tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post8330514506864081691..comments2023-09-21T04:02:29.457-04:00Comments on Skeptical Scalpel: 1 in 20 Americans are misdiagnosed every yearSkeptical Scalpelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-63728896686790362942015-04-25T17:04:53.797-04:002015-04-25T17:04:53.797-04:00Current research states somewhere between 50 and 8...Current research states somewhere between 50 and 80% of the time surgery will cure Primary Aldosteronism. Studies by Kline GA are looking at ways to best determine when surgery will cure Primary Aldosteronism. frankbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05592389641852861124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-7402734579569561312015-04-25T13:43:00.003-04:002015-04-25T13:43:00.003-04:00At the posting http://skepticalscalpel.blogspot.co...At the posting http://skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2015/04/should-every-man-over-age-of-65-be-on.html?showComment=1429918030027#c2418685686276061652<br /><br />There was a posting about education of patients and UpToDate. <br /><br /> My reply to this was <br />In reply to educating us patients. First bit about uptodate. I did try uptodate for researching hyperaldosteronism. It is one of the many sources I have looked at. I found it to a bit one sided as other ongoing studies have different information then what Dr Young put in uptodate.<br /><br />This leaves a question does uptodate really have the best information about the latest research?<br /><br />Now If one is looking information on do statins prevent heart attacks. This is one of the sites that comes up. Is what is stated here fact or is someone just trying to sell something. Maybe a bit of both.<br /><br />I always try to look at pubmed but many times you need to pay to see the whole paper. Something that many can not afford to do. <br />http://chriskresser.com/the-diet-heart-myth-statins-dont-save-lives-in-people-without-heart-disease/ <br /><br />In reply <br /><br />Jeffrey Patten said... <br />To frankbill:<br />http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25891981?dopt=Abstract <br /><br /><br />Is stated Primary Aldosteronism is the most common definable cause of resistant hypertension. Specific therapies for primary aldosteronism exist but may not be offered unless a firm diagnosis is determined.<br /><br />The problem is most providers never look for Primary Aldosteronism in the first place. They never read the current guigelines or they don't belive them. The first test is a screening test but by time many do this test you are on meds that can cause false test results. So testing on meds isn't going to give good results. <br /><br />frankbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05592389641852861124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-65180729826678407712014-11-21T09:54:16.604-05:002014-11-21T09:54:16.604-05:00But TSH be it's self may not show what is goin...But TSH be it's self may not show what is going on. If it low or high normal you might have adnormal T3 of T4 levels. But because TSH is within normal range they fail to test T3 or T4. <br /><br />Something that seems to be lost on Dr education is the need to look the whole patient. Now they don't even have you roll up your sleeve to take blood pressure. frankbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05592389641852861124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-75298066950560642162014-11-20T18:48:45.298-05:002014-11-20T18:48:45.298-05:00Anon, I am truly sorry it took so long for someone...Anon, I am truly sorry it took so long for someone to finally listen to you. I hope you are feeling better.<br /><br />Frank, you are only partially correct about TSH. It is a pituitary hormone, but it is an essential thyroid test. If the T4 level is low, the TSH level can determine whether the cause is a disease thyroid or a diseased pituitary gland. Here's a link explaining it. http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/thyroid-gland-functionSkeptical Scalpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-81879359379385499822014-11-20T13:10:33.999-05:002014-11-20T13:10:33.999-05:00Most likely All TSH tests were within normal lab r...Most likely All TSH tests were within normal lab range. TSH is test of a pituitary hormone so doesn't really tell if thyroid is working right. <br /><br />Most Dr only look at TSH and because it is so called normal they don't look at thyroid hormones frankbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05592389641852861124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-16677597637537419822014-11-20T05:30:56.310-05:002014-11-20T05:30:56.310-05:00I suffered for one year with horrible pain, loss o...I suffered for one year with horrible pain, loss of appetite, lethargy, weakness, cold. I could not get out of bed. Doctors had no idea what was wrong. After a year I figured it out but the doctors would not listen to me. My primary care doctor told me it was all in my head and that I was exaggerating my symptoms. What made me angry is that I have never, ever complained about anything until this horrible episode. I finally found a doctor who believed me. Hypothyroidism! I went untreated for two years! Did a lot of damage to my body too. <br /><br />The doctor who started me on medication to get me feeling better was my Psychiatrist until I could find an endocrinologist. Thank goodness I did not have a deadly or rare condition. Although I did feel as if I were slowly dying. I was super depressed and was ready to end it all, no kidding. