Well I went to see Dr. Worthless this week and apparently now I am cured of what he thought I probably didn't have in the first place. He said my blood glucose and thyroid levels were fine so it wasn't that. Surprise. Anyway I definitely don't have carpal tunnel syndrome now even if I might have had it before, which he wasn't sure of. No credit to him though for my improvement.
I know that the diagnosis discussion is a big topic here on AC. But, based on my recent experience with carpal tunnel syndrome, which, unlike Aspergers, is not a subjective diagnosis, I have learned that a diagnosis often depends on the doctor and his or her biases. The other night one of my co-actors was telling about her experiences with doctors and diagnoses. Apparently they are telling her that her physical symptoms are "all in her head." She thinks it is her gallbladder acting up but for some reason they are refusing to consider that. I've had a similar experience in which the doctors were insistent that I had meningitis even though I had no symptoms of meningitis.
This is not to put down medicine. This is just to say that one can spend thousands of dollars trying to get a diagnosis and end up right back where one started only poorer. Yes, I would like closure as much as any one. But what if closure just isn't possible? And how can I be sure that it is the "correct" answer. More importantly, what are the consequences of getting a diagnosis? Will it decrease my employability? Will it make me less able to function in society, not more?
I know that the diagnosis discussion is a big topic here on AC. But, based on my recent experience with carpal tunnel syndrome, which, unlike Aspergers, is not a subjective diagnosis, I have learned that a diagnosis often depends on the doctor and his or her biases. The other night one of my co-actors was telling about her experiences with doctors and diagnoses. Apparently they are telling her that her physical symptoms are "all in her head." She thinks it is her gallbladder acting up but for some reason they are refusing to consider that. I've had a similar experience in which the doctors were insistent that I had meningitis even though I had no symptoms of meningitis.
This is not to put down medicine. This is just to say that one can spend thousands of dollars trying to get a diagnosis and end up right back where one started only poorer. Yes, I would like closure as much as any one. But what if closure just isn't possible? And how can I be sure that it is the "correct" answer. More importantly, what are the consequences of getting a diagnosis? Will it decrease my employability? Will it make me less able to function in society, not more?
