Comments on: When Doctors Don’t Know What’s Wrong

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:37:20 +0000

I can definitely relate to what you’re saying. I recently had hip surgery to repair torn cartilage within the joint and I stayed overnight at the hospital. I had oxycodone/acetominophen that night. The next morning I told my nurse that my heart was beating kind of differently. I told him it was probably due to the drug as it causes that. I told him I was stressed as well. After that revelation, I was subjected to EKGs, blood tests, and a CT scan with contrast dye injection just to determine if I had a pulmonary embolism. I was desperately trying to reason with the staff that I was feeling fine and the effect of the drug had worn off. My heart was feeling fine and the irregularity was probably due to the immense pain and stress of surgery. They would not listen to me and wanted me to take these tests. I felt like they were very forceful in their decision making process. The doctor kept threatening me with the notion that I might die. He never took the time to answer any questions I had. They didn’t really listen to anything I was saying and wanted to inject me with morphine because I was having “chest pains.” I’m 21 and I’m extremely athletic. I was extremely doubtful I would have blood clotting issues, as these don’t run in my family. It just shows me how narrow-minded sometimes doctors can get. I know they were concerned that I might have PE and might die, but they never took the time to explain anything and I almost felt like they subjected me to all these tests just to cover their asses. This was my first run in with medical care and I was not impressed at all. I felt like I was in a cage with people in white coats running around making decisions without listening to anything I was saying. I’m applying to medical school this summer. My goal as a doctor is to be willing to answer questions and explain things thoroughly so that my patients feel respected.

Jeff: A worthy goal. Best of luck to you!

Alex

By: Haylee

Haylee — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:13:16 +0000

Thank you! The past few times I have gone to the doctor I have intuitively thought of these ideas but thank you for verifying them. Do you think the reason that some doctors do not do well with believing patients has to do with not having enough empathy or using the other part of the brain that is not about logic or reason?

Haylee: Even genuinely empathetic doctors (people) have days where their empathy seems to vanish. I don't think doctors in general disbelieve patients as much as discount things they say. Alex

By: David

David — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:43:54 +0000

I have been suffering from simple partial seizures for over 13 years. i was born with a condition that usually causes partial seizures in the second half of the second decade of the persons life (i.e., after age 15 and above). However, because I have learning difficulties, here in the UK, I have been ignored, lied to, lied about, the wrong information put in my medical notes etc. And refused any epilepsy type tests for many years; it wasn’t until last year that i finally got one (an EEG test). However, as these simple partial seizures do not usually happen whilst staying still and lying down, both necessary in the normal EEG test, nothing showed up.

I was told I could not have any medication and was left to manage a huge increase in the seizures completely unmedicated. This is not just one neurologist, this is several. Fortunately, at my wits end, I searched and searched and found a way my GP could prescribe AEDs without having to have permission from the neurologists. I asked for Topamax for my headaches, which had not responded to any treatment. This helped both my headaches and seizures.

I then saw a neurologist in Liverpool who refused point blank to listen. “The next patient will be waiting.” He gave me a diagnosis of Non Epileptic Attack Disorder, and told me to “look it up online when you get home.” He refused to discuss it further.

Since then, he has said in a letter to my GP that now he knows I am having success with the Topamax, he no longer thinks it is N.E.A.D. However, I had told him all this information in the first visit, he had just refused to listen! How do I go about getting a diagnosis as he thinks I should be happy that the Topamax is helping and doesn’t care?

David: What a frustrating experience this must all be for you. My only advice is: keep looking for a doctor who you feel listens. They do exist. They are worth their weight in gold. Don’t give up until you find one.

Alex

By: When doctors don't know what's wrong - Epilepsy Forum

When doctors don't know what's wrong - Epilepsy Forum — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:50:37 +0000

[...] When doctors don't know what's wrong How to best work with your doctor, and why some go to the psychosomatic diagnosis when they don't know what's wrong. Also how to think together with them to reach a complete (and more accurate) diagnosis. http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/…w-whats-wrong/ [...]

By: Jael

Jael — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:40:31 +0000

I agree re: it takes more time to find out. I also agree to some extent with the doctor—my mom sees every pain as being “something wrong”,”no matter how fleeting. She wants it gone right away, or wants to know “why” she’s having pain.

I wonder sometimes if a geriatrician becomes somewhat inured to the complaints of the elderly—the elderly are often lonely and depressed as well as anxious and frightened about what seems to be an extremely limited time left to live, and that fear can be expressed in their reaction to what’s going on in their body.

I know it’s tough listening to constant complaints—I admit to a desire to ignore the whining on a regular basis. This is why I count on the medical profession to help me weed out the stuff that’s not serious.