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-89506348855261365482014-11-05T14:32:24.971-05:002014-11-05T14:32:24.971-05:00There is resent research that salt may play a role...There is resent research that salt may play a role in Multiple Sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. As more research is need to know if this is the case. It could turn out to be a false lead. But if true it will change how they are treated. frankbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05592389641852861124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-80078203506620943272014-11-05T13:09:40.888-05:002014-11-05T13:09:40.888-05:00 Anonymous
I am a Yahoo group where low potassium... Anonymous <br />I am a Yahoo group where low potassium is talked about a lot. Some are mis Dx with fibromyalgia and later when given the right Dx and treatment there fibromyalgia gets better. <br />This would seem for some that lower blood potassium give same Sx as fibromyalgia. When Meds and or changes to lower sodium and increases potassium in diet make fibromyalgia better. Then for some this would seem sodium and potassium play a part in fibromyalgia DX. <br /><br />This is not to say there are other causes and treatment for fibromyalgia Just that many are given the wrong DX of fibromyalgia.<br /><br />Hopefully you have done a lot of research on your gene defect so you know all your treatment options. <br /><br /> frankbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05592389641852861124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-70439976426085795002014-11-05T11:43:58.011-05:002014-11-05T11:43:58.011-05:00Frankbill, I never had a sodium problem. My BP is...Frankbill, I never had a sodium problem. My BP is low, I'm not fat, never had anything in my history suggesting I have serious depression or other mental illness. I have a defect in my genes that was never considered because it was easier to label me as nuts. Until the day I found a specialist with empathy and an open mind, and most importantly, a willingness to do a little work that couldn't be billed to insurance, and who to this day, apologizes profusely for what his colleagues put me through. He is an angel and I owe my life to him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-92020215783204795212014-11-05T10:46:48.586-05:002014-11-05T10:46:48.586-05:00Anon and Skep:
"Without a shred of sarcasm,...Anon and Skep: <br /><br />"Without a shred of sarcasm, I'd much rather be crippled than mislabeled as mental. That is its own hell that I wouldn't wish on anyone. "<br /><br />Agreed. Having been misdiagnosed on a couple of occasions (including fibromyalgia as I do not have and have never complained of muscle pain at all), I find it comforting to know that when doctors are unable to explain an issue or find a problem, we're crazy. What about doctors who don't explore options? I've seen this on more than one occasion when a doctor just doesn't want to be bothered, doesn't know the correct definitions for a disease, isn't thorough, etc. and labels the patient, harming them long down the road for a fake medical disease, when they simply said forget it and tossed another patient out to the dogs. The fault was the doctors', not the patients. <br /><br />I want to know what docs call it when they make blatant screw ups. I've seen 5 other docs say its X and one doc literally nail me in my records saying it was Y and he's right. That was past every test and research saying he wasn't. More than once that's happened.<br /><br />So if we have to put up with that kind of "treatment" why can't we patients do something to doctors who pull stunts like this? I've never seen why a grad degree makes someone a competent psychologist/psychiatrist, when most of them dont even know what the DSM IV or V is. Or even admit to doing something over the docs who violate laws and get away with it - seen that too. Doc caught with DUI's and the medical board does NOTHING.