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.