So close, and yet, so far

[pktechgirlbackup]

Adrenal fatigue is kind of a fringe diagnosis, so I was happy when my friend's very mainstream endocrinologist listed it as a possibility (I'm not happy my friend is sleeping 16 hours/day, obviously, just happy he might get it treated). Except said doctor is not ordering a cortisol level check and is not prescribing hydrocortisone. It appears he's using Adrenal Fatigue the way doctor's used to use Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a way of repeating your symptoms back to you without actually inducing any action on their part. Aargh.

My finger was ugly enough today that I went to the doctor (got x-rays, haven't heard back yet). I hate this doctor, but I couldn't see the next one on my list until I'd had a new patient visit, so I had to use her. I figured it couldn't be too bad, since this was a simple mechanical issue. That office is where I developed a new theory: humans do not believe they can be cured by someone who doesn't care about them, by which I of course mean I do not believe I can be cured by someone who doesn't care about me. Oh, intellectually I understand the doctor can read an x-ray and tell me if I need a splint or not, but I *believe* she's thinking "this is the nut case that asks me to back up my assertions with data" and it's affecting my care. And I'm not sure that's so unreasonable- my friend above's treatment may be suffering in part because the doctor flat out doesn't believe he's sleeping as much as he says he is, and it's hard to tell marginal symptoms to someone you believe is trying to rush you out of the room. So now I'm going to try paying for concierge medicine, even though my insurance won't cover it.

Comments

sorry, had to edit:

[scythe-of-time.livejournal.com]

I would say that she probably doesn't remember you, but no, she likely does. Whether it affects your care remains to be seen, but I totally believe the case about your friend.

People with mental illnesses get treated like this all the time; I remember very clearly not being believed when I reported symptoms of depression and anxiety and hoarding and sleeping 20 hours per day during my pregnancy, which as you know led to a psychotic break with the addition of birth hormones.

< tangent >
Hell, my PCP at age 15 reduced me to tears by telling me that going on birth control was a Very Bad Thing With Consequences, and made me promise to not to have sex because he knew I was a "dirty, dirty slut." (We were using the bc to control my heavy periods and vicious mood swings, but that clearly didn't matter.)

He was the only doctor in town that took the state's health insurance, and as you can imagine, his care was wonderful. I think he's still practicing in my hometown today.
< /tangent >

Best of luck on your finger.