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what to do if Doctors can't find medical problem but you are sick
- Thread starter O A
- Start date
straight answer
New member
Islandmadre,
Welcome to the boards!!!
It depends on what kinds of symptoms you've had, what kinds of doctors you've seen, and other factors.
From personal experience I would say that when doctors test and test and test only to find "nothing", they have often overlooked the side effects of medication...so if you are taking medication of any kind, look for info about the side effects! Keep in mind that no one source lists ALL of the side effects so you will need to seek info from a variety of sources (pharmacists, drug companies, medication package inserts, etc). Also, keep in mind that those meds haven't been tested on everyone so some side effects may not be listed! I was in excellent health only to find myself with "arthritis", back pain, memory problems, mobility problems, restless legs, sleep disturbances,etc only to discover on my own (doctors were absolutely NO help here) that my problems and my rapid decline in health was due to the medication I was taking for high blood pressure.
I don't know what your situation is at all...but for your sake and the sake of others I will say it wouldn't hurt to review the Lyme Disease boards. Lyme Disease can affect multiple body systems...blood, heart, muscles, nerves, vision, bones,etc...and there is no one test that can detect the disease so doctors can't find anything wrong! As a result it often goes undetected and underreported, sometimes for decades.
Bethsheba
Welcome to the boards!!!
It depends on what kinds of symptoms you've had, what kinds of doctors you've seen, and other factors.
From personal experience I would say that when doctors test and test and test only to find "nothing", they have often overlooked the side effects of medication...so if you are taking medication of any kind, look for info about the side effects! Keep in mind that no one source lists ALL of the side effects so you will need to seek info from a variety of sources (pharmacists, drug companies, medication package inserts, etc). Also, keep in mind that those meds haven't been tested on everyone so some side effects may not be listed! I was in excellent health only to find myself with "arthritis", back pain, memory problems, mobility problems, restless legs, sleep disturbances,etc only to discover on my own (doctors were absolutely NO help here) that my problems and my rapid decline in health was due to the medication I was taking for high blood pressure.
I don't know what your situation is at all...but for your sake and the sake of others I will say it wouldn't hurt to review the Lyme Disease boards. Lyme Disease can affect multiple body systems...blood, heart, muscles, nerves, vision, bones,etc...and there is no one test that can detect the disease so doctors can't find anything wrong! As a result it often goes undetected and underreported, sometimes for decades.
Bethsheba
I agree with Bethsheba, I have gone 1 1/2 years without answers for my sudden decline in health. I finally requested all my records from every doctor that I saw and review notes and test results. I than concluded that once I stopped taking Tamoxafin my symptoms began to slowly disappear.
Doctors have many patients and they can not possibly take the amount of time it requires to review and research. You as a patient however must find the time to read and research. This is sometimes the only way to finally get some answers. Get all your records and read them over, sometimes more than once and use the internet to check test results. Once you have all your information than you can return to your doctor with a list of questions and requests for further tests. Some doctors do not like this approach, however, some are very appreciative because they have a patient who is willing to be part of the solution to their own health problems.
Doctors have many patients and they can not possibly take the amount of time it requires to review and research. You as a patient however must find the time to read and research. This is sometimes the only way to finally get some answers. Get all your records and read them over, sometimes more than once and use the internet to check test results. Once you have all your information than you can return to your doctor with a list of questions and requests for further tests. Some doctors do not like this approach, however, some are very appreciative because they have a patient who is willing to be part of the solution to their own health problems.
I couldn't agree with you more with everything you've said...and the suggestion to check lab results was excellent. I trusted those "lab results" until I did some research when I received unfavorable results. Something as simple as strenous exercise before having the labwork done can give inaccurate numbers
Bethsheba
Bethsheba