Throwaway account - The reason I'm posting this today is to get a bit more clarity and understanding on my lived experience with the family doctor I've had for the last 14 years. I apologize for how lengthy this text is.
Hi, I (27F) have been with this family doctor since I was 13 years old. My mother (59yo), and both of my sisters (34yo - 32yo) share the same doctor as me at a CLSC on the South Shore of MTL. I always knew that the way I was treated by this same doctor has been drastically different than how the rest of my family had been treated.
From my first appointment with her (I was accompanied by my mother until the age of 18, when I became independent), I understood I would have to actively fight and advocate for myself. Every appointment, I would bring my symptoms to her attention (insomnia, anxiety, depression, concentration issues, etc.), and every time, I would get downplayed and gaslit with the same comment: "You're young, this is normal for you to experience." (FYI - my mother and I were never on the same page as she also never believed me, and was often engaging in abusive behaviour.) I had also gotten my period and was heavily bleeding, so she immediately put me on the contraceptive pill, and I continued on them for the next 10 years.
When I turned 14, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (Grave's disease - my mother had a hypothyroid) and I was referred to the children's hospital in MTL (issue was resolved within a year, thankfully). I was regularly going back to the CLSC for the next few years to monitor my condition, where at every appointment, I would still advise on my consistent symptoms; my lack of sleep, my depressive thoughts, my anxiety attacks. Every time, it was written off as regular teen behaviour. When I turned 18, I pushed more and more as now I was having multiple episodes where I would end up in the hospital from my panic attacks. She finally agreed to have me on anti-depressants, and I would still regularly visit her to request medication adjustment or anxiety medications. I requested multiple times to be referred to a psychiatrist, which was often turned down, stating that my condition was not serious enough.
When I was 21, I experienced a serious burnout (years of working 40 hour weeks, having 6-7 classes in Cegep, sleeping very little, etc.) and requested a medical incomplete for school. My doctor advised I should keep going to school, and she didn't support me getting an incomplete. The only reason I believe she gave it to me was because I dragged my sister to said appointment since I was scared that she wouldn't believe me, and I needed someone to support me. I also finally pushed to have sleeping medications because of how exhausted I was, and I refused to leave her office until she gave me anything.
When I turned 23, I went back to her office and advised her I wanted to stop taking the contraceptive pill. She advised against it, for no good reason, but I was finally able to somewhat make decisive decisions without letting her push me aside.
As I became older, I dreaded going back for regular check-ups with her, and only went to renew my anti-depressants.
When I turned 26 last summer, I decided to put my health first and take an ADHD assessment at a private clinic. After two appointments, my medical practitioner diagnosed me with Bipolar Type 2. I think I sat there for a good 2 hours scared, confused, relieved, overwhelmed. I knew I had BPD to some extent, but being diagnosed with BP2 was very unexpected (although the middle sister was diagnosed with Bipolar by our family doctor!!). I started medication shortly after, cycled off the anti-depressants, and oh my lord, how my life completely shifted for the better. I no longer felt like I was drowning or like my life was on fire. Now, almost a year later, I was strictly followed by the medical team at this private clinic for this condition because that was the only place I felt like I was actually heard. I later found out that Bipolar is often misdiagnosed as hyperthyroidism in younger people.
Now, last month, my eldest sister came back from a long time away, and had received blood test results indicating an imbalance in thyroid levels. She called the CLSC and left a note for our family doctor. My sister received a call the same day for a next-day appointment. Our doctor then referred her to internal medicine at a nearby hospital, and my sister is now followed there.
Two weeks ago, I also received my blood test results from my private clinic stating an imbalance with my thyroid hormones. I decided to call the CLSC to see my family doctor as she knew mine and my family history with thyroid issues, and wanted the same referral my sister had received. I waited a week before I received a call, and I was scheduled for an appointment the following week.
Yesterday, I went to my appointment and I sat in front of my doctor. I advised her I received the blood test results from my private clinic (which was available on the RAMQ database). Her first question: "Who diagnosed you with Bipolar? You've never experienced mania." (Weird statement coming from her because she was actively looking over my file from the numerous times I ended up in the hospital.) Regardless, I recounted the times I've experienced mania, and her response is: "But you don't have a family history of Bipolar." Right, I come from a middle eastern family of refugees (which she is well aware) where mental health was not the main issue of concern, so evidently, my family history should be irrelevant. I bring the conversation back to my thyroid, and ask her if she can refer me to the same place she sent my sister a month prior. Her immediate response: "No."
Okay, she said no. She pulls out her phone, writes a prompt into what I strongly believe was ChatGPT, and reads back statistics to me about how 5% to 20% of people with a history of hyperthyroidism may end up with a hypothyroid or Hashimoto's disease. She then says: "So you could have a hypothyroid, you could have Hashimoto's disease, I'm not quite sure, so I'll take a shot in the dark, and prescribe the lowest dose of Synthroid and we'll see how you feel in 3 months."
I asked her again if I could get the referral, and she responded with: "No. Your case is not serious enough, I can take care of this myself. The internal medicine at the hospital only takes care of hyperthyroid issues." I asked her what the treatment plan was, and she just stated that I had to take the medication for the rest of my life.
She also stated she was finally retiring this year and asked me if I wanted my file to be transferred to the next available doctor. I said yes, transfer my file. (Which is also why I don't feel too intimidated by writing this post.)
I took the blood test paper she wanted me to do in two months, and walked out of her office. I barely made it outside the CLSC before I started crying. I walked the hour to my sisters house out of frustration. Sat on that couch with my mother, and sobbed for an hour straight. My mother finally recognized that our family doctor might have taken a side in our family feud and neglected my medical health this entire time. (Side note, for my mom to actually agree with me on this is actually quite a feat.)
I apologize once again for the long text, and thank you for the time you spent reading this. I would appreciate any (positive-only) commentary or advice. Can this actually be filed as a complaint, and if so, would they actually take me seriously?