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-68005695219309107952014-11-04T10:59:12.883-05:002014-11-04T10:59:12.883-05:00There is some that say there is a link to fibromya...There is some that say there is a link to fibromyalgia and low potassium. Since each of us have our own level of potassium needs say 4.3 the so called normal of 3.5 may be to low for our body to function at a normal level. <br /><br />The other part of this sodium. At some point the amount of sodium we eat has an effect on how much potassium we hold on to. <br /><br />Recommended amount of sodium is about 2500MG a day. Many of us eat 7000MG + a day. How much sodium can we eat and not have some adverse effects is still being debated. <br /><br />Is fibromyalgia a disease or the result of something like eating to much sodium? frankbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05592389641852861124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-43901189838142347522014-11-03T21:28:23.441-05:002014-11-03T21:28:23.441-05:00"I will not comment on whether they are accur..."I will not comment on whether they are accurate or not."<br /><br />That pretty much tells me what you think about fibro patients. Good thing my fibro turned out to be a muscle disease (rare form of MD), I guess. Without a shred of sarcasm, I'd much rather be crippled than mislabeled as mental. That is its own hell that I wouldn't wish on anyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-41750004040318227852014-11-03T18:38:28.492-05:002014-11-03T18:38:28.492-05:00Anon, as Scalpel said. I'm a surgeon so I am ...Anon, as Scalpel said. I'm a surgeon so I am far from a fibromyalgia specialist. I think you can find plenty of sites, pro and con, to peruse. I was commenting on the use of the word "misdiagnosis". artigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361655152970244221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-35370385029502752052014-11-03T17:25:28.143-05:002014-11-03T17:25:28.143-05:00There are too many to list. Google "fibromyal...There are too many to list. Google "fibromyalgia crazy" and see for yourself.<br /><br />I will not comment on whether they are accurate or not.Skeptical Scalpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-24037784661840358262014-11-03T15:39:25.473-05:002014-11-03T15:39:25.473-05:00Hey artiger,
Can you tell me where those fibromya...Hey artiger,<br /><br />Can you tell me where those fibromyalgia and doctors ridiculing them websites are? I'd like to look for my own knowledge. I have weakening joints that are explained by nutritional issues, if someone reads the research. I don't have pain, so since it is idiopathic, they're calling it fibro. I went ... I don't fit the category. <br /><br />I'd like more info from a doctors' point of view. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-49344488987298471692014-11-02T14:54:25.996-05:002014-11-02T14:54:25.996-05:00Thanks Scalpel, but my larger point was that misdi...Thanks Scalpel, but my larger point was that misdiagnosis isn't always this horrible, harmful phenomenon that the above article makes it out to be. Kind of like all the hubris about medical errors. It's all in the definition. artigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361655152970244221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-80360741774507752352014-11-02T13:14:07.699-05:002014-11-02T13:14:07.699-05:00Artiger, I totally agree. It is very hard to go ag...Artiger, I totally agree. It is very hard to go against a CT reading like that. If you do so and are wrong, you have no defense.<br /><br />Anon, you took my comment a little too literally. Skeptical Scalpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-56642093125321708182014-11-01T18:27:41.061-04:002014-11-01T18:27:41.061-04:00"If you have experienced a missed diagnosis a..."If you have experienced a missed diagnosis and talk with others who also have, I am sure your perception is that everyone in the US has been misdiagnosed. That is not so."<br /><br />Come on, no one is saying that. I hate it when docs do this. It's another way of suggesting that we laypersons are unrealistic. Stupid, even.<br /><br />No one is saying that everyone has been misdiagnosed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-75192070823495600842014-11-01T12:46:35.428-04:002014-11-01T12:46:35.428-04:00"Misdiagnosis" carries a negative connot..."Misdiagnosis" carries a negative connotation, but it's not always a foul. I misdiagnosed someone last week. Patient was sent from another facility with RLQ pain and a CT scan that showed "stranding of the mesentery around the appendix, consistent with appendicitis". So I took out the appendix and sent the patient home, feeling much better. Path report reported a normal appendix (yes, I told the patient, who is still doing well). Did I and someone else misdiagnose? I guess so. Do I think I should have done something differently? No. artigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361655152970244221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-76852203394661697792014-10-30T21:04:35.818-04:002014-10-30T21:04:35.818-04:00One of the reasons given for not DX someone is it ...One of the reasons given for not DX someone is it costs to much to do all