If your condition is complicated, you will likely need to see a variety of experts. Somewhere on that journey, a doctor, most often a specialist of some sort, will recognize your symptoms and give you a diagnosis. Is that diagnosis enough? Are you set now? Or do you need to go deeper down the rabbit…
Yes, I’m still sick, and it looks likely that my bronchitis has shifted into reactive airway disease. I did want to write about another aspect of being sick while managing a chronic condition(and the medications that go with it) – namely drug interactions with over the counter medications, unexpected side effects or complications, and the…
With many conditions, medication is often part of the treatment process. There are risks and rewards to medications, but at times those risks feel huge, and the rewards feel distant and difficult to reach. So many medications are now being advertised on TV with a message of hope, followed by a seemingly unending list of…
Going to doctor’s appointments alone can be frightening and overwhelming. Bringing a loved one with you to the appointment can often reduce that stress and help you get the most out of the appointment. There can be friends and family who just are not the right match for this task though, so you want to…
Doctor shopping is the process of seeking multiple doctors in the same specialty. If you fear misdiagnosis, doctor shopping may be a powerful tool for you.
There are times when doctors, very simply, are wrong. There are also times when they do not know the answer. Mistakes can and will happen, and your goal as a patient is to make sure you are properly diagnosed by your doctor. Making sure you aren’t misdiagnosed! If your doctor does not know what your…
For both urge and stress incontinence, the best treatment is actually physical therapy. You’ll probably have to do some digging, but there are physical therapists(many of them are DPT’s(doctors of physical therapy) as opposed to having a master’s in physical therapy) out there who focus in on pelvic floor health and rehabilitation. Do some searching…
When trying to get diagnosed, you are often told your next step is seeing a specialist. This is an indicator that your GP can’t easily figure out what’s going on, and wants you to see a doctor who focuses in on whatever system of yours seems out of whack.
Psychologists treat psychological concerns or issues through conversation, observing your thoughts and actions, and helping you think through your reactions to events in your life. They meet with their patients regularly, and it is an emotionally intimate relationship. They do not require a specific diagnosis but instead work with their clients to help them…
A psychiatrist manages medication for mental-health concerns – so they are who you go to for medication prescriptions and for help and support in finding the right medication and dosage. A psychologist, on the other hand, is trained to help people better understand and process their experiences. They do not prescribe or manage medications…