Posted by Adam on July 13, 2001, at 17:57:10
In reply to Re: I may need help.... » Adam, posted by Zo on July 13, 2001, at 17:02:58
I must admit, I'm a bit leary of alternative medicine. As hard a time as I've had with the allopaths, there is at least some oversight and a fair amount of reasearch bolster it. I would readily concede that the research isn't always the most reliable, but its something to fall back on. Alternative medicine...well, I'll wait for the studies. I simply can't trust anecdotal evidence. You are absolutely right, though: I am the expert on me. I don't much appreciate people assuming I have another mental disorder. I think that should come at the end of the diagnostic chain, not at the beginning, if someone is complaining of physical symptoms. A prior history of mental illness is not a reason, in my oppinion, to jump to conclusions.
> Could be Lyme's. . .could also be, I hate to say it, because it's a bitch, Chronic Fatigue Illness. . .But most of all, you need an "alternative" type of MD, perhaps one associated with a CFS-FM or other wholistic clinic, as *they* are the ones who will listen to odd symptoms. And it is too hard to purse dx with ordinary doctors, never mind those in a hospital setting - you will just become unnecessarily discouraged. Your symptoms are outside the box, so look for a practice that seems the same.
>
> As you probably know, the Lyme's dx is *still* a bit uncertain. There's lots on the web; I see it often as someone with CFS searching out info.
>
> The first thing to do, however, I guarantee you, as a 20-year CFS vet, is to PROMPTLY FORGET hypochondriasis. Take any such dx as a signal - an offensive one, to be sure - that you are in the wrong doctor's office - it's something they throw out when they're at a loss, and it's really stupid, it's criminal, for it *does* harm the patient - and besides, *you* are the expert on you.
>
> Let me know if I can help,
> Zo
poster:Adam
thread:69963
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010708/msgs/70047.html