A major part of my "work" is with people who struggle with "pain" in general on a daily basis. Both emotional and physical. Some of them also struggle with people in their lives who think it's "just an act" and they should just "suck it up and be well already".
I can understand that all too well, but in my case, it was actually a quack Dr. who treated me that way. 6 years ago, I this weird rash on my face, followed by these horrible, painful boils on my face, chest, back and thighs, total exhaustion along with severe joint pain. There were days when I seriously could not raise my arms over my head, and picking up my 2 year old son sometimes brought me to tears - I was 26 years old!
So my PCP sent me to a "Specialist" who after "losing" all of my blood-work, diagnosed me with "severe adult acne", "depression", "Obese" I was 5 ft 2 in and 118 lbs. - hardly "obese"! Then, after I refused to leave her office until she located my blood-work, she announced to the entire waiting room that they found blood in my urine "but that will happen when you take a urine test when you have your period!" Meanwhile, I did NOT have my period! I was so furious I walked out and never followed up.
Eventually, I took Accutane for the "severe adult acne" and the boils did go away, but all of the other symptoms have continued to come and go over the years.
I spoke with my PCP about my latest issues and my current blood-work, and he recommended a different Rheumatologist, he feels pretty strongly that I have a form of Systematic Lupus that is harder to diagnose because only part of the Lupus blood panel is positive. Also, it turns out that the other "specialist" has since lost her medical license, due to malpractice! She also had such severe anorexia that she collapsed and went in to Cardiac arrest - explains why she thought I was "obese" at 118 pounds!
Anyway, my Health Insurance will start at the end of March, so I am making an appointment.
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