My last blog entry was on the topic of self-diagnosis and how moronic it is, and when I mentioned the same subject to my newsletter subscribers I got a pretty hefty response. If there's anyone out there who is still self-diagnosing, have a read of this:
"I confess I was one of the dummy ones that read about IBS on the net and said "Yes, this sounds like", but I am the scientific-minded type so I wanted to cross-check my self-diagnosis. It came out to be something incredibly simple but not less troublesome - a helicobacter pylori infection.
I said not less troublesome because some strains of these bacteria are resistant to the first antibiotics commonly prescribed. I've taken two courses of antibiotics already and it seems to be still there...
The symptoms may be very similar to IBS - for every different patient, there may be slight variations of the symptoms for the same condition. I am happy I went to see the doctor, otherwise I could have have this disease undiagnosed for years. Helicobacter infections are associated with stomach cancer, hence the importance of a medical opinion."
While a number of emails agreed with the dangers of self-diagnosis, there were also several emails from people who weren't self-diagnosing, but had actually been misdiagnosed by doctors. This is a good reminder that any medical diagnosis will require co-operation and communication from both the doctor and the patient, and there is responsibility on both sides.
Patients must visit a doctor in the first place, and then we must explain ourselves clearly, mention ALL of our symptoms, not just the socially acceptable ones, and try to ensure that our doctor has a clear picture of how our symptoms are affecting our lives.
And doctors must take the time to listen, offer tests and referrals if needed, show empathy to patients in pain, and make sure that they don't jump to the nearest conclusion.
I'll leave you with one of the emails I received on the subject of doctors who misdiagnose. This story is a good illustration of how doctors sometimes try to fob IBS patients off with a prescription and a "Just learn to live with it, petal", and how important it is to not let them get away with it!
"I don't remember the exact transition from normal bowel to stupid bowel, but it was about 10 years ago. I began to have diarrhea frequently but also became ill a lot, and caught every bug that was going around. At first I largely ignored it and dealt with the unpleasantness, not having a huge amount of natural shame.
The first time I went to see my GP, he happily suggested that it was 'something we call IBS', said that no-one knew what caused it etc, and tried me on that anti-inflammatory stuff and some fiber goo. When nothing changed, I went back. That particular GP was and still is a real patronising goon, so I visited every GP in the practice. One particularly enlightened lady doctor actually said to me: 'What do you want me to do?' (in the tone of 'What do you want me to do about your dead goldfish?').
This pattern continued for about three or four years until I saw a locum GP at the same surgery. When I had sat down she asked me what the problem was and I replied that I hadn't had a solid poo for about three years. When I saw a hint of surprise on her face, I knew I was onto a winner! She seemed concerned that I hadn't been referred to the hospital and did so at once.
My new hospital doctor blew air up my bum. Then he announced that I probably have something called colitis, and that some more air-blowing tests will confirm it. He then said, and I swear this is true, 'Don't worry, we'll fix you'.
I've since realised that colitis is not fixable, and like IBS, there is an ocean of medication and dosage to sort out, but when that is done colitis can be managed, in my experience, to a more agreeable level than IBS.
So in a very rambled way, what I'm trying to say is that whatever you think you may have, insist on a referral. It took my surgery 10 years and I didn't even have what they originally diagnosed. Secondly, most doctors talk crap and think that they are God. So search for one that listens."
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