Connect
← Return to Doctors mistake watch out.
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@contentandwell JK, I'm sorry you were misdiagnosed too, but by sharing our stories, we teach others the importance of asking questions, learning as much as you can about your condition, and 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinions.... and firing a doctor who isn't helping you. That doesn't feel good, and you start over searching for help. Doctors don't always tell you everything they are thinking, and I always get my medical records from my visits and look up everything they write about me and I learn a lot. That can also tell you if they are venturing the wrong direction, and if they are not listening to the patient, how can a patient get the right care? It's all based of honest communication, and mistakes can be made so easily. Doctors are human and can be distracted or irritated and that affects how much they will understand from you the patient. I try to vet them as best I can by reading their research and I look for things like teaching at medical society conferences to find the leaders in the field.
Replies to "@contentandwell JK, I'm sorry you were misdiagnosed too, but by sharing our stories, we teach others..."
@jenniferhunter I do the same, Jennifer, and did much research but never came across liver problems! My local doctor is highly regarded but he missed the boat on me. The doctor I started with thought I had Alzheimer's after I had one HE episode! She was history as soon as I could find a different doctor.
I was a mystery to my PCP, and my hematologist who I was seeing because my platelet count was low and continually getting lower. It was finally the neurologist I was sent to who hit on it being my liver. Interestingly, my sister mentioned my symptoms to her niece who is a nurse and her niece said it sounded like liver! My sister never wants to interfere so she never told me that until afterward.
@jenniferhunter That's really terrible about your care with the first doctor, but please be assured that not all spine doctors are that callous. My brother-in-law had spine surgery last year in Boston, done by a wonderful doctor who was caring and did a great job.
JK
Connect
I have been in the medical field all
my life and I truly believe a doctors job is very difficult. They see so many patients a day, and work at a very fast pace. I too have been undiagnosed with an auto-immune disease for 15 years, but with the help of my neurologist, endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic and my own research, I finally feel I have a great team! So never give up, just become part of your care team!