Have you been suffering from a myriad of symptoms, only to be left with unanswered questions at your medical appointments? Trying to come up with an accurate diagnosis can be challenging, especially if you have an underlying medical condition that goes unnoticed and untreated. Learning what all of your symptoms mean and how to explain them to your doctor is important.
Here are just a few of the medical conditions known to be hard to diagnose properly:
Gout
If you’ve been experiencing problems with your legs that include swelling and pain, you may have made several trips to the doctor only to find out there is nothing wrong. Bad circulation and overuse of specific muscles can be a common preliminary diagnosis from many healthcare professionals. The remedy suggested may include to rest, use anti-inflammatory medications and apply ice to reduce swelling. One possible missed diagnosis could be gout. This is a type of arthritis that is on the severe spectrum, triggering painful tenderness and redness in joints. So, what does gout look like? A sudden onset of symptoms, especially in the big toe, is not uncommon. Many times the symptoms are worse at night or if you have an underlying inflammatory disease or diabetes. With gout, a buildup of uric acid crystallizes and forms deposits in your joints, therefore the right lab tests are necessary for a precise diagnosis. Keep track of your symptoms and record their severity. Pass this information along to your doctor so you can resolve the issue and get treated as soon as possible.
Fibromyalgia
When widespread pain, tenderness, and joint discomfort becomes unbearable, especially after taking anti-inflammatory meds, it’s time to get to the root cause of your pain. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that can also be the symptoms of other medical diseases and conditions. Altered mood, memory and sleep patterns can be signs of other medical problems and your doctor will have to rule those out before making a firm diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Being on the right medication and reducing stress from your life are starting points in managing the overactive nerves that trigger pain with fibromyalgia.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Are you experiencing severe abdominal pain? What about bloating and diarrhea? When it comes to matters of the intestinal tract, it can often be hard for many people to step up and talk to their doctor. Bowel irregularity and problems with the sudden onset of diarrhea can make life unbearable for an individual. For many people, it could be a gastrointestinal bug or something they ate that didn’t settle properly, triggering diarrhea or in some cases, constipation. If you find it happening on more than one occasion, it could be something more serious. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and may do a physical exam to see if you have any of the signs of colon cancer. If there’s a concern, you may have to have a colonoscopy or rectal exam. If cancer, diverticulitis and Crohn’s disease are ruled out, your doctor may refer you to a colorectal surgeon or doctor who can determine the root cause of your diarrhea and stomach pain. It could be that the diagnosis is irritable bowel syndrome or ileitis. It can mimic other gastrointestinal conditions, but it can be treated with the right diet as well as antidiarrheals that may help you get better control of how often you go to the bathroom.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Everyone experiences some form of stress from time to time, often on a daily basis. If you’ve noticed that your stress is severely affecting your lifestyle and making daily tasks impossible to get through, you could have GAD, or generalized anxiety disorder. GAD affects over 6 million people each year and is a treatable disease. The problem is that many health professionals tend to ignore the signs of anxiety and suggest natural ways to get through a panic attack or the restlessness involved with GAD. While this may work for some, it may not be working for you. If spikes of anxiety and lack of sleep is ruining your life, make sure you keep reminding your healthcare provider about your situation. Ask for a referral to a counselor who specializes in anxiety disorders. Getting on the right medications and having counseling support from the right doctor can help you manage your symptoms.
If you find your doctor is missing the point when it comes to your health, move on to a different practitioner. Find one that listens to your needs and comes up with the best solution for your condition.