Comments on: Doctors Who Fail to Diagnose

By: The Dana Files » It Happens Every Time, But This Day Is Different

The Dana Files » It Happens Every Time, But This Day Is Different — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:53:43 +0000

[...] I wondered. Does she even know anything about me? Does she know that I’m struggling? Does she know about my history with PCOS? Does she know it took three years to conceive Dawson, or that I had a miscarriage when Dawson [...]

By: Stefanie

Stefanie — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:42:42 +0000

Hi Dana,

I know it’s tough to argue with a doctor but I’ve been through stuff like this many many times and the only way to deal with it is to be adament. Changing doctors is a last resort because so many of them are the same. But if you are not feeling better and the doctor won’t do anything else then get the hell out. You, of course, know your body better than any doctor. Be strong!!

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:16:23 +0000

I want to thank each and every one of you for your words of encouragement, your advice and your compassion. I’m very anxious to get to the doctor to address everything. I’ve got my list ready, my questions will not go unanswered. I can only hope that my doc is receptive and not ignorant.

By: tori

tori — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 15:25:05 +0000

You are not crazy! I had messed up menstrual stuff, and ended up with a hysterectomy last year. Two years ago I had thyroid cancer. I am not saying that is what you have because it is very rare (lucky me!) but if you feel something is wrong, don’t give up until they pinpoint it. My cancer only got diagnosed because I kept going to doctor after doctor saying “something is wrong”. Half of them looked at me like I was crazy, but I don’t care! I finally found a doctor who knew what he was doing and saved my life by diagnosing my cancer. Good luck to you, and seriously, don’t give up! Cancer isn’t likely, but you know your body, and if you feel something is wrong, it probably is!

By: Anonymous Purple Car

Anonymous Purple Car — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:00:42 +0000

Hi Dana,

I am not sure who you see or if you are only trying doctors in the immediate area. I have never been happy with any doctors in the immediate area and I was really frusterated when I was trying to get pregnant with my daughter. I don’t remember who referred me but I started using a doctor in Wausau and I was thoroughly impressed. I used Wausau for having my daughter, (her pediatrician is also there) my breast biopsys, and tomorrow for my knee surgery. Just a thought for you - its a few more miles but they go the extra mile!

Good Luck!!

By: Beth F.

Beth F. — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 03:01:44 +0000

Dana,
I have Hashimoto’s disease which causes hypothyroidism. It’s really important to make sure that when your doctor orders the thyroid blood tests, that they are measuring not just your TSH levels, but also your T3 and T4. If your doctor won’t do all of these, switch doctors. At the same time of my first thyroid blood test, I also had an ultrasound done of my actual thyroid. Also, hypothyroidism is often hereditary, do any females on your Mom’s side of the family have this condition?

I think once you continue to lose weight and your body really gets used to the activity, you’re fatigue should ease up, your body is still tired from the relatively new activites it’s going through. Keep pushing on with WW, you are doing a great job, but each week you will start to feel better and better!’

Keep us posted and best of luck.

By: mammacheryl

mammacheryl — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:08:55 +0000

Late coming to the conversation, Dana, but I just wanted to give you my perspective. A couple years ago, I realized that I can ask doctors for what I want. I realized that I was an adult. I’m educated, and I know my body better than everybody else. Most doctors are prepared for someone like that, and I’ve had to switch doctors all the time as well. I think I finally found one. At my first appointment with her, she really listened and absorbed what I was saying… about what was going on in my life, how I wanted to get pregnant soon, what my current issue was, and what I needed to happen in order to get through it. Then she told me how she could help. I loved that response.

By all means, try really hard with your doc this next time. Tell him outright that you need someone who will actually listen and try to figure out a solution with you. And if he isn’t receptive, call the physician referral service for your clinic or community and get matched up with a new one. And KEEP TRYING until you find someone who will help you. Some doctors are just dense, and they think that female problems can just be “lived” with and aren’t worth treating. That’s ridiculous in this day and age.

One of the reasons I left my last primary doctor was because it was a too-busy clinic and his nurse sucked. I had just had Ben, and the ER had diagnosed me with an enlarged heart. They referred me to cardiology to get an ultrasound of my heart and said my primary doctor would get the results and go over the options with me.

I had to call my primary five freaking times after the ultrasound. Finally, I got a rushed, annoyed call from his nurse saying that the test was normal and I’m fine. I was so upset that she treated me that way. I had just spent the last week worrying that my heart was going to give out before I lived long enough to see Ben go to preschool. Sure, it’s great that my heart is fine, but that clinic didn’t realize what those results MEANT to me and my life and my family.

Not-quite-good-enough health is intensely personal and it affects every aspect of your life. Good doctors know that disruptions in normal functions of your body are upsetting and deserve to be treated.

And if he tells you it’s just because your overweight, tell him that you’re working on losing weight, but what is he going to do in the meantime. Okay. I’m done now. Good luck, dear.

By: Dana

Dana — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:52:29 +0000

Thank you all for the good advice. I made an appointment for this coming Friday and I wrote EVERYTHING down that I want answered or addressed. We’ll see how that goes.

By: yoshi

yoshi — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 19:24:24 +0000

As someone who used to work in the medical profession, I have to insist that you just keep bugging your doctor.

If nothing else, present him with any type of documentation you read about what you suspect, and just keep telling him that it’s your body, and you know how it’s supposed to feel.

Doctors can get stubborn sometimes like that. No one wants to admit they’re wrong, especially doctors.

By: Kendra

Kendra — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 05:37:05 +0000

Amazing enough, I just found from a dermatologist I may have PCOS.

Funny thing is, every single symptom of PCOS that is present, I’ve actually seen a doctor about, 10 years ago.

The actual truth of the matter is that doctors are FAILING TO DIAGNOSE PCOS ALTOGETHER and some DON’T KNOW THE CONDITION ACTUALLY EXISTS.

Change doctors and change doctors now. Research. This is actually UP TO YOU and not doctors, parents, signitificant others to help you with this. YOU have to actually take the responsibility and PUSH EVERY SINGLE SECOND that someone is not doing something for this condition.

This can turn into cancer.
You can lose your life.