Aa
Doc says I have Costochondritis, but I'm not so sure about that...
3 questions. 1) Can a doc just simply diagnose Costo without running any chest xrays or other tests? 2) Do my symptoms fit any other illnesses besides Costo (symptoms I'll put below). 3) Have any of you ever been refused treatment because you have diagnosed anxiety?
Just turned 21 on the 3rd of this month, and I guess at age 21 your body starts killing you. Was sick for an entire week with a bad, dry cough, used over counter cough meds to get rid of it. I thought I was fine for the last day, because I felt fine. Then the next day everything hit me at once. I started having panic attacks, my chest was so painful and I could barely breath, my shoulders hurt, my back hurt (mostly around rib area), and my ribs in front hurt. I went to the ER 4 times, 2 docs, without treatment because anxiety here is basically a death sentence. If you have a physical problem, they won't test you because they think your mind "makes it up." I found a 3rd doc who did see me, but didn't technically "treat me." He said I had Costo because of my cough (got my body inflammed from the cough), and that my panic attacks were happening also because of the fact that I couldn't breath with Costo, thus I hypervenalated for air (I already knew my attacks were caused by whatever I had before hand though, because I do have anxiety, but not enough to cause attacks, and have never had them before.) He gave me Prednisone, but did not test me for anything. Not one thing. No chest xrays, nothing. That is where my 1st question comes in. I don't trust doctors, but I do trust tests. This is where my 2nd question comes in. Not asking for a lot of info, but I would like to know if there are other illnesses that could cause my symptoms other than Costo. I'm going back to my doc this weekend, and need some ammo to use against him, so to speak. I have to get him to test me, because I just don't feel safe without having proof of my illness. That's just me. Now my 3rd question comes in because I was refused by everyone besides him because of my anxiety. I'm just wondering if this is an actual thing, and if doctors can refuse you treatment if you have a mental illness of any kind. I know medical docs don't and can't touch even the surface of mental problems because they focus solely on physical issues, but I never thought they could flat out refuse you actual treatment. Just curious if any of you have ever had an issue with doctors basically throwing you out because you have anxiety, or any other mental problems. Again, you don't have to give me a major amount of info and write an essay like I did haha but just answering my questions with some info would be great :) Just give me the names of illnesses and I can research on my own until this weekend.
Just turned 21 on the 3rd of this month, and I guess at age 21 your body starts killing you. Was sick for an entire week with a bad, dry cough, used over counter cough meds to get rid of it. I thought I was fine for the last day, because I felt fine. Then the next day everything hit me at once. I started having panic attacks, my chest was so painful and I could barely breath, my shoulders hurt, my back hurt (mostly around rib area), and my ribs in front hurt. I went to the ER 4 times, 2 docs, without treatment because anxiety here is basically a death sentence. If you have a physical problem, they won't test you because they think your mind "makes it up." I found a 3rd doc who did see me, but didn't technically "treat me." He said I had Costo because of my cough (got my body inflammed from the cough), and that my panic attacks were happening also because of the fact that I couldn't breath with Costo, thus I hypervenalated for air (I already knew my attacks were caused by whatever I had before hand though, because I do have anxiety, but not enough to cause attacks, and have never had them before.) He gave me Prednisone, but did not test me for anything. Not one thing. No chest xrays, nothing. That is where my 1st question comes in. I don't trust doctors, but I do trust tests. This is where my 2nd question comes in. Not asking for a lot of info, but I would like to know if there are other illnesses that could cause my symptoms other than Costo. I'm going back to my doc this weekend, and need some ammo to use against him, so to speak. I have to get him to test me, because I just don't feel safe without having proof of my illness. That's just me. Now my 3rd question comes in because I was refused by everyone besides him because of my anxiety. I'm just wondering if this is an actual thing, and if doctors can refuse you treatment if you have a mental illness of any kind. I know medical docs don't and can't touch even the surface of mental problems because they focus solely on physical issues, but I never thought they could flat out refuse you actual treatment. Just curious if any of you have ever had an issue with doctors basically throwing you out because you have anxiety, or any other mental problems. Again, you don't have to give me a major amount of info and write an essay like I did haha but just answering my questions with some info would be great :) Just give me the names of illnesses and I can research on my own until this weekend.
he could be right, but I have MS I am 40 but also had the same pain and was told the same thing, but a few days later while looking at a MS leaflet, I read about the MS Hug which also has the same symptoms and it feels like I am wearing a bra 10 sizes to small and can also feel like having a heart attack too, so I no longer wear a bra but, instead I wear a body support tube which is much more comfortable, because although it hugs me It is not to tight that I feel squashed and in pain. I don't think that doctors know anything about the ms hug so always put it down to Costochondritis.
