I haven’t thought of recording the therapy sessions. Why haven’t I?! I struggle to take notes of the most important things instead of listening to the next important thing.
This is such good advice! I didn’t know of the AI program that translates circuitous thinking into main ideas. Wow!!
I have self pay therapy/psychiatry.
In between I used the app “how we feel” because of the way it gives action points and makes sense of rambling. It notices patterns. It’s helpful and also free.
Interesting, here in Ontario, Canada the hospitals and clinics that I attend have a strict no recording policy, even though it is not technically illegal here. Same with therapy sessions, or at least the ones I have attended.
That is interesting! I'm in the States and have traveled to different states and it's always been okay. Thanks for sharing the perspective across the border...and I hope you can use some of the next-up tips!
Going to my elderly mother's appointments to support her, in recent months, has led to me taking notes on my phone and emailing them to her later. It's amazing how much can be missed or forgotten! Still: I have LC and some days my brain is more foggy. I might ask for permission to record; my own doctor visits as well as hers. Texts to myself are easy to email, 'though.
As a life coach I always encourage people to record our sessions, particularly because AI now let you transcribe them with such ease – so you don’t have to take notes or journal afterwards, and you don’t miss anything!
I never thought of applying this to Dr’s appointments. What a keeper! Thank you!
Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow. Thank you. While I wish I had read this last week, you have no idea how this "resonated" as the kids say.
On Wednesday I had a follow-up "results" appointment for a neurocognitive assessment because I've been really struggling with multitasking, memory, processing, etc. I had high hopes because the doctor (new to me) seemed responsive during the exam last month.
On Wednesday he informed me that I'm really smart, so apparently I can't have cognitive problems because I am "doing better than most people." (And yet I struggle with basic tasks and am useless without my carefully organized and color-coded lists.)
Then he said allllll my problems are because of my "mood" and my disappointment in my career and because I felt guilty as a child when my parents divorced*. WTAF. Apparently, the multiple lesions in my brain from MS are just for decorative purposes so that my MRIs look more festive, all
lit up like a Christmas tree. I will admit I succumbed to rage tears during the appointment and, worse yet, I carried my rage for a few days because I was too verklempt to process it.
So thank you. I'll be asking to record future appointments with other doctors (not going back to that guy) but more importantly, it meant a lot to me to read that I'm not the only one experiencing this.
(*I've had a couple neurocognitive assessments over the years, and they start with an intake interview where they ask questions about your childhood, etc., and once you say your parents got divorced they hone in on that and then tell you that it wasn't your fault. FFS, I know it wasn't my fault. I was three, and they were two troubled, difficult people. And when I say that, they tell me I have buried my guilt. Nope. But there is something I'd like to bury, out in the woods, and it's sitting in front of me wearing a white coat and spouting nonsense.)
Ughhhhhhh GT. I'm so sorry. We've all had this appointment in one form or another. But this one sounds like it REALLY takes the cake. A few cakes. Woof.
Not sure if you’re in the US, but have you had any luck talking to a doctor about quality of life things/holistic care).
I’ve asked for a social work consult or a rec for a nursing service in every appointment for the past year (I’m sometimes too sick to drink water — like for a day—and become weak and fall) and I keep hearing I “shouldn’t need that” because they’re seeing me on a good day and I have low pain.
I have thoughts but first two caveats: I'm not so unwell that I can't drink water, and I haven't asked specifically for either of those things specifically.
My trick here would be to ask for a referral to occupational therapy. You do not need to have an occupation; their job is to help people with day to day tasks. A good one will take the time to understand your life and limitations...and in doing so, may see the severity of your condition and its affects on you. They might be the ones who could get you the tools you need.
Secondly, and I'll talk more about this next week, I want you to look that mofo right in the eye and say, "I feel okay today but I often feel so unwell I cannot drink water and pass out from dehydration. Knowing that, will you please document your refusal to refer me to social work and nursing service in my chart? I will be asking the front desk for a copy of your notes."
I haven’t thought of recording the therapy sessions. Why haven’t I?! I struggle to take notes of the most important things instead of listening to the next important thing.
This is such good advice! I didn’t know of the AI program that translates circuitous thinking into main ideas. Wow!!
I have self pay therapy/psychiatry.
In between I used the app “how we feel” because of the way it gives action points and makes sense of rambling. It notices patterns. It’s helpful and also free.
