Finding good health care as a schizophrenic

Recently I had to go to a specialist doctor for a physical issue I’m dealing with. Filling out the medical history part of the paperwork caused me to stress out a little. Do I lie and say I have no mental issues or do I tell the honest truth about what medications I take? I felt it best the doctor have the list of drugs I take and why. When it came time to see the doctor, he left the door open. This isn’t the first time this has happened. In fact this happens a lot.

My former long time general practitioner knew I was bipolar and he treated me as a normal human being. Upon telling him about the evolution of my diagnosis, he became visibly uncomfortable. The next time I saw him, he left the door open and invited one of his nurses to be in the room with us. He had been my doctor for well over a decade and suddenly I became a threat. When I described to him my symptoms of pleurisy he decided to tell me my problem was all in my head. I knew then it was time to find a new doctor.

Which was a burden all in itself. Every phone call I made to set up an appointment for a physical, I disclosed right away I live with schizoaffective disorder and that I take medication for it. Two offices straight up told me that’s my diagnosis is a problem. Third times a charm as it was the third doctor’s office that said the doctor would treat me. My new general practitioner is a God send and I’m thankful for all the doctors who see me as a patient and not as someone to avoid.

Now, I’m not a perfect person and sometimes my medical issues stem from my psych meds. It can take a lot of testing that comes back negative for me to ask my psychiatrist if my issue is a side effect of my medication. There was the time I started having involuntary eye moment. I ended up having an MRI ordered from a neurologist who left the door open. It turned out to be a side effect of Abilify and to counteract the involuntary eye movements I was prescribed Cogentin. The involuntary eye movements stopped and I continued on with my life feeling guilty for not calling my psychiatrist in the first place. However, there are plenty of times when I have had something wrong with me physically and really do need the guidance of a specialist.

For every doctor who has said I would be the death of them, there’s one who understands even bipolar schizophrenics need physical medical help. It’s just a crap shoot every time I see a new doctor. Will they or won’t they treat me if I confess my mental illness on the form that asks for my medical history? Will they or won’t they close the door?