Caregiver is correct about what inaccurate nonsense can be in someone's medical records. The documentation is supposed to be objective and accurate according to what the patient states, but some like to document their interpretation which is unfortunate. It's become more and more common.
Ask for a copy of your records. You may be shocked.
Ask for a copy of your records. You may be shocked.
I also have been DX'd with Costochondritis. I went to my PCP complaining of chest pain near my sternum that was intense. The pain would come & go and would travel to my shoulder (joint). After the pain would leave......I would have a lot of pressure on my chest.
I too was having a anxiety attack while I was at my PCP for this appt. Which as I am sure you know only made my pain that much worse!! My PCP ordered some blood work and a chest X-Ray (2 views). Blood work & X-rays were all clear. So as we chatted about my chest pain, I told her that I could produce the pain myself just by touching my sternum. So that is why I got the DX of costochondritis.....and the clear x-ray & blood work.
So if I were you I would try to produce the pain by pressing on your sternum....you don't have to press hard (at least I didn't anyway) and if you feel any pain then it more than likely is costochondritis.
I also agree that you need to find a PCP that you are comfortable with and that you genuinely feel like they want to help you. Dr patient relationships are so important!!!
Wishing you all the best & hoping you are feeling better by now!!
Lisa
I too was having a anxiety attack while I was at my PCP for this appt. Which as I am sure you know only made my pain that much worse!! My PCP ordered some blood work and a chest X-Ray (2 views). Blood work & X-rays were all clear. So as we chatted about my chest pain, I told her that I could produce the pain myself just by touching my sternum. So that is why I got the DX of costochondritis.....and the clear x-ray & blood work.
So if I were you I would try to produce the pain by pressing on your sternum....you don't have to press hard (at least I didn't anyway) and if you feel any pain then it more than likely is costochondritis.
I also agree that you need to find a PCP that you are comfortable with and that you genuinely feel like they want to help you. Dr patient relationships are so important!!!
Wishing you all the best & hoping you are feeling better by now!!
Lisa
Did you take the prednisone?
It does sound like Costochondritis and you don't need an x-ray to diagnose that; it is pretty much diagnosed upon examination.
Now, on the physicians' behalf..............if you are coming frequently to the ER wanting this and that test done and/or they have ordered this and that test for you and the tests are negative then yes you will be labeled as a frequent flyer hypochondriac and you won't be taken seriously unfortunately.
Do you have a regular physician you see? I wouldn't recommend going back to this same physician with "ammo" to use against him. It will only make his conclusions about you correct. Why not see a different physician?
BTW: Stop watching 'House.' :)) and I wouldn't recommend doing "research" over the computer in regards to finding diagnoses. Find a real physician you trust.
It does sound like Costochondritis and you don't need an x-ray to diagnose that; it is pretty much diagnosed upon examination.
Now, on the physicians' behalf..............if you are coming frequently to the ER wanting this and that test done and/or they have ordered this and that test for you and the tests are negative then yes you will be labeled as a frequent flyer hypochondriac and you won't be taken seriously unfortunately.
Do you have a regular physician you see? I wouldn't recommend going back to this same physician with "ammo" to use against him. It will only make his conclusions about you correct. Why not see a different physician?
BTW: Stop watching 'House.' :)) and I wouldn't recommend doing "research" over the computer in regards to finding diagnoses. Find a real physician you trust.
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I concur. You do not rerquire "tests" to disgnose costochondritis. Unfortunately, with the advent of computerized records, a patient can indeed get flagged as what is called a "frequent flyer". What you should do is request complete records of every ER visit and physician visit. You would be surprised what derogatory information you might find. As an example, years ago I was physically assaulted, minding my own business delivering medical records near a hospital . A tort action was initiated against the "doers" and I found the ER record stated I was "in a fight in a bar"! Furthermore, the hospital refused to correct the record! Thankfully the assault was recorded on a video camera.
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