← Return to Dismissing doctors: How do you find a doctor who can help?

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@lkel

Hi 7lilsnkr, I'm reading down your list of medical issues, and it reads so much like mine does - I have been "diagnosed" with many of the same items on your list. (I would name them but it would be much of the long, long list.) I also am frustrated by the difficult journey of diagnosis.

Many of your medical issues are also compatible with those that have Primary Immunodeficiency (also known as PID) patients have. One in 10,000 have a PID. That statistic alone makes it difficult to get a diagnosis. I have a subset of PID, Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID). About 1 in 25,000 have CVID. I was finally diagnosed at age 65. Your comment about Immune genetics testing makes me wonder if your Immunologist was leaning that way. Genetics testing, though, is not how most PID patients are diagnosed. It requires antibody testing, IgG, IgA and so on. As I mentioned in an earlier post, got my initial "hint" through my Endocrinologist. Generally, Endos don't do immunology treatment, but it got me on the right track for PID diagnosis. The number of PID cases are so small that there are few doctors that specialize in it. I struggled to find the right doctor. In the Pacific Northwest, there is a concentration of immunologists that specialize in antibody deficiency testing and treatment at Seattle Children's Hospital. I learned about it when I called and asked them for a referral for an Immunologist. I was told they take adult immunology patients. The Immunologist worked with my Primary Care to do preliminary blood work. This was a deeper look (than the Endo) to see if I had blood work showing I had any condition that looked like deficiency. I passed, or failed, depending on how you look at it. This allowed me to be taken on a Seattle Children's Hospital patient. My first appointment, blood work at an even deeper level was done. When that blood work came back it showed I have CVID. With that diagnosis I began treatment and am finally beginning to feel better.
I can't possibly diagnose you but I hopefully the information will help in your search. You might also look at the Immune Deficiency Foundation. They have an excellent website with lots of information.

Jump to this post


Replies to "Hi 7lilsnkr, I'm reading down your list of medical issues, and it reads so much like..."

Wow, thank you for sharing your story in reply to my post. I have always figured something with my immune system but I couldn't put it all together. I figured I would try the genetic approach but when nothing came back with the genetic immune test I was dumbfounded cuz I know I had psoriasis for years growing up. I will check into PID! Thanks again.