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Originally Posted by AOII Angel
I can tell you from LOTS of experience that very FEW people know their own bodies and what is normal. We get far too many people in ERs for abdominal pain thinking they have appendicitis because they haven't taken a poop in too long, women in breast centers who think they have breast masses but it turns out to be normal breast tissue, people in doctors' offices asking why they have a twinge or pinch or ache when they do this or that motion. Unfortunately, if every doctor worked up every single complaint because every patient "knows their body" we'd spend so much money and find next to no pathology. The body has aches and pains. 98.5 is a normal temperature that you see in nobody. Why are you checking your temperature anyway? Throw away your thermometer! You are still WRONG about the thyroid and T3/T4 levels. It's rather insulting, too, that you think that your research with hypothyroid patients trumps 13 years of education that endocrinologists have with regard to the thyroid. Maybe they know what they are talking about. Taking extra synthroid may make you feel better, but it's also associated with a lot of other side effects. You do what you want, but leave the ugly commentary about physicians behind.
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This is the problem. We all know there are hypochondriacs in the doctor's office every day, but that's life. On the other hand I've been brushed off repeatedly by doctors who refuse to believe I'm anything but a hypochondriac. Muscle and joint pain so bad I sometimes cannot leave bed, fatigue so severe I sometimes can't get out of bed (yes I have a regular sleep schedule, have cut out all caffeine, etc.), and bouts of hair loss (which, yes, is a cosmetic issue and fortunately because my hair is thick in my case not a noticeable one, but is also a symptom of a problem elsewhere in the body) make it obvious there is something wrong with me. But again, because I don't appear to be dying, I have not gotten a diagnosis. I have no problem doing my own research on these and my many other symptoms to come up with some possibilities, but I am not a health care professional and obviously cannot diagnose or treat myself. Your average person, myself included, does know the difference between normal and not when it comes to their body. When something changes rapidly and radically (like totally healthy to daily moderate to severe pain) a patient can be reasonably certain there is something up and just because one or two tests don't present an immediate answer doesn't mean that one doesn't exist. I think if doctors would treat everyone the same-pay attention to them, order only necessary tests, and follow up quickly, those of us with a disorder or disease could be diagnosed and sent on our way with the correct treatment, and the hypochondriacs could be reassured that they are very healthy and could be sent on their way as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AOII Angel
The elimination of caps are actually a pretty big benefit for the insured. None of us who are healthy think about this, but if you suddenly get diagnosed with cancer or a major disease like heart disease needing open heart surgery and multiple heart catheterizations, you could rapidly run up your yearly and then lifetime limits on health insurance benefits. This is how people end up declaring bankruptcy after major illnesses even with health insurance.
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You'd be surprised at what some of us know from experience.
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