that testing. frankbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05592389641852861124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-68824518147279098422014-10-30T11:13:56.491-04:002014-10-30T11:13:56.491-04:00It is true that not everyone is not misdiagnosed. ...It is true that not everyone is not misdiagnosed. But to many are being misdiagnosed. <br /><br />I don't think lawsuits are the best answer either. Do think the States Medical Boards need to do a better job in helping with this problem. <br /><br />If current research says X dieses occurs in 20% of population and old research had said it occurred in .5% of population. Need to make sure Dr are up to speed on new research. <br /><br />One such dieses is hyperaldosteronism Once Dx it is very treatable The problem is Most Dr still believe they will most likely never see a case of it so do not look for it. <br /><br />Since the VA I go to is affiliated with Dartmouth Medical School am seen by Dartmouth residents. Since I have many SX of hyperaldosteronism I have asked many Dr at the VA if it is possible that I have it am always told it is very rare so not likely I have it. This includes the Dartmouth residents so they are not current on new research. <br /><br />State Medical Boards can make sure DR are up to speed on current research. We as patients have the right to report Dr that we feel are not doing there job. frankbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05592389641852861124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-11941270304543999002014-10-30T08:01:10.358-04:002014-10-30T08:01:10.358-04:00If you have experienced a missed diagnosis and tal...If you have experienced a missed diagnosis and talk with others who also have, I am sure your perception is that everyone in the US has been misdiagnosed. That is not so.<br /><br />I agree that many lawsuits are generated by failures of MDs to communicate. I am not sure how to fix that.Skeptical Scalpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-69091178684145306492014-10-29T20:43:38.002-04:002014-10-29T20:43:38.002-04:00Replying to anonymous ...
Its not said there, but...Replying to anonymous ...<br /><br />Its not said there, but not everyone wants to sue. Some people just want answers and things fixed. Imagine that? While doctors are complaining about working for free (welcome to being salaried!) and their lowered pay, I don't hear a hue and cry over changing medical education to better equip doctors, doing something about salaries of the ABIM heads made to gouge the regular working patient treating physician, serious MOC change, and working out to get patients more involved in care and taking some responsibility and it being a team effort. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-25897546104753802492014-10-29T11:54:27.984-04:002014-10-29T11:54:27.984-04:00I think it's also important to note that when ...I think it's also important to note that when a doctor puts "somatoform disorder" in a patient's file, it really means that they are a head case. Same thing with fibromyalgia. And if you find that difficult to believe, go ahead and read a bunch of medical blogs written by anonymous physicians and nurses, and take a look at how they flat-out mock these patients.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-9585810859288886942014-10-29T11:49:26.476-04:002014-10-29T11:49:26.476-04:00Frankbill: My rheumatologist was shown objective ...Frankbill: My rheumatologist was shown objective tests from other specialists which indicated something was wrong with my cardiac and skeletal muscle and this doctor INSISTED the tests were "normal" and told me to go and exercise some more. He could not accept that he was wrong and he made himself feel better by blaming me.<br /><br />And, Anon? I'm with you on the theory that it's probably much more than 5%. I only cited three examples that I am aware of where it was more than just a situation where the diagnosis was elusive because the practice of medicine is difficult and doctors just made honest mistakes. I am actually aware of several others. <br /><br />My neighbor's case still baffles me and apparently was such a clear cut case of malpractice that the doctor who finally gave her the cancer diagnosis ENCOURAGED her to file a malpractice suit against his colleague. She died because by the time she was given the correct diagnosis, the sarcoma had spread to her lungs and it eventually went to her brain. She was only 64.<br /><br />My mom had an essentially uncurable cancer so I can't say that her PCP's negligence caused her death, but I cannot understand how her PCP missed the fact that she had a significant amount of fluid in her chest. I may be just a stupid layperson, but I find it hard to believe that the liter of fluid that the ER docs removed a mere three hours later built up suddenly after my mom left her PCP's office.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com