Brick Wall

Dar:
Your voice is heard on this forum. We hear your anguish and frustration. And we hear you when you say that a goodly number of physicians have left you feeling dismissed, tossed aside, when no diagnosis is readily apparent.

For what it’s worth, please recognize and know that the underlying failing is a deep failing of our system of medical care in this country. The United States has one of the highest health care expenses per capita but ranks near the bottom of clinical outcomes and quality of life among the world’s developed nations. The United States ranks just above Costa Rica. Our medical care is sorely lacking. And people are suffering.

Physicians and the field of medical science know what they know. But there is much that remains unknown.

Physicians do best in attending to and treating conditions and illnesses that are known to them and that have a natural course or trajectory of healing and recovery. Ex. A person with diverticulosis (inflammation of the large intestine due to an out-pocketing) is given a course of antibiotics.

What medicine does less well with are those conditions and illnesses that are not readily apparent. Illnesses and conditions that require that the physician uses deductive reasoning that integrates sound listening to the patient in describing their symptoms combined with differential diagnosis that includes imaging, laboratory blood work, and assessment of how the organs and organ systems work. Too often, today’s physicians have become overly reliant on CT and MRI imaging in clinical decision making. But reliance on advanced imaging is self-limiting. Imaging shows only structural or anatomical anomalies. It fails to view aspects of how the body functions (physiology) as a source of illness or dysfunction. Diabetes is a disease not apparent on an c-ray or CT scan.

I have had more inept and incompetent medical care over my lifespan than competent medical care. Even with top notch medical insurance. Even living in large, urban cities on the west coast (I have lived each in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland). It took approximately 6 years of migrating from one specialist to another before I was accurately diagnosed with Addison’s disease. And I am not alone in those with Addison’s disease to have a long trail of inaccurate diagnoses and years of disenchanting medical appointments.

All to say . . . I can appreciate where you are coming from in expressing that you want to remove yourself making another medical appointment with yet another specialist. You have not been justly served by
The physicians you have seen to date, with the exception of your primary care PCP. It is OK to take a hiatus and a time-out. Since your primary care provider has been a stabilizing and supportive figure, keep yourself there and build on what your primary care provider can offer you. Reach out to your core family and daughter for love, guidance, and centering of mind/body. Get outside as you are able and connect with nature - listen to the birds chirping, watch the antics of a young squirrel, observe the pedals of a fresh flower. Gardening is a hobby that is intrinsically healing to me.

Your voice is heard here, on this forum. We care about you. And hope for you better days ahead.
Karen

I completely understand!!!!! I am going through the same thing. Just today I was thinking, please can I just die? I'm tired of being in pain!!! I have been to several doctors, had several misdiagnosis and it seems as though NO ONE wants to deal with me. They all send me to a different doctor. My pcp is the only one who seems to care, but obviously she can't figure this out on her own. I have been told my tests are normal. So why bother to treat me? Why bother to think and figure things out? I'm so frustrated!

Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. And I am glad to know I am not alone as well. My advice would be to keep going. Its a long journey. Its only been 5 years for me, but my pain keeps getting worse. I do feel like giving up. But we can't give up. We can't let chronic pain take over our lives. Do you have a pain management doctor? Are you getting any pain relief? For me, I just saw a pain doctor, and I am getting some pain relief but still unable to do normal, every day activities. All I can do is hold on to hope, and hope that my pain doctor will try to find out the cause of pain and not give up on me, like every other doctor has. I'm hoping I can find a way around my brick wall, whether it be climbing it or walking around. Hard to do, and I am emotionally exhausted, but I'm determined to figure out what is wrong! Hang in there, you are not alone. I hope that is enough to help you keep fighting.