Alright ladies (and gentlemen? do any guys even read my blog? now I am interested). I have three stories here for you today. The first story is my own.
I've always had a finicky stomach. For ten years the pain I felt in my stomach was diagnosed by two different gastrointestinal specialists as "anxiety". A year and a half ago I finally stood up for myself and demanded the full battery of tests. My gallbladder was barely functioning and needed to come out ASAP, otherwise it would have turned into an emergency situation. The surgeon estimated that I had been suffering for nearly a decade (strangely, the same amount of time I had "anxiety") just by looking at my gallbladder that was surrounded by scar tissue.
Next up, my mom. For years and years she had horrible joint pain. Arthritis, her doctor said. Such a shame, everyone said, she's still so young! She tried medication after medication, but eventually she learned to cope with the pain. Years later, after her doctor retired, she saw my doctor for a routine physical. My doctor diagnosed my mom with rheumatoid arthritis with a simple blood test after my mom explained her symptoms. Now she is able to live with much less pain after being properly treated.
Last week my mom's friend had severe stomach pain. She went to the doctor and they gave her an ultrasound that showed "nothing". They told her to go home. She was getting sicker and sicker, so my mom told her to demand all the tests like I did. She was given an MRI that showed a giant mass in her abdomen. She had emergency surgery to remove her appendix and some of her small and large intestines. Needless to say, it wasn't "nothing".
What I'm saying here is although doctors are highly trained and go to school for millions of years, they don't always know their stuff. Just like there are good and bad lawyers, businessmen, mailmen, whatever, there are good and bad doctors. PLEASE listen to your body when it's telling you something. You know your body best, and if you think something is wrong, stand up for yourself.
*steps off soapbox*
16 comments:
I agree. I feel this way every time I go in about migraines because mark my words- I will die of a brain tumor. Seriously, I know it's growing and yet nobody believes me.
You are so right. I am so grateful for the wisdom of drs, but they are still humans, you know?
While pregnant with Jack, I went to an OB with pain under my ribs. He told me I might have shingles?! I had pre-ecclampsia! My baby and I could have DIED. Im still pretty peeved about that one!
Oh dear. I hate how you have to fight for your health. Can I say that is a HUGE reason why I had a natural home birth. I'm so sorry, but glad that you were able to catch them before it got too horrible (although I feel that you all suffered).
Hannah @ Hurley Love
Well.. well.. well.. my body? it constantly tells me I need to eat, but I ignore it.
No i get that this is a serious issue. Granted, doctors have saved my life when I surely couldn't so I have a love for them.
I think most of the time it depends on WHY the doctor became a doctor. I've noticed, that doctors that are in it for the $ just guess, or brush things off, while doctors that became a doctor to help people, actually do so. I've had heart palpitations for as long as I can remember, and every single doctor I've seen brush it off. One doctor did put me on a heart monitor though, and my heart rate went up to 180 while I was sleeping, and he said "That's not normal, but we're not going to worry about it right now, let's see how things go". I never went back to a doctor for the issue, but a few weeks ago while I was in the ER, my boyfriend mentioned it to the doctor and she said I might have something called SVT which can be corrected in some cases, and that I should see a cardiologist. So I'm going there next week & hopefully they don't brush it off...
You definitely have to be your own advocate & ALWAYS ask for your records after every appointment.
Another funny thing was when I got really sick back in January. I had some weird infection in my body that two doctors had NO idea what is was, so I went to the hospital and they thought I had mono... I didn't even have symptoms of mono and the test came back negative the next day.
Wow. Dude, these stories suck! I can't believe you were sick for like, 10 years. I heed your word here girl! Glad to know you are all better. What kind of scar do you have now?
I agree, stand up for yourself and do it loudly. You'll need to be loud to get through the insurance company's haze that has settled around the part of your doctor's brain that allows them to make good decisions on your behalf.
Here here! I feel that it's especially important for you guys down south. You're paying BIG BUCKS for health care and you should get quality services in return.
Well thank you for making me think that Web MD is actually correct when I have a headache and think I'm in fact actually dying of a brain tumor. Because now when I go to the doctor they may just be as wrong as the ones you get stuck with.
Oh Shannon, don't EVEN get me started! I mean, I don't have the most fabulous health care in the world, but I swear they are just lazy. Lazy. If I hear one more time that they don't want to run a test because of the radiation and oh you might also be pregnant so its not good for you....This could go on for days....
So so true. You have to be your own best advocate. That's what I tell myself every time I call the doctor and bug them. Which happens to be on a weekly basis. :)
This is so true! Why is it I want to kick a doctors add but need him to possibly save my life
we should sell tshirts (or ask urban outfitters to) that say "GIVE ME ALL THE TESTS!"
Way to trust your gut! I hate not knowing whether to trust a doctor!
Omg, I am on that soapbox with you girl. I have not been feeling well for sometime and I keep going back, keep going back. I know something is wrong dammit, figure it out doc! You are so right. Only You can look out for you. Can't even trust the doc.
This is why once I find a good doctor, I will never ever leave them. I'm terrified of moving for this same reason, haha.
Post a Comment