a test. I think its stupid. I had such bad care that week I just want to forget it. I had nurses straight up tell me they thought I was faking, pinching me so hard they left bruises etc, and because I was in ICU I had no witness and all three colabored and completely lied once I tried to address the problem with someone else.
By own admission, they said they yelled at me telling me "I'm not going to sit you up, you come out of this and do it yourself', tell me the doctors are over-reacting, they pinch me to see if I respond to pain(i don't) b/c they think i'm faking, actually putting alcohol on the tip of my eye!! Are these normal things for nurses to do to rule out faking??!?? Next time, I am going to have someone put a tape recorder in my room!
I've learned to look at my chart! When they transport you to radiology waiting, the chart is on your bed, so I read it. You find out a lot of things this way.
For example, the ICU nurse telling me they are giving me ativan when it isn't even ordered. I just don't get why some nurses are so aragant, and have the 'I'm better than you' attitude.
I hope you are doing well,
Ang

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DX-Migraines:PCOS(should have seen this list before!!)

First of all, let me apologize that I am included in the group of people who treated you so badly. I know nurses myself that are not supposed to be in this profession, as they are rude and condescending. There are bad apples in every bunch, and I think we as chronic pain patients see this first hand. I apologize you were treated so badly.

Now, onto the NS given as ativan, I would definately report this. You have to consent to have placebo used in your care. If you didn't consent, they had no reason to do such thing. I HATE placebo's. Giving placebo to a patient in pain is SO unethical. I just am so angry hearing this.

I have never seen alcohol used to touch the eye, but using a cotton ball or a piece of gauze is used to check reflexes. A alcohol swab can be used to check your sense of smell, and they were obviously testing your cranial nerves to observe your neurological status.

Yes, pinching is used to test for response to pain. Bruising, however, is not something i have seen. some people in a coma often are given a pin prick to their finger or toe, or a sternal rub (rubbing roughly between your breasts, where your sternum is). back in the old days, the way they checked for pain was to twist HARD on your nipples. OUCH!!! they still do this in areas of the world.

i am curious as to what happened to bring you to the hospital??? were you having a seizure??? tremors???

And as far as ICU nurses and others being arrogant, I don't know the answer to that. They are not all bad, but I know how much it hurts to come across one that treats you badly. I have also gotten the "I think you're a drug addict, faker, loser, etc" treatment from nurses, despite proof on my record that tells them my pain is REAL. So I don't know what their problem is. I am sorry, however, that you were treated this way.

I WOULD complain and write a formal letter telling the things that happen, and also what I stated, and tell them these nurses are rude and not following the standard of care and state verbatim what they say. Ask them why they told you they were giving you ativan when you didn't see an order for one?? They will have records of having used Ativan off that unit..and who it was used on. That's a good way to check. Ativan is a narcotic, and it's use is tightly controlled. You could prove you didn't get ativan that way. I would write a letter to the Nurse Manager, and to the Risk Manager and to the CEO or whoever is the "Big Wig" at that hospital. Threat of a lawsuit for negligent care always gets people jumping.

Ang

Please email me. I tried to click on your email but it won't work. Maybe you'll have better results. I am afraid to post my email addy here.

I wanted to tell you something, else but in private, on what you could do to these "nurses".