Mystery Diagnosis

[DayCruiser]

Anyone else watch this show? Makes you lose confidence in 3/4 of the medical community. Sick go from doctor to doctor to research centers seeking help for the illnesses. Needlessly suffering for sometimes many years before finally finding a medical professional who either cares enough or knows enough to help them with their problem. Many times they have to research their problem on the Internet(themselves) to come up with a solution. I know of at least one illness around here where the patient told the Doc what he had and asked him to run a test for it. Doc was all poed and reluctant but said ok. Sure enough that was the problem.
Some of it you can understand. 1000s of diseases out there. Hard to be familiar with them all. But Docs should keep an open mind and do some research when a problem persist. OR help them find a Specialist. Don't just brush the patient off.
Like last night, there was this guy whose neck and head was stuck leaning way over to the left for 2 years! Docs kept telling him that it was a strain or all in his "head" since it straightened out while he was sleeping. He was in a lot of pain and no treatment worked. His mother talked to a friend of her and she knew somebody who had a similar problem and a Doc who helped her. So she sent her son to that doc and he diagnosed a disease. Gave the man some botox treatments. 16 shots each side of the neck. Straightened him out. But this was not before he lost his job and his fiancee. Still he has a happy life now.
So if you get sick with something rare or even something obvious. Get a second, third etc opinion. Be prepared to internet research. Because Docs don't know it all and some of them are just wanting that pay check. Many are no different than the rest of society

 

[j_martin]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

A classic. You might note where it occurred.

Man Has Tooth Removed From Ear - Stuck for 33 Years!

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

A classic. You might note where it occurred.

Man Has Tooth Removed From Ear - Stuck for 33 Years!

In the UK, where they aren't concerned at all with their teeth. Had that guy had a panoramic radiograph, taken in almost all dental offices nowadays, he would have had that diagnosed long ago. That looks like a primary tooth, and he probably lost it in his sleep as a kid and somehow it went into his ear.

Stranger things have happened.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

My wife really likes that show, along with all the other real-life medical shows. Sometimes I wonder, because the disease/illness ends up being not so rare. Scary.

The only thing I really, really, don't like about that show is when the camera is on one of the person's eyes. I don't get that, and it bugs me. Because of that, I call it 'The Eyeball Show', and everyone knows what show I'm talking about.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

You guys should try watching "Monsters Inside Me." It'll cure you from ever travelling again, or eating most foods. It's about people with mystery diagnoses that turn out to be horrible parasites. Ech.

 

[perchin]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

You guys should try watching "Monsters Inside Me." It'll cure you from ever travelling again, or eating most foods. It's about people with mystery diagnoses that turn out to be horrible parasites. Ech.

Oh yeah.... that maggott thing in the woman's head...

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

You guys should try watching "Monsters Inside Me." It'll cure you from ever travelling again, or eating most foods. It's about people with mystery diagnoses that turn out to be horrible parasites. Ech.

Every time I've watched that show, it's been about some BillyBob suckin' on raw crawdads or something like that...and then they're surprised they picked up a parasite.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

Yea the eyeball close ups are starting to bug me too LOL
I saw one Monster in side of me where they just swam in a lake in Africa. Some kind of parasite entered the body through a hair follicle I think. Then multiplied......These bugs are smart. Ya after seeing that show forget traveling to hot 3rd world countries

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

Doctors are the worst repairman in the world. They make educated guess most of the times.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

Doctors are the worst repairman in the world. They make educated guess most of the times.

doctors and lawyers , have the advantage of 'practising ' their trade...not like the rest of us...we have to get it right the first time !

 

[roscoe]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

Over the last few years, we went from doctor to doctor to specialist to specialist, test after test, emergency room, again, again, again. MRI, MRI, ct scan, countless lab tests, etc.
No one had a clue what was wrong with my wife,

They'd tell her it was all in her head, give her antidepressants and a jar full of vicodin, and a case of sleeping pills.

Finally got her to Mayo Clinic, had a tentative diagnosis in 3 hours, followed by 3 days of testing to confirm.

Got a treatment plan with several alternative treatments if it was not working.
And extensive info on how to manage her condition.


