How do I ask for something to be removed from my medical record (bi polar)

[cultkid]

Hi I've been told I had bipolar disorder about ten years ago

I didn't agree with the diagnosis
I was a teenager
Sleep deprived
Using drugs recreationally

I was prescribed quintiapine for less then 2 weeks and did not take it.

I did not have any subsequent treatment, or counselling

My husband worked in mental health for over 15 years and agrees I do not have bi polar

I have not had any issues other then usual anxiety issues intermittently through the years but not that needed counselling medication, or any therapy nor a sick note, time off or any input or any time with my GP. So I've not even been to my GP for mental health stuff.

I have recently had a gastroscopy, top of the page it said comorbidities!!!! Bipolar???

This has to affect the treatment I'm given. I feel judged and irritated it's there. I've been asked several times including seeing OOH GP for example for a throat infection or kidney infection about the bipolar...

I want it off my record as it's not correct and does not affect me.. how do i do it?

Thank you

It was the professional opinion of the Psychiatrist who wrote it.it wont be removed from your record
There’s no process to go back and retrospectively delete or alter an entry in notes
When the diagnosis arises You can of course challenge it in the present or explain to the clinician you believe it’s incorrect
You cannot however have it removed

As an aside,irrespective of having worked in mental health your husband cannot definitively comment on an assessment he didn’t undertake. He’s unlikely to be objective.

So do I ask for an assessment to confirm I am not bipolar

Because I'm not and it affects treatment

There is a stigma attached

And I think he's objective enough to see there's been no mania or deeply depressed episodes

I never had the mania side they said I had type two...

I mean I wouldn't have an objection as such for there being a historical note

But having it as current isn't accurate really because thankfully I don't have any issues

There's a terrible stigma attached to having a mental health problem

I doubt you would get a mental health assessment on the NHS if you do not currently have any difficulties. Mental health services are vastly overstretched, they can't manage to help people in crisis currently, they certainly don't have the resources to review a years old diagnosis.

You can have an assessment privately, and the psychiatrist can write a report giving their opinion. You can then ask your GP to add this to your NHS notes.

I have had a similar issue, an assessment done once at uni for a mental health condition, that was in fact a rare reaction to another medication and stopped as soon as I stopped the medication and never happened before or since.

it's so frustrating - people don't understand, 20 years later is it still affecting my insurance, how much doctors trust your self assessment etc. I ended up with a serious physical issue undiagnosed until needing surgery because multiple GPs thought it was psychosomatic.

Of course, it's also hugely unfair that people who have these diagnoses can be treated this way - but feels even more ridiculous when it's not even right!

Can't offer help though, I saw a private psychiatrist who agreed it was a misdiagnosis but couldn't see a chance to change.

Its on my childs notes that I possibly have munchousan syndrome by proxy and bore watching becsuse I was adamant my daughter had a uti and demanded treatment they state that i refused to leave until she was tested and he believed I was wrong subsequently she was tested (sent off not dip tested first) turns out she did have an infection plus a kidney issue i cannot get that statement removed even though its factually incorrect

Based on what you’re saying you don’t need an assessment of mental health
Stable mental health
No recent admissions
No medication
No CMHT

There is no Reason for GP to assess your mental health

I’d suggest when the previous diagnosis come up you challenge It.

Reference it was considerable time and all of the above
Stigma is real and palpable, it’s an unconscious bias and yes You’re right to be annoyed
I don’t recommend see a private psychiatrist. No point, and it won’t expunge the previous diagnosis

Finally I’m casting aspersions on your Husband I’m simply saying
He wasn’t there
He has your subjective account
He can comment on you now, he cannot comment on the then

There are professional boundaries that caution against Treatment and diagnosis of one’s own family

Eek typo. I meant
Finally I’m NOT casting aspersions on your Husband I’m simply saying
He wasn’t there
He has your subjective account
He can comment on you now, he cannot comment on the then

There are professional boundaries that caution against Treatment and diagnosis of one’s own family
Bookmark

They won’t remove it. It was the opinion of the psychiatrist at the time.

I have the same issue for a condition my biological mother had. All of her children were assessed. We were all recorded as having “query XXX”. Over time; query has fallen off, and it now just shows as a condition I have. I’ve never had treatment or support. I’ve had private assessments to prove I don’t have it. I’ve had an NHS doctor confirm that while assessing for something else, they don’t believe I have that condition. Makes no difference.

I believe you can write a note to be shown on your medical records that you disagree with the diagnosis, but people with bipolar often do vehemently disagree with their diagnosis’, so I’m not sure if that’d actually help you.

You need to weigh up that you could expend time,energy,finances to seek redress but it won’t change that entry or the diagnosis
I’m aware it feels unfair and an event many years ago still gets referenced
Do challenge it when it’s raised however unfortunately you’ll encounter a minority who’ll think well she would say that wouldn’t she..

This is all really reassuring I'm glad I am not alone

Can't get over the munchhausen thing
That's awful

Wtf

Met my husband 4 months after the "diagnosis"

Sorry if I sound rude I am bothered by it

I think it affected the amount of sedation I got for the gastroscopy

You are not rude in the least, and I agree stigma and HCP unconscious bias affect treatment and analgesia offered

@SentientAndCognisant

I really want it off or just moved to a more dormant part of the records

Being made to tough it out incase you lose your marbles isn't on my list of ok 😔

@SentientAndCognisant

It was the professional opinion of the Psychiatrist who wrote it.it wont be removed from your record There’s no process to go back and retrospectively delete or alter an entry in notes When the diagnosis arises You can of course challenge it in the present or explain to the clinician you believe it’s incorrect You cannot however have it removed

As an aside,irrespective of having worked in mental health your husband cannot definitively comment on an assessment he didn’t undertake. He’s unlikely to be objective.

This what I believe also

You can definitely ask for it to be made an inactive problem / resolved which will mean it doesn’t show up on a list of problems. You just need to talk to your GP about this.

It would only be marked as incorrect if it was incorrect at the time if that makes sense - so someone went back, checked the original letter and it didn’t say bipolar at all.

I agree this sounds like something to make a GP appointment to talk about. Explain the background but don't push for it to be eliminated from your record immediately, just discuss that you think time has shown to be a misdiagnosis and what would they suggest doing about it. Be prepared for some fairly close questioning, they aren't going to want to make another mistake on something like this. If you haven't needed much contact with them, they might want to check your records and review with you after a period of time, so they have more evidence themselves personally and can record this as a superseded / inactive issue or whatever fits with the way the computer records things ....

It doesn't sound like an inappropriate diagnosis to have been raised initially though, 15 is a typical age for the onset of bipolar and excessive risk taking behaviour can be part of it. Unfortunate that it hasn't been clarified since. Hope you find your GP is helpful and realistic.

There is not a dormant part of records, that information is parked but not read.

Ok, I’m afraid this post is incorrect and sets up a scenario that won’t happen

^I agree this sounds like something to make a GP appointment to talk about. Explain the background but don't push for it to be eliminated from your record immediately, just discuss that you think time has shown to be a misdiagnosis and what would they suggest doing about it. ⬅️ It won’t be eliminated, a GP cannot delete or alter another clinician entry

Be prepared for some fairly close questioning, they aren't going to want to make another mistake on something like this.⬅️ The GP is not going to make a mistake because they won’t do anything regarding this entry

If you haven't needed much contact with them, they might want to check your records and review with you after a period of time, so they have more evidence themselves personally and can record this as a superseded / inactive issue or whatever fits with the way the computer records things . ⬅️No a GP won’t recall, or review the notes

The GP can record a current contemporaneous record of your mental health as that is their professional opinion now.