Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
I just had my first physical in years today (glad it is over) I told my Dr I am dancer (because my husband thought it was the right thing to do). Her reaction surprised me and made me feel judged. She asked a few questions like if this causes problems in my marriage and if it is something I am doing for my self esteem.. She seemed really uncomfortable and couldn't get out of the room fast enough. I felt pretty bad afterwards and regretted telling her. Did I make a mistake confiding in my Dr.?
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
When they ask for occupation when i visit a new doctor i will write down the hospital i work at. If we strike up a conversation...Sure i tell them i dance and do phone sex as well. Then they have LOTS of questions!! Lol.
Pamela
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
Doctors are people, too, both male and female. Some are liberal, some are conservative.
A doctor may know a lot about sickness and health, but may still have "conservative" values. :doctor:
Since we all know you are not doing "extras" your chances of getting disease are about the same as everyone else, (with, I suppose, the exception of working in a smoke filled environment. ) In fact, with the exercise you get dancing, you are probably in better shape than most of us desk jockeys. :wheelchair:
And since I assume she wasn't your psychiatrist, and she was totally in the wrong! There are sob's in every occupation. You didn't make a mistake at all. :
By the way, are you OK otherwise? You may want to consider changing doctors to one with a more tolerant attitude.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
No hun you didn't make a mistake, that doctor was just a perfect example of an insecure female trying to make you feel bad...and extremely unprofessional. One of the major things doctors are supposed to be taught in training is to keep personal feelings out of it. This chick failed miserably. IMO, that makes her not a good doctor and you should find someone else. I have always gone to male doctors and they have never given me a hard time about my job. You need a doctor you can tell about your job because sometimes it will be necessary for them to know in order to give you sound medical advice. For example, when I sprained my ankle a couple years ago, I went to the doc because it was really bad, thought it might have been broken (never sprained anything before). I needed to ask him how long I should take off work because of the physical work involved and the high heels. When I told him I was a stripper he seemed a little caught off guard but he just laughed it off and went on to question my work habits, what kind of shoes I use and how much I could modify my routine at work, then advised me on how long to take off and what to do for swelling/pain, etc. That is a good example of the extent of questioning a doctor should do about your job.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
Don't divulge any more information than you have to. Do not tell them you are a dancer, they will judge you. If not the dancer, then the nurse, reception, accountants, and everyone else who will see your record.
And ladies, do not go to a male gynecologist for female problems.....they cannot empathize as well....just MHO...
Also, with our rights to privacy going down the toilet with the Patriot Act and Freedom of Information Act....your stuff is going to be reported to insurance companies, who will do anything they can to deny you coverage.....and god knows who else: marketing companies, government database.....etc....
Its not looking pretty...
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
I think doctors take anything their patients tell them and evaulate the physical and mental health consequences; it's their job. I don't know how other people's health care works, but at my HMO all referrals and doctor visits start with my primary care physician. Thus it is his job to evaluate all physical and mental health concerns and decide what other doctors I may need to see. It sounds like your doctor's intentions were good, but she was caught off guard and wasn't as tactful as she could've been.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
That was really unprofessional of her. She's the one who should feel bad. I'll admit, I don't tell my doctors, but it's b/c they are males. Regardless male or female they should all be professionals - but maybe for an entertainer they don't feel they have to be. In theory your husband was right - it might be good that she knows what you do for a living. I bet next time though she won't even remember or she'll be over it. Maybe she just didn't know what to say. But if she asks anymore stupid questions, I'd call her on it.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
I agree with Lestat. People should always remember that doctors are people, not some kind of immortal entities.
I understand her actions may have made you feel uncomfortable, but maybe she too felt a little uncomfortable receiving the news and didn't know how to react in the given time. We've all been there, where we wished we acted a little differently in situations so there's no need to jump the gun just now. I would wait and if the next meeting is tense (remember, you're attitude is also a factor) then that would be a sign that you should change docs.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
I'm with Bridgette about seeing a male doctor. I was thinking I've never had a problem, but then, I have all male doctors, including my GYN (who I picked mainly based on convenience and years of experience).
Even my (male) dentist knows.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
Definitely tell your doctor what you do, because it could have an impact on how they treat you - for instance, whether they give you medications that could make you gain weight or feel sleepy. You should have a doctor whom you can tell anything to - you don't want to keep secrets from the person helping you stay healthy. I am lucky and have a wonderful doctor - a female - , but I sure have had some uptight ones in the past. It's worth it to find one that will treat you well.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
I wasn't in the room with you, but maybe she wasn't trying to run out of the room, she just had a jam packed schedule. Maybe since you didn't have any health related questions about the dancing, like your knees or something, she didn't think much of it. She asked you questions to see if there was a reason you were telling her you dance. Doctors are always super busy, so don't take it too personally. If you really feel she had a horrible, gut reaction to your occupation, then switch doctors.
When I was pregnant I went to the doctor 2 or 3 times a month. One time she was super frazzeled and just blew off a question I had, but I know she didn't mean to and I really didn't need her help, like a prescription or something, for it anyway.
With so much information on the web and in libraries, doctors these days do not have to take the time teaching their patients and getting to know them on a personal level. They run around and write prescriptions and solve problems quickly.
