Yeah, no worries there.
I have a PhD in chemistry, earned via neurochemistry with particular expertise in the impact of drugs of abuse in the biogenic amine neurotransmitter system, as well as nearly a decade in molecular pharmacology including cardiac pharmacology. I'm probably FAR more aware of the side effects than most clinicians are, truth be told. Which is one reason I'm so concerned about mis-identification. I know that we won't medicate DD as a diagnostic measure (let's try it and see if it helps) but I don't especially feel like having to go there in the first place.
Clinicians are often somewhat defensive with my DH and I in the first place because of our (apparently intimidating) background. Usually the first thing out of a doctor's mouth is a mumbled, "Oh... I hated chemistry." This occasionally leads to problems. (It isn't just us, btw-- have a friend with a trisomy child that has the same problems with physicians because of her PhD in pharmacology.) I guess we come across as not especially.. um... awed... or maybe they just anticipate that we won't.
I treasure physicians that aren't intimidated by me and will recognize that I ask questions because I truly just want to know what they THINK about things. (Luckily, our DD's main specialist is just such a clinician.)
