angry

Hello,

I have been diagnosed with vasovagal syncope and orthostatic hypotension a couple of years ago due to an imbalance in my autonomic nerve system. I never went to see a neurologist about this untill today. I have been to two cardiologist whom both told me something was wrong and that my parasympaticus takes the upperhand. I'm pretty confident that I also have POTS because i can feel my heart going from bradycardia to severe tachycardia among standing up. Last time they gave me an SSRI and it really helped. I was healthy for a couple of years

the bad thing is I'v been feeling really bad again for like a half a year now. Today i went to a neurologist with my mom just because they had found some white spots on my MRI and the cardiologist sent me to a neurologist just to make sure the visual problems were not neurological.

I am very angry because I went with my mom and after 10 min of talking with him he concluded it was anxiety.. I can understand it in some way because he made me breathe very fast and I started hyperventilating.. but the bad thing is the way he said it to my mom... it was like I was faking all my symptoms.. and she was to blame because she was overprotective always looking what what's wrong with me..

I'm disappointed.

Because I know she never did anything wrong and she is just concerned like any other mom. Also he started talking about psychiatrists and stuff.. but I am a psychology student and I know that my problem is not psychological... it really hurts to know health care professionals are so ignorant about this thing.. and if they would have to feel this every single day I think they would know how this is mentally and physically exhausting...


just wanted to post this... to all of you among us.. we belong to the strongest among human beings!

[molly0]

I'm at the hospital almost weekly with one member of my family or another, and all I can say is that you know more about what's wrong with you than your doctor does.  Doctors seem to have a fixation on sending you in another direction so that they don't have to deal with you.  Sad, but they got their money.  I know it's tough, but find a new doctor.

[molly0]

I guess that was a rough way to phrase it, but things like that really get on my nerves.  I seen my daughter suffer for years from this illness...  They thought she was faking too.

[rbird]

One neurologist that my daughter saw would ask her questions about symptoms.  her response time is reduced because of the dys and he would never wait for her to answer.  he would answer the questions himself.  he gave us the same impression also.  I'm glad that you are able to tell your mom that it's not her fault.  I have had those feelings also.  Moms always want to fix their kid's problems and we feel like we have failed when we can't do so.  
about the psychiatrist - my daughter was seeing one before she got sick because of depression.  the medications that he gave my daughter are the ones that do her the most good.   so don't discount what they might be able to do for you.  new drugs are coming out all the time.  

[halbashes]

I'm sorry to hear about the aggravation of your most recent doctor appointment.  No matter what the illness, it seems that everyone runs into a doctor like this from time to time.  I would recommend finding another doctor who has a better understanding of Autonomic Dysfunction.  He/She may be of more help to you.  It can be especially helpful to be seen at a teaching hospital.  I hope you feel better soon.  Are you taking anything to control your symptoms currently?

[Marc61]

I have had the same experience as you over over over and over again.  A recently published study showed that a Dr. makes up his/her mind within 12 seconds of meeting a patient.  Crazy.  My advice, dump the terrible doctors but you might get stuck with a mediocre doctor and be prepared with your lab results and differential diagnosis for the problem you are having.