Unless you have to go to this doctor, don't think anything of it and switch doctors. But always tell them where you work if it is important to what they are helping you with.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
I told my old doctor. I had gone in for a pinched nerve in my back. She actually had the nerve to say "Normally I would perscribe muscle rexaxers, but you're a dancer so you must have a drug problem."
That was two years ago and I still get seething mad when I think about it. If I had the money I would have sued.
Now I tell my (new) doctor that I do construction. They have pretty much the same physical downsides, muscle fatigue, odd bruises, sprains and strains.
P.S. If you're in MI dont go to the Family Health Clinic in Wixom across from the Ford plant.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacKenzie link=board=27;threadid=6843;start=msg77009#msg7700 9 date=1077578606
I told my old doctor. I had gone in for a pinched nerve in my back. She actually had the nerve to say "Normally I would perscribe muscle rexaxers, but you're a dancer so you must have a drug problem."
That was two years ago and I still get seething mad when I think about it. If I had the money I would have sued.
Now I tell my (new) doctor that I do construction. They have pretty much the same physical downsides, muscle fatigue, odd bruises, sprains and strains.
P.S. If you're in MI dont go to the Family Health Clinic in Wixom across from the Ford plant.
Damn you should sue for malpractice and get a pile of $$$! >:(
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
I think that whether to tell or not is influenced by where you go (city, area or even part of city you are in). I have had good doctors and bad ones (including one who called me a slut for having had an abortion at 18).
In large size cities, sometimes the area you go to will indicate how "worldly" the Dr. is. Capitol Hill PolyMed in Seattle has plenty of variety in patients and tends to have very cool Drs. The area is a haven for weirdies and drag queens but is a world renown medical center. It is hard to be judged for being a dancer when some of the other patients are TS or have 5 million body piercings and do suspension performance art. In mid-size cities, good reccomendations can be had from your local Planned Parenthood (yes, they'll direct you to regular Doctors' offices and they'll have a feel for who will be cool with you and who won't).
Don't sell yourself short. Your care provider needs to know how to help you. We work with the public in a big way, for instance, and they should be in a position to suggest whether you need that years flu vaccine or things along those lines. Knowing you work nights can influence what medications are given to you. Knowing that you show your body can influence treatment options for surgeries.
With all things, if you aren't treated well, go to a new provider. Be assertive, this is your body and your life you are talking about. We have so much judgmental crap already that I know it can be hard to bring this sort of thing up but it is very important. If you can't tell entirely, you might want to say cocktail waitressing and go-go dancing or modelling. Cigarette exposure, body conciousness, night shifts, public interaction, wearing heels... something that will get the important health risks across.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
Thanks ladies. I think I will see her again next year and see how she is. A year to lower my cholesterol.....
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SexyGemini link=board=27;threadid=6843;start=msg76895#msg7689 5 date=1077563925
Did I make a mistake confiding in my Dr.?
You were right to tell your doctor. I've read the posts, and I'll give you my 2 cents worth...though it's really worthless after taxes and inflation. I am a doctor, so I can give the doctor's "side" so to speak. I am a urologist iso I see a lot of male and female related problems in the genital area. I have been exposed to all manner of lifestyles for a long time, both from the inside and outside. So, at this point, and I'm only 34, nothing shocks me anymore. I have friends who are professional dominants, men and women, so I see them and their subs as patients. I manage transexuals, transvestites, gay couples, and even the mundane dancer. I can't speak to what your doctor did in the exam room, but not all doctors are exposed to different flavors in life like others are. I know some excellent doctors who are born again Christians...I don't agree with them, but they take care of all comers without judgement. Some do judge...it's human nature.
Where can you find non-judgemental doctors...who knows. Someone posted you find them in big cities...not always true. I practice in a small city. You never know how your doctor may react. The best advice is to be honest with your doctor about what you do since your occupation may affect your health. Do you dance aggressively and run the risk of musculoskeletal problems? Do you dance in a smoke filled club and have a touch of asthma you didn't know about? Being honest will help your doctor help you. If your doctor doesn't seem comfortable with you or vice versa, then it's time to find another doctor. It happens. I have dismissed patients with whom I can't agree, and some have left me because they didn't like my advice. The doctor-patient relationship is a relationship like any other. No matter what, be comfortable with your doctor...if not, move on.
I need to comment on the post about the patriot act, etc eroding patient confidentiality. In fact, we live in a time of the GREATEST confidentiality period known thanks to HIPAA (the health insurance portability and accountability act). This in conjunction with various state and other federal laws prohibits many disclosures to the point that fines or even jail time can be levied. Your information is usually pretty safe, and laws prevent the information from being misused and even used against you (though, even I admit it has happened before).
Just my two cents, for whatever that's worth these days.
Re:Dr Visit: Do you tell your Dr. what you do for work?
My suggestion: it may not be easy, but try to find a doctor like Enigma and some of the other docs mentioned in this post! I have a doctor friend that I met in my club and I know I can go to him and tell him anything about my health problems/concerns (and I have). GENERALLY speaking, younger male doctors will be more open minded and less judgemental than older guys and females (who are inheritantly envious of other females, especially when you work in the sex industry).
Ask around, you shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable and be denied appropriate treatment because of the stereotype that "if you're a stripper you must be on drugs."