What do you do when your doctor won’t listen

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve received a number of messages from readers who have doctors that just won’t listen to their symptoms - and if they do listen, they don’t take their symptoms seriously enough to oder tests to get to the root of the problem. This has to stop.

There’s no question that our health care system is over-burdened and underpaid and as a result, patient care has gone down the tubes. I know, depressing - especially when you’re relying on these people to figure out what’s wrong with your body. But with that said, I can say there are some wonderful doctors out there who do go the extra mile for their patients. If you’re struggling to find a doctor that has experience with Cushing’s, the Cushing’s-Help website has a section dedicated to doctors with their contact information. You can search for doctors by specialty and by geographic location.

So what do you do when you’re health is going downhill and your doctor brushes it off, saying you ‘need to eat better and exercise more‘. A couple of things should happen.

• From that moment forward, become your own health advocate. Use the Internet to research the symptoms you’re having. Start a journal and list the symptoms you’re having, when they started and how frequently you have them.

• If you find information on the Internet that supports the symptoms you’re having, print it out and show it to your doctor.

• Find a new doctor! I know many of us are restricted by our health plans that dictate which doctor we can see - but I assure you, there will be at least one that will listen to your symptoms and take action. It’s your right to get the health care that you feel you need.

• If you can, try to find a family member or friend who can help support your efforts in getting the heath care you need. Perhaps they can help you research the symptoms you’re having, help you track down a doctor or simply go with you to your doctor’s appointment to support you.

Symptoms of Cushing’s are often times mistaken for more common problems, such as poor eating habits and lack of exercise. And yes, when you look at the symptoms of Cushing’s individually, it doesn’t look like much. But when you look at them collectively, it’s cause for concern and deserves further investigation.

Don’t let a doctor brush off your symptoms - be persistent.

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Related posts:

1. How to become your own patient advocate: Part 2 ...
2. OK, time for a new doctor ...
3. Do you think you have Cushing’s? ...