She has a very classic case of fibromyalgia with the usual accompanying migraines, sleep disorder, irregular blood pressure, uncontrolled heart rate, and fatigue. She had like 10 of the 12 typical symptoms.

No one had a clue until we ended up at Mayo.

I sent a copy of the diagnosis to the 3 specialists that said it was all in her head.

 

[roncoop75]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

I had a heart attack at 28. It was because of the anti-biotics they put me on for a really bad case of strep.

There was nothing wrong with my heart. Once they found that out... OMG, you want to talk about a bunch of monkey's ******* a football! They had no clue. And none of them were about to admit they gave me a drug that could have caused it, wouldn't want to get sued. Pffft, I just wanted to know what was wrong, not sue a doctor.

After that, unless I'm in need of immediate medical attention, like I'm bleeding from a cut or something, they only make suggestions. They make a treatment suggestion and I go research it to find out if they're even close.

Everyone looks up to doctors, as I once did. When something like this happens, and you get to see behind the curtain, it's a real eye opener. They certainly aren't gods. You begin to wonder how some of them even made it through medical school.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

Over the last few years, we went from doctor to doctor to specialist to specialist, test after test, emergency room, again, again, again. MRI, MRI, ct scan, countless lab tests, etc.
No one had a clue what was wrong with my wife,

They'd tell her it was all in her head, give her antidepressants and a jar full of vicodin, and a case of sleeping pills.

Finally got her to Mayo Clinic, had a tentative diagnosis in 3 hours, followed by 3 days of testing to confirm.

Got a treatment plan with several alternative treatments if it was not working.
And extensive info on how to manage her condition.


She has a very classic case of fibromyalgia with the usual accompanying migraines, sleep disorder, irregular blood pressure, uncontrolled heart rate, and fatigue. She had like 10 of the 12 typical symptoms.

No one had a clue until we ended up at Mayo.

I sent a copy of the diagnosis to the 3 specialists that said it was all in her head.

Did you have to get a referal before you can go to Mayo? your insurance covered it?
My buddy's wife has numbness in her legs, went thru a bunch of tests, scans and one invasive procedure that I know of so far. Now they THINK she has MS and started her on steroid treatments "to see if she'll get better".

The human body is so complex and it's just a big guessing game or experiment for lack of better word. It does take a lot of intelligence, patient and money to pass med school. It doesn't take much to be a doctor because anyone can play trial and error.

Just imagine if someone takes their motor to your shop, you don't know what's wrong with it. You tried a fix, give that customer a bill and said if you still have problem, bring it back. I'll try another fix and charge you for it again. How freaking nice is that?

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

I have a good friend that's a Doc. What ever your conception of their profession may be, they are just people doing a job. No more no less, some are great, some are meadeocer (sp) at best.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

I am a VA medical patient, they don't know anything, except war injury recovery. i have over $5,000.00 of medication, they prescribed, and then told me not to take it, before i ever took the first dose.

 

[cajuncook1]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

I had a heart attack at 28. It was because of the anti-biotics they put me on for a really bad case of strep.

There was nothing wrong with my heart. Once they found that out... OMG, you want to talk about a bunch of monkey's ******* a football! They had no clue. And none of them were about to admit they gave me a drug that could have caused it, wouldn't want to get sued. Pffft, I just wanted to know what was wrong, not sue a doctor.

After that, unless I'm in need of immediate medical attention, like I'm bleeding from a cut or something, they only make suggestions. They make a treatment suggestion and I go research it to find out if they're even close.

Everyone looks up to doctors, as I once did. When something like this happens, and you get to see behind the curtain, it's a real eye opener. They certainly aren't gods. You begin to wonder how some of them even made it through medical school.

Well, during periods of serious infection, the body has series of processes going on. During a serious infection an inflammatory response is taking place and can trigger a clotting cascade and produce multiple clots. Not often, but Strep (Streptococcus) can effect the heart lining and valves due inflammation. Bits of clots can be formed spread throughout the body and some can enter the coronary circulation and cause an obstruction and thus lead to a heart attack(myocardial infarction). Not often, but serious infections can cause inflammation of the heart(myocarditis and pericarditis) and can mimic heart attack symptoms like chest pain or EKG changes.

