UPDATE: new doc can put his pants on right

That is wonderful. I am so glad you found someone who is a real doctor.

That's great! Always takes a load of pressure off when you find out a new doc is going to listen to you.

Good for you LivingColor! A doctor that will actually read what a patient writes down! Keep him, he is definitely a rare one! I hope this works out for you!

White Beard

I think telling him up front in the intro letter to the long one that I have medical experience, and grew up around healthcare workers and hospitals, and giving him the reason for writing the longer one was not to moan and complain, but to lay out all the facts that I had available to me in written form went a long way. That and I communicate better writing it out when it's something this complex.

I cited my references. I didn't just say "I found this on the internet" I said "My research
included; National Institute of Health, MayoClinic.com, RareDiseases.org, The Collagen Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Washington, Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, and the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation." That showed I did my homework and was trying to help him make an actual diagnosis. And I made him understand that if I was going to be changing doctors every so often, getting an actual diagnosis was vital.

Plus I broke my pain level down into parts, the different parts of my spine, upper and lower legs, feet, and assigned pain values to each part independently, and what makes each part hurt more or less. I explained what I have done, what has and hasn't worked for me, (TENS, Chiropractic, massage, heat/cold, etc) what positions make it better or worse, my bed, how I sleep (on my side with a body pillow), and every symptom I currently have, along with every thing I had in the past, down to the measles, mumps, and chicken pox as a kid, and the acquired latex sensitivity from working in healthcare. I get a rash. They had to order the nitrile or vinyl gloves for me at the time, but those are standard now in most places. And all of my current prescription and over the counter meds, with dosages and when I take them.

I think just using the correct terminology helped him understand I knew which end was up, that and the fact that I knew Gray's Anatomy was not just a TV show. I used to sit on the can as a kid and get absorbed by it, and the rest of my mom's nursing textbooks. I didn't understand a lot of it, but it still fascinated me. I'm also the kid who used to read the encyclopedia (remember those?) and the dictionary for fun.

He's aware that I'm self aware, and I know his situation too, from budget to license, to having to answer to an attending, all that stuff. I believe that helped as well, knowing we both have to work within the system. He even told me his schedule for the next 2 weeks in case something comes up.

I really like this guy. He's the type that's going to make a good doctor. And that's a huge relief. He told me if this turns out not to be EDS that he will still get me a diagnosis so the next guy will have a starting point and an aggressive treatment plan in place. Music to my ears.

I'm also keeping a medical journal on his advice, what I take, times I take it, including OTC meds, and when I feel effect of them, or how I feel 1 hr later. Also including mealtimes just because. It may come in handy for him later, so he wants a copy.