Update on my stepdad again

[Catherinedana]

I don't know if it's a canadian healthcare thing or just a doctors don't like to be told anything thing. I know when I was younger my mom took me to the docs and wanted to have me tested for mono. He didn't even lay a finger on me or anything and insisted it wasn't that and that I was depressed and could turn suicidal :O my mom got a second opinion... MONO.

Something very similar happened to me when I was in Junior High (more years ago than I'd like to admit) and when they finally discovered that it actually was mono, I had to stay home from school for about 3 weeks because my spleen was inflammed and they didn't want it to rupture. So it's not just Canadian healthcare, it's doctors all over. I have no faith in them. Now I have a lot of fatigue and general achiness and it was found by one doctor that was open to the idea that I have the active Epstein-Barr virus in my system. This is the possible culprit of fibrymalgia and chronic fatigue. I don't see that dr. anymore for various reasons and have not had another dr. that will take this condition seriously. It can sometimes be very disruptive to my life but I find that if I keep myself from extremely stressful situations (and that is actually easier than I thought! I had to learn not to create drama where the was none!) I usually feel pretty good although I'm almost always tired. I hate to say this, but male doctors will not listen at all to any fatigue or general "unwellness" complaints. I was checked for Lupus by a male dr. and since I didn't have it, he wrote the whole thing off. Nevermind that I have joint aches or have to sleep up to 12 hours in a day to recoup about once or twice a month.

We all have to take charge of ourselves and if you have a suspicion about an ailment you are facing, have them do the tests. Insist! You have nothing to lose. Then find ways to treat yourself like diet and homeopathy. Making music a big part of my life again actually helps a lot. I'm NEVER tired or achy when I'm singing!

Hope your stepdad gets the help he needs to feel as well as he can. I also suggest that you find out as much about the disease as you can so that you can assist in his treatment and make suggestions both to the doctor and to your dad about things that might work for him.

Sending love,
Cathy

[pomtzu]

Let me clarify - I didn't mean all of Canadian healthcare. It just seems I've read and heard so much about about that one in particular, that it's what came to mind, especially reading in different threads, about what Tanya's step dad has gone thru, and Tanya herself too.

I'm sure there's many, many doctors like that everywhere. I've been fortunate enough to never have encountered one. My primary care doc is quite the opposite. It seems he tests for absolutely anything that might be even remotely possible. I always thought he was a little test happy, and I have even not undergone some he has ordered. But then I'm rather glad that he is that way. Better safe than sorry.

[Medusa]

Well, at least now he knows what he's dealing with and things can progress from there. I do hope that all moves along quickly now.