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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on March 29, 2005, at 15:18:11
Greetings to our audience! In today's episode, we return to our story with the response from the attorney about filing a formal grievance against the Agency From Hell. Sit back and relax, and listen as our exciting story continues...
OK, so if you're not directly involved, your adrenaline is unlikely to rise, so it may not be all that exciting, but I figured y'all had come this far with me...
The attorney told me that the Bar Association firm that she works for has concluded that my complaint lacks merit in all areas except one: my eating disorder. Mind you, I kinda think that the fact htat they TRIGGERED the relapse counts, but that's only my opinion. She offered to pursue that single aspect of my complaint. I politely declined, although I did ask her to proof my complaints when I got them written, which she agreed to do.
She also sent me notes from her conversations with people at The Agency From The Planet OHMYGODANDTHEY'RESUPPOSEDTOBEPROFESSIONALS?
You know how sometimes something can be true, but not convey the truth? Those notes are an amazing example of that phenomenon. For example, in talking with my first therapist there, the notes say that I "wanted to focus on the upcoming holidays, family related challenges, and that did not allow for any focus on my eating disorder." Guess what? I started seeing her in December, for crying out loud, and at the time I had not had symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa for almost a decade! There was no reason to focus on a condition that was and had been in remission. Gee, I can't file a complaint about an eating disorder not being addressed because I didn't want to focus on it BEFORE IT BEGAN???
Ah, hell. Sorry, guys. I guess I just didn't understand. I'm mentally ill, you know.
(But I'm not STUPID!)
The whole thing is like that. Except the part where they say that I can't complain that my calls weren't returned, because they might have called and not gotten through to me. Mind you, I have two telephone lines -- land and cell -- my husband has a cell, each of these three numbes has voicemail, the agency had all three numbers -- and we have caller ID which would have shown that someone had called even if they didn't leave a message. And there were no messages left on that voicemail.
They also talk about having come to my home, but being unable to gain access because it is a gated community. Guess what? All they had to do was CALL FIRST and ASK if it was OK for them to come by. Or if I would be home.
Shucks. Guess it's that pesky mental illness that makes it so hard for me to see that they were right all along, and that I was the one at fault.
I'm so glad that I can tell you all about it here. It's comforting to know that y'all share my mental illness, so maybe you can understand all these crazy delusions I have that, you know, it makes sense to leave messages on voicemail or call before heading to someone's home; that there's not usually a lot of point to addressing symptoms that don't exist; that maybe mental health professionals should be held to a very slightly higher standard than their patients are.
Thanks for reading this far. Hope everyone's doing OK.
(And, Nikki, how about an update on your job situation? Any resolution to your Pointy Haired Boss?)
Posted by Shar on March 30, 2005, at 2:36:42
In reply to Oh fer cryin' out loud! (Update on the Saga), posted by Racer on March 29, 2005, at 15:18:11
Racer,
I have nothing but admiration for you for pursuing this; I know it is awful and the only consolation I can think of is that you may be making headway for folks in the future.That is totally lame, I know, and I hope you get some resolution on the issues involved....but, in a way you are doing some ground breaking things. Like if your eating disorder had been in REMISSION prior to therapy, and therapy ACTIVATED it....well, I'm a little suspicious about who is doing their jobs.
I hope you prevail!
Our current health care/mental health care systems need an overhaul....and you may be the impetus because you have refused to back down!
My vote would be to take it as far as you safely (for yourself) can, and then ... well, I don't know after that. In Texas, Mental Health is like a sort of adjunct thing; if you're having a heart attack EMS can be there. If you're having a mental break......well, we'll see what we can do, and, oh, by the way, what is your income and do you have insurance?
I hope you DO prevail!
BTW, are you in better hands now?
xoxo
Shar
Posted by Racer on March 30, 2005, at 16:32:43
In reply to Re: Oh fer cryin' out loud! (Update on the Saga) » Racer, posted by Shar on March 30, 2005, at 2:36:42
Yeah, I'm in much better hands now -- although I'm just back from an appointment with my newest T, and still kinda shaking... (That's good, though, because I actually talked about things that I've never said out loud before, I don't think.)
(Oh, and we're still just taking history...)
Thank you for what you've said. It felt very good to read it. As for being lame, the only possible resolution to all this is that someone else, down the line, might be believed if something similar happens with that place. Since all I'm doing is complaining, there's nothing else in it for me.
Except, of course, the one related to the reason I'm doing this: to feel strong again. To me, that will be worth it. The closer I get to finishing the complaint, the closer I feel to strong. I know it will help me, even though there's nothing more than that in it for me. Know what I mean?
So, SharBaby, how's life in Texas? How are you?
Posted by Shar on March 31, 2005, at 0:40:28
In reply to Re: Oh fer cryin' out loud! (Update on the Saga), posted by Racer on March 30, 2005, at 16:32:43
How am I? ewwww, what a bad question. I bet you've been asked that one.
(I'm being/trying to be a bit humorous here.)
So, here are possible answers:
"How kind of you to ask. I'd like to have been dead about 20 years ago."
"I'm fine."
"I'm ok."
"Just peachy."
"I'm breathing in-breathing out."
"I'm here."
"Well, I'm having withdrawal from my Effexor, and a stunning Lamictal rash. And, because of my panic attacks, I've relied a bit too much on my Klon so I'm running out, which, of course creates more panic. But other than that, I'm great."
"I'm doing great! I found a temporary part-time job that might allow me to actually pay some bills for about 2 months."
Well, Racer, you know how it goes. I'm generally sh***y, and would love not to be here. But, here I am.
And, on a more serious note, it IS people like you who forge pathways for those to come. And, if you feel strong again, then you have achieved greatness (and should celebrate that!). So, brava, and kudos to you! Things do not change by bunches of people (in my 53 years of experience), it starts with one.
xoxoxo
Shar
Posted by NikkiT2 on April 1, 2005, at 10:41:44
In reply to Oh fer cryin' out loud! (Update on the Saga), posted by Racer on March 29, 2005, at 15:18:11
I think you're doing awesomely for not letting this all just be brushed under the carpet and standing up and fighting.
I have to agree with Shar here.. Only fight as far as YOU are able to.. I would ate to see this fight affect your health.. but until it does, give em hell hun!!
As for me.. well.. work is a little better.. I raised a complaint against the evil boss, and things do seem to have improved.. But she was off last week, and I have had this week off!
My 16 year old neice came up to stay for the week and it has been such fun. I actually mmiss her now she has gone.. we shopped ALOT, but se's such a great kid, and it was so great having her around.
And I start college tomorrow.. Doing Visual Basic.. I'm scared *L* Its the first unit of a diploma course I'm doing.. Long time since I studied *L*
Right.. best get on with neglected house work!
You go kick some donkey :P
Nikki xxx
This is the end of the thread.
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