As you are now aware, I have many different issues.
Dear Doctor
As you are now aware, I have many different issues - some physical and some mental. And yes, there are many specialities for complex conditions, which can mean many hospital visits and sometimes LONG stays in hospital.
You can probably guess (well, you should actually KNOW this) that not all doctors have the same knowledge and expertise in any subject. And some of them will admit this and ask for help or advice when they know they are uncertain of what to do. In fact, I very much prefer if they DO go away and ask or research to discover the problem and solution to whatever is causing an issue for me.
However, there are times when it can feel extremely scary when you realise that the doctor REALLY doesn’t know or understand where you are coming from, nor the ability to be able to admit it and get support. When I realise this, I tend to look for someone else that I can trust because, quite frankly, it terrifies me.
But having said that, I think the VERY WORST experience I have ever had was when I was in hospital one night and the nurses had done everything they could to help me and nothing was working. I think it was about 3 in the morning and I asked if they could get a doctor to me and they agreed it was now necessary.
So, this doctor turns up, takes one look at me and said to me “What medication do you want and how much of it would you like?” I was STUNNED! A doctor asking ME? They were meant to either have or find the answer! Seriously, if I was a drug addict it would be an open invite to ask for anything unsuitable and I am sure he would have given it to me.
Please, doctor, if you don’t know the answer, DON’T do that! I would far rather you went to find the answer and returned than that. My life depends on you in circumstances like that. If I know what is going on, I will suggest something that has worked in the past, but if I don’t, do you think it would be possible for you to discover instead of freaking me out?
Thanks so much
The Invisible Patient