Interesting, here in Ontario, Canada the hospitals and clinics that I attend have a strict no recording policy, even though it is not technically illegal here. Same with therapy sessions, or at least the ones I have attended.
That is interesting! I'm in the States and have traveled to different states and it's always been okay. Thanks for sharing the perspective across the border...and I hope you can use some of the next-up tips!
Yep, I just had one such appointment on Friday and swore it would never happen again. Great timing!
Gah. A sociopathic dental cleaning reminded me why it's never a bad move to have Voice Notes on.
the bloating looks like my SIBO!
Going to my elderly mother's appointments to support her, in recent months, has led to me taking notes on my phone and emailing them to her later. It's amazing how much can be missed or forgotten! Still: I have LC and some days my brain is more foggy. I might ask for permission to record; my own doctor visits as well as hers. Texts to myself are easy to email, 'though.
As a life coach I always encourage people to record our sessions, particularly because AI now let you transcribe them with such ease – so you don’t have to take notes or journal afterwards, and you don’t miss anything!
I never thought of applying this to Dr’s appointments. What a keeper! Thank you!
Whisper transcription!
What’s an easy service to use for transcribing? Thanks!
Just came back to say...I used BOTH in a meeting today and Fathom was better.
Fathom for Zoom! I’ve had some false starts with Granola but working on it…
Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow. Thank you. While I wish I had read this last week, you have no idea how this "resonated" as the kids say.
On Wednesday I had a follow-up "results" appointment for a neurocognitive assessment because I've been really struggling with multitasking, memory, processing, etc. I had high hopes because the doctor (new to me) seemed responsive during the exam last month.
On Wednesday he informed me that I'm really smart, so apparently I can't have cognitive problems because I am "doing better than most people." (And yet I struggle with basic tasks and am useless without my carefully organized and color-coded lists.)
Then he said allllll my problems are because of my "mood" and my disappointment in my career and because I felt guilty as a child when my parents divorced*. WTAF. Apparently, the multiple lesions in my brain from MS are just for decorative purposes so that my MRIs look more festive, all
lit up like a Christmas tree. I will admit I succumbed to rage tears during the appointment and, worse yet, I carried my rage for a few days because I was too verklempt to process it.
So thank you. I'll be asking to record future appointments with other doctors (not going back to that guy) but more importantly, it meant a lot to me to read that I'm not the only one experiencing this.
(*I've had a couple neurocognitive assessments over the years, and they start with an intake interview where they ask questions about your childhood, etc., and once you say your parents got divorced they hone in on that and then tell you that it wasn't your fault. FFS, I know it wasn't my fault. I was three, and they were two troubled, difficult people. And when I say that, they tell me I have buried my guilt. Nope. But there is something I'd like to bury, out in the woods, and it's sitting in front of me wearing a white coat and spouting nonsense.)
Thanks again <3
Ughhhhhhh GT. I'm so sorry. We've all had this appointment in one form or another. But this one sounds like it REALLY takes the cake. A few cakes. Woof.
Not sure if you’re in the US, but have you had any luck talking to a doctor about quality of life things/holistic care).
I’ve asked for a social work consult or a rec for a nursing service in every appointment for the past year (I’m sometimes too sick to drink water — like for a day—and become weak and fall) and I keep hearing I “shouldn’t need that” because they’re seeing me on a good day and I have low pain.
What a cruel response you received; I'm so sorry.
I have thoughts but first two caveats: I'm not so unwell that I can't drink water, and I haven't asked specifically for either of those things specifically.
My trick here would be to ask for a referral to occupational therapy. You do not need to have an occupation; their job is to help people with day to day tasks. A good one will take the time to understand your life and limitations...and in doing so, may see the severity of your condition and its affects on you. They might be the ones who could get you the tools you need.
Secondly, and I'll talk more about this next week, I want you to look that mofo right in the eye and say, "I feel okay today but I often feel so unwell I cannot drink water and pass out from dehydration. Knowing that, will you please document your refusal to refer me to social work and nursing service in my chart? I will be asking the front desk for a copy of your notes."
Hi Kira - this is great. Can I link to this and the second article on consultations you've written? These are great practical tips for anyone.
Absolutely!
What have you found out so far about the bloating? Curious, I have some too
We've currently chalked it up to Abdominophrenic dyssynergia (APD) and the little bit of PT we've tried on it has been pretty useless.