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Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,233
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

What I don't remember reading is when OP went back to the doctor she had trusted for 18 years and reported the ongoing pain to her.  I don't get suffering for so long without asking for more help.  How was the doctor to know her diagnosis was wrong?  For all she knew the med prescribed had taken care of the problem.

 

Changing doctors doesn't feel wrong to me -  but putting all the blame on one party to this mess does.  What we don't communicate to our doctors they can't much help us with.  I'd like for my doctors never to make an error, but how realistic is that?

 

 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,249
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@SXMGirl  I'm so sorry for your situation.  I've switched doctors and dentists because I didn't like any number of issues.

 

About a decade ago my cousin was misdiagnosed with bronchitis. They treated her for a year. It was lung cancer. Her daughters won a malpractice lawsuit. At the same time, my second cousin had brain cancer.  They put the results in her chart but didn't tell her for a long time.

 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,407
Registered: ‎07-07-2010

@Mary Bailey, I am so sorry about your cousin.  I cannot imagine anything worse.

 

@millieshops, I saw my doctor quite often and also brought in my research.  I have never had a reason not to trust her, which may make me either very lucky or quite naive.  Either way, I realize that I should have sought out a second opinion a long time ago; but when someone has a doctor who has always been proactive and always correct in any diagnosis, I had no reason not to believe her.  As I previously posted, I did the research and everything that she told me was exactly what I found in my online searches.  I am definitely to blame for not getting a second opinion earlier, but I put just as much or more on a doctor.  After all, she is the medical professional who told me that she saw and treated many cases of lichen schlerosus and that I definitely had it.  I had no reason to doubt her about a disease that I was not aware even existed.

The next time that I hear salt and ice together, it better be in a margarita!
Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,054
Registered: ‎06-14-2010

I have a wonderful doctor who I have been seeing since the eighties.  If there is something specifically that needs to be checked, she always refers me to a specialist.  She is an internist and would have referred me to a gynecologist for the symptoms you experienced.  Fortunately I live in an area where there are many excellent doctors and options.

 

With that being said, I know there are doctors out there who are not as competent as they should be.  Misdiagnosis does happen.  Second opinions are always recommended when you aren't satisfied with a particular doctor.  In your case suffering with such pain should have been a red flag.  Yes, it isn't always easy to find another doctor but we are talking about your health, it is priority.  

 

Do not waste time with this doctor, just find another  If you were misdiagnosed maybe you need to report it so it doesn't happen to others, perhaps a lawyer could advise.  However, hopefully you will be fine and put this nightmare behind you.  

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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,645
Registered: ‎03-28-2015

Well....If you have benn happy with her up until now....I would discuss what happened  and stay with her.....

 

I had something similar happen with my daughter....She had severe abdominal pain and he diagnosed her with a cyst on her ovary....she ended up being diagnosed with Crohn's disease after she went to emergency.

 

I never hesitate to get a second opinion when something doesn't seem right...

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,233
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@SXMGirlI'm sorry you suffered for so long.  I do understand why you'd think she was right after such a long time with her, but I doubt she had any idea of your suffering. If lots of her work were subpar, you wouldn't have stayed with her for so many years.

 

I know we're all different, but finding out there was fast and effective relief for my pain and that I myself hadn't taken steps to get relief sooner would make me as angry with myself as I would be upset and disappointed with my doctor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,583
Registered: ‎06-25-2012

Remember doctors are human and can make mistakes. I'm sure your GP didn't intentionally misdiagnose you. Yes, talk to your doctor and move on. 

"Pure Michigan"
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,407
Registered: ‎07-07-2010

Re: My Family Doctor Rant

[ Edited ]

@millieshops, I am absolutely mad at myself.  I might not have even made an appointment with a specialist if I had not started taking the steroids that my ortho prescribed for my knees.  I had forgotten about them, but I remembered that they were to reduced inflammation and I thought that I would give it a try for my problem.  It worked, but the specialist today told me to discontinue immediately.   I am just so glad to have found the cure and that I don't have an incurable disease.  I guess that is the main thing and that I should be happy for today.

 

@ID2,  I am certain that she did not intentionally mis-diagnose, but I asked her if she treated many cases since I had read that it was rare.  She assured me that she sees it all of the time.  Now, I am wondering who else might have been mis-diagnosed and I will say that to her.  I have been with her for three different practices/offices, so I have been a loyal client and feel that she needs to hear what I have to say.

The next time that I hear salt and ice together, it better be in a margarita!
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,875
Registered: ‎04-27-2015

@Mary Bailey wrote:

@SXMGirl  I'm so sorry for your situation.  I've switched doctors and dentists because I didn't like any number of issues.

 

About a decade ago my cousin was misdiagnosed with bronchitis. They treated her for a year. It was lung cancer. Her daughters won a malpractice lawsuit. At the same time, my second cousin had brain cancer.  They put the results in her chart but didn't tell her for a long time.

 


@Mary Bailey Wow, that is frightening. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,671
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

@SXMGirl


@SXMGirl wrote:

I am so angry that I am fairly sure that I will be leaving my family doctor of almost 18 years over a mis-diagnosis.

 

Last summer, I saw her about what I thought was a yeast infection.  My doctor assured me that I was wrong and that what I had was lichen sclerosus.  Unfortunately, it can spread anywhere there is soft tissue, which mine did on my stomach, and it can turn into cancer in some cases.  It is not curable.

 

The pain has been unbearable since November, but she assured me that at some point, with the meds, that it would get better.  Since I research everything, I got on every site that I could and also checked meds.  Last week I was in such pain that I sought out a specialist.

 

Today was my specialist appointment and I do not have lichen sclerosus but I do have a terrible yeast infection that she told me would have to be biopsied if it was not better when I saw her again in two weeks.  Well, after one pill and three difference cream applications, I am already pain free and the infection looks to be almost gone. I am still livid.  

 

I will be seeing my family doctor again in September when I get my next set of blood work done.  At that point, she and I will be having quite a conversation.  I know that she was unhappy in the practice where she was at for the past 5 years, but that really is no excuse.  As I told the specialist today, I thought that my regular doctor just was not interested.   I really do not know how to even put this nicely to her.  Luckily, I am not seeing her this week.

 

I really hate to change doctors, but I am not sure if I will ever have confidence in her again.  Anyone think that I am over-reacting to this situation?  I definitely welcome all opinions.  Thanks.


I am going through the same  rant with my Dr. of many years.  He is ready to retire and will give me an MRI of my head.  I get terrible headaches in back on the right side behind ear.  The only thing that helps is a dark room and packing my head and neck in ice pks.  He said Artherites (sp)?  He told someone else I know this and it turned out to be a tumor in her brain.  He asked me a lot of questions and because of my answers, he ruled out tumor.  I don't think I have a tumor, but when you get old, the HMO's don't want to spend money on the elderly, strictly my opinion.