"Chronic Complainers"???

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
"Chronic Complainers"???
12
Tue, 09-14-2004 - 9:47am
I got the book, Living Well with Autoimmune Disease, by Mary Shomon, from the library last week and it's interesting to read. But one part really struck me. There's an association called the Anerican Autoimmune Related Diseases Assoc. (AARDA). They conducted a surcye in 1996 that found that patients with an autoimmune disease saw an average of 6 doctors over a 6 year period before getting a diagnosis. And 60% of them were labeled "chronic complainers" by their doctors!!!!

There's so much here. First, that our suspicions were actually true. In some bizzarre "Seinfeldesque" way - doctors really do label you if you're a problem patient. So that means that they just don't listen to you at all once they've given the label. I'm sure all future complaints only serve to compound the problem. Unbelieveable!! Or maybe too shockingly believeable. Or sadly so!

Another point here is that doctors can be so lame that it takes that many doctors over that period of time to finally find one that knows what he or she is doing!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!! Can you imagine having to take your car to 6 different mechanics over 6 years to find out why it isn't working properly? It's unimaginable. And yet for our health, it's seems to be an acceptable practice. That's just infuriating to me. (Can you tell? LOL!)

But the good news for us and the point I think we have to keep in mind is that we are not making it up - as Dave Barry likes to say - when we feel that our doctors don't know what they're doing, aren't listening to us and haven't given us either the proper diagnosis and/or treatment. It truly isn't us, it's them! And so when you leave your current doctor to find yet another one that might have the answer for you, you're only doing what the majority of thyroid patients and others have to do in order to get taken care of. Don't be afraid to leave your doctor and find a new one!! It may make all the difference in the world to your health and well being. Ok - I'm stepping off the soapbox now! LOL! Cathy :)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 9:37am
That's interesting about the midwest and the east coast. I wonder if there's a reason for that - are the doctors better at diagnosing out there? Are are they're reasons why there is more thyroid disease there? Interesting.......

How nice for you that you did find someone good right away. I wonder how much easier it all would have been for me if I had done the same thing! Well, for many of us!! Cathy :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 2:03pm
I believe I am fortunate to have a good Dr. (D.O.) who listens. We shall see in a couple of months when I return for follow up blood work.

I am going to approach him with the notion of getting my TSH between 1-2. I hope he agrees...I'd hate to have to switch Dr.'s!

I am wondering how I should address this issue? I know I want to say something BEFORE the results come back, just in case! I plan on telling him I have read a TON and have talked with many people, and feel 1-2 is where I want to be, furthermore where I should be! (I may not say that!)

I might also mention that I hope he agrees, as I really like him and feel very comfortable being his patient.

Is that last comment going too far? Does it sound 'threatening'?? (lol!)

~Karen

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