Urologist Needed

Ask questions about Paruresis, tell your story, talk about it!
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peterepete
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:12 pm

Urologist Needed

Post by peterepete » Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:16 pm

Hi all,
am asking for help in locating a Urologist in Sydney, who is conversant with Avoidant Paruresis.
My G.P wants a report from a specialist, before she would be willing to vouch for the authenticity of my condition,
following my inability to provide a urine sample for my employer during a random drug test.
As my employer (State Transit) equates inability with refusal, I want to build as strong a defensive case as possible and before the event.
Also, I'd be interested to read your views on the possible outcome of lodging a claim of being discriminated against for having this medical condition.

thanks,
Pete

JohnW
Site Admin
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:42 pm

Re: Urologist Needed

Post by JohnW » Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:42 pm

Pete,

I do not know of any Sydney urologists who are familiar with paruresis. In fact I do not know any Sydney urologists! Since urologists are usually surgeons, they are unlikely to understand the condition, although I would be very surprised if most urologists have never had clients presenting with paruretic symptoms. They can, of course, do a test of your waterworks (assuming you can give them a sample in real-time), but as we all know, they are unlikely to find anything wrong physically.

In other words, I don’t think that a urologist will be much help to your G.P. And pretty clearly, your G.P. is not taking your word that you have a paruresis problem. In fact, any G.P. will have the same difficulty, even if they have accompanied you to a public toilet. How do they know that you are not simply pretending to have a problem?

I was advised just a few days ago that this is indeed a discrimination/disability issue, but I suspect that you have to be discriminated against before you can lodge a claim (costing, I believe, $50) with the Anti-Discrimination Board. I have requested a post on this Forum from the person who discussed this matter with me, but it hasn’t appeared yet.

Your case would be stronger if
a) You are a paid-up member of the Paruresis Association of Australia ($10 a year)
b) You are a regular attender at an official Paruresis Support Group
c) You have attended one of our annual workshops.

I know of one G.P. who understands paruresis, because he once suffered from it.

You may be interested to hear that I have been led to expect that the “Good Weekend” will print an article about paruresis in the near future (late June or early July). You should make sure you get a copy, and ask your G.P. to read it.

JohnW

rossco309
Posts: 88
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:18 pm

Re: Urologist Needed

Post by rossco309 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:53 pm

Hi Pete,

I go to an excellent urologist in Sydney who knows about Avoidant Paruresis. I am not sure if he fully understands all the implications, but he certainly knew about it before I spoke to him. He was amazed that I knew the correct medical name for this condition. If you Private Message (click PM button) me thro' this site I will give you his details.

This is the link to a good article on drug testing issues in a Brisbane paper that I have posted before on this site. It may be of some help.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/nationa ... -bjj2.html

Also the link to the VIc Gov Health site article on Paruresis which may be helpful to show to doctors etc... .

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv ... r_syndrome

Ross (Sydney Support Group)

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