So, it is not as simple as they gave me an antibiotic and I developed an heart attack. (Not to say that didn't happen, because any thing is possible!) But the body is an complex group of organs working together to promote health and well being. Despite the best efforts and years of medical studies and research unexpected results can occur.

Well, I'll tell you that the practice of medicine is a very diverse and complicated field. TV shows and movies show doctors performing miracles and curing profoundly ill people with a pill. Those are very rare, but get a lot of notoriety.

People walk into a doctors office and hospital expecting to walk out cured. Some of these same people are severely over weight, some smoke 2 to 3 packs of cigarettes a day for the past 20 to 30yrs (can't under stand why they can't breath or why they have heart problems), and some have multiple serious health problems that complicate treat plans and have to be dealt with in cautious manner.

My point is that it is not always a easy fix or immediate answer! Yes, unfortunately like in any occupation there are certain percentages of undesirable individual who don't care or aren't that good. Unfortunately, bad experiences are magnified more profoundly.

I did not state the above comments to offended anyone or diminished their trying experiences, but just wanted to play devil's advocate and point out the other side.


TD, I agree with you 100% our nations veteran's should be given a hell of a lot better medical care and attention than they receive. I am a veteran my self and have always felt that our men and women of the current and past service should get the best medical care!!


Soap box off now.

Cheers

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

Mystery Diagnosis is one of my favorites, you learn a lot.

Doctors are practicing physicians, they are learning every day. We take it for granted that they know every disease, "Wrong". There is nobody that knows one's body better then one self. One of your first questions to a doctor should be,"Do you think outside of the box?"

When the doctor first comes into the room he says hello, he then says "How are you today?" The number one answer is,"Fine," when it should be,"not good."

Another great show is,"Doctor G Medical Examiner." True stories of autopsies. You learn a lot on this show about organs. I find it very educational about the abuse of the human body.

 

[drrpm]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

Thousands of people seek medical care every day. Most of them receive appropriate care. How interesting would that show be?
A patient who is educated and motivated makes life better for themselves and the doctor. Patients who are experts after doing a google search, watching Oprah or sleeping at a Holiday Inn Express are annoying. People who don't maintain themselves or follow the treatment plan are even more frustrating.
Most doctors are good at what they do. Some should find another line of work. The selection process for medical school can undervalue some traits that help make a good clinician. Medical school is hard. No one gets through it without at least above average intelligence. Unfortunately some do get through without much personality or common sense.
I like Dr. G. too.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

Ya DR G is a prime example of a Doctor who goes the extra mile to help others. She does a lot of research and when she hits a roadblock then she calls in other experts for input. She explores every avenue. Leaves no stone unturned. Keeps loved ones informed of her progress and results. She has a excellent bedside manner which is comforting and reassuring.
Although I wouldn't have married her because she might sleep walk, get those tree loppers and cut my ribs out.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Mystery Diagnosis

Did you have to get a referal before you can go to Mayo? your insurance covered it?


No referral needed.
I had a Dr that was willing to refer her, if Mayo wanted one.
Yes, my insurance covered it for the most part, about 90% of the bill.
It even paid for the sleep study a month later.


They call it "self referral."
I went online to the Mayo site, requested an appointment.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/patientinfo/appointments.html

Filled in the "description of symptoms".
Filled in the "treatments and test" she had already undergone.

They review your request and will call you back within 3-4 days.
In our case, we filled it out on Sunday, they called back on Wednesday with a patient id number, and to ask a few questions. Then called back on Thursday with an appointment time and date, case Dr.'s name. Appointment was about 5 weeks out.

You show up, see your Dr, then they schedule tests. Had first appointment at 8am. Had a few lab test and a consultation.

They scheduled us to come back in 2 weeks, and they had us scheduled with a neurologist, Psychiatrist, heart specialist, rheumatologist, sleep clinic, several lab tests, MRI, etc., over a 3 day period. Went back to see the case Dr., received all the results, diagnosis, treatment plan, etc.

They printed everything out, including the lab results, gave us copies, and faxed everything to our Dr., including the treatment, what to monitor, and who the Dr should call if they had any questions.


By the time you finished an appointment, and got to the next one, they had the Dr's notes and findings and test results on their computer tablet. All the Dr.'s worked together, shared notes, shared lab results, and consulted with each other before approving or changing a medication.

Really quite an amazing operation.