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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 September 2, 2005, at 21:06:29
Today was my meeting with the county Department of Mental Health. I dressed up -- and didn't melt in the heat -- and wore makeup, and took along pictures showing me about ten pounds over my lowest weight. I showed them the pictures, so that they could get an idea of what the doctor was continuing to describe as "well nourished" and I pointed out that my life was in danger by the time those photographs were taken, let alone when I lost the additional weight. I told the stories about being told to lower my expectations of myself, to go on SSI since I'd never be able to work again, etc. I told them about my husband calling and talking to "Dr" I'mHereToHelp -- which is when my suspicions were confirmed: the guy who told my husband that they'd provide "enough Xanax to keep her sedated until we're willing to see her in six weeks" was not any kind of a doctor -- no MD, no PhD, nuttin'. Just a pencil pusher. (You can't know how happy that made me, by the way, especially since you didn't see the look on the manager's face when he told me that this guy wasn't a doctor...)
Over all, it was good. They are going to take this information -- and the memory of what I looked like when the Agency From A Very Warm Place said that I was just fine but way too disturbed to be helped -- to the senior management for the county. They'll keep me informed as much as they can, but at this point it's an internal investigation into whether this agency is working or not.
I'm glad that part's over, let me tell you, and I am very pleased with the outcome so far.
I feel a bit taller this afternoon, too.
Posted by shar on September 6, 2005, at 21:01:37
In reply to Latest chapter -- Our Heroine Visits County, posted by Racer on September 2, 2005, at 21:06:29
Hip, hip, hooray!
At under 5' tall, anyone that feels taller is a winner in my book!
More seriously, I'm pleased (very much) to hear that "Dr." whomever is going to get a good looking-at.
Shar
Posted by Racer on September 7, 2005, at 1:46:58
In reply to Re: Latest chapter -- Our Heroine Visits County » Racer, posted by shar on September 6, 2005, at 21:01:37
>
> More seriously, I'm pleased (very much) to hear that "Dr." whomever is going to get a good looking-at.
>
> SharYou know that I don't really feel as though the doctor himself was all that much at fault. The Therapist From The Planet Incompetence is the one most in my sights, and mostly I think he listened to what she and others were saying about me, rather than looking or asking for himself. That's lousy doctoring, but it's a bit less egregious when you come right down to it.
The County, though, was more interested in the agency as a whole -- that I had no luck whatsoever getting help from them when things went south, that they never responded to my requests that if they wouldn't help me they help me transfer out of their system, and that Our Tax Dollars At Work were paying this agency to make me so much sicker while neglecting to notice as I lost one third of my body weight. Seems they thought that losing 50 pounds might be worth noting in my chart.
Oh, yeah -- and the fact that the guy my husband spoke with was apparently represented as a doctor wasn't met with much approval. Wicked me, I'd already looked him up on both the medical board and the psychology board, and knew he wasn't licensed by either. So, when I brought him up, I just did a confused thing -- "my husband spoke to a Doctor Imposter, but I"m not sure if he was MD or PsyD -- but he did offer to supply enough Xanax to keep me sedated for six weeks until they'd see me." I also struck the "they turned me away at the desk, apparently the doctor told the receptionist to tell me when I showed up rather than calling me to tell me and save me the trip..." chord fairly strongly. It just has such a lovely, clear tone.
Thanks, Shar. And about your earlier point: I may not be old enough to give up entirely -- and I suppose by the time I *am* old enough by your current standards, you'll have raised the bar -- but can I give up either the weight gain or the monogamy? I think I wouldn't mind so much if I were thin again, and I know I'd feel much better after about three hours naked with Chris Noth or Gary Cole or maybe Keanu Reeves...
Posted by shar on September 10, 2005, at 20:33:04
In reply to The sad part of it is... » shar, posted by Racer on September 7, 2005, at 1:46:58
Wow! Racer, do you know what a trauma you've experienced?! I totally agree with you about the 'sad part of it.' So many folks experience it, and it hits hard when it's someone you care about.
With respect to the guys you mentioned...the only one I know about is Keanu, so I'd go with him. But, that's just me...
:)
xoxo
Shar
Posted by Racer on September 11, 2005, at 14:04:34
In reply to Re: The sad part of it is... » Racer, posted by shar on September 10, 2005, at 20:33:04
> Wow! Racer, do you know what a trauma you've experienced?!
> >
> xoxo
> SharI guess the saddest part of the whole thing is that I don't really know what a trauma I experienced. There is a very, very big part of me that still thinks I shouldn't have been hurt by it, that I should have been stronger than they were, etc. Even knowing that this all started within a couple of weeks of a suicide attempt, I still have this sense that I shouldn't have needed anything from them, that I shouldn't have been vulnerable, and that 'nothing really bad actually happened to me.'
Funny thing, those all feel so familiar...
This is the end of the thread.
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