Hi there SweetShortie2012, i really feel for you, it must be so hard for you at the moment, i have been referred to as a hypochondriac when i was with a previous doctor before i moved home and got the diagnosis for Lupus. I had this female doctor who examined me and said oh well if you are THAT BAD!! i will have to send you to see a neurologist, when i got to the neurologist she let me see the doctors letter to her, and in it, it said that because i was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, that every physical symptom had to be psychosomatic, in other words they werent really there, they put everything down to the fact i was depressed at the time, and had been through an awful lot and was having therapy for past events. When i moved i had a tempreture of 103degrees and a really sore throat and fluey symptoms, so i rang the doctors, but they told me as i had moved i wasnt in their catchment area so i wasnt entitled to a home visit, and had to get to the surgery no matter what, so i did but when i arrived the lady behind the counter, said i shouldnt of come out as i was so bad, i told her well you said i had to come. Anyway i knew then i had to change my doctors, so when i went into the next surgery i asked was there someone who had understanding and was sympathetic to their patients, i wanted a woman at first, but the receptionist said the only one who was like i wanted was a man, so i thought i would give him a go and he has been great. I walked in and said i felt like a hypochondriac with the amount of things i have wrong with me, he was great about it and just said to list all that was bothering me, and then said he thought he knew what was wrong, but wouldnt say until the tests came back, after ten days i went back and he said he thought i had Systemic Lupus, and said i had probably had it for a long time before then. Anyway i was seen by specialist after specialist, and they confirmed i had Lupus, Epilepsy, Sjorgrens Syndrome, Antiphospholipid Syndrome, had a stroke, and many other things, it was such a shock after being told there was nothing wrong with me except the depression. I have major organ involvement with the Lupus as well, so if it had of been left any longer, things could of been fatal for me, as it was they didnt think i would last longer than a couple of years, but it has been ten years now since i was diagnosed, so i do know how you are feeling totally. Its not nice to think that people dont believe what you are saying. I too, had a nasty piece of work for a father sadly, and didnt see him for ages, until he got cancer, i went the once and that was it, i felt i had to go and see him the once before he died, but nothing had changed about how i felt about him, if you ever want to chat, and would like to message me, please add me as a friend, as i know how hard things are for you at the moment. And no your personal life shouldnt be anything to do with them, although sometimes how we are feeling mentally can affect how we are physically, although we dont even realise it. I think stress can definately exaccerbate pain, it has been proven if we are more stressed or upset about something it can make our symptoms worse, if they can be any worse, eh,? You are right, you need to get answers, you cant put up with this all the time, you need something to ease the pain otherwise you cant think straight half the time when you are in severe pain. Some doctors are better at listening than others, is there any way you can change who you see at all. I have an oncologist as well, i have to give myself Methotrexate injections rather than the infusions, and having those sort of things can make you feel bad enough, i am assuming it is something similar, if not i would be interested to know and understand why you see the oncologist, it is such a shame that some doctors have this tunnel vision towards some things. You are only young yet, and yet you sound as though you have been through so much, which isnt fair is it? Some people get nothing, others get the lot as far as bad health goes. You need to ask the Rhuematologist what your Esr results were and what they should be for you, as everyone is different, and tell him whats going on with you and the pain, he may be able to prescribe you something. My Rhuematologist gives me an extra steroid injection to calm down some of the inflammation. Ask him to be honest about how you are at the moment, ask him how he see's it and then you can tell him how you see it, if you dont agree, but stay calm when you speak to him, show you are an adult, this helps. I am sure you already do stay calm and act like an adult. There are too many assumptions made by doctors, which needs to be changed, so if we dont ask and say what we need, then their views and ideas on things cant change. You are a special person and you are worth the right treatment, stay strong, i know its difficult when so much is going on in your life, remember you have friends here on LWL, and we are here for you, so take care, look after yourself, good luck with the Rheumatologist, love and hugs Astrid40xoxo
