Today’s episode looked at interesting case histories, where what initially were thought to be psychiatric disorders, turned out to be autoimmune and neurological problems.
One person had undiagnosed Graves’ disease complicated by terrible seizures happening at an alarming number of times a times a day whose cause was traced to a rare antibody attacking her brain.
Given how many of us have been labeled mental cases it makes for a fascinating listen. Their presenting symptoms are very strange indeed and rather scary. The talking therapy one was put on even more so, it was totally inappropriate and risable as an effective treatment.
I was ok with it….and I’m a big blubber! It was upsetting in terms of how the people suffered mentally and suffered further not getting the right diagnosis but the neurologist was very compassionate and was able to join up all the dots to get more appropriate care for them. I found him inspirational.
Also see The Times today 6/12/22 page 6 :Women...wait a decade...pain...arthritis...doctors do not believe their symptoms...rheumatologist told me it was all in my head etc etc .Turns out it's a type of arthritis of spine ..Real pain dismissed by doctors as all in the female mind ..
Another interesting radio series is Room 5 - available on BBC iPlayer (at least to those in the UK).
Room 5
What happens when a diagnosis changes everything? One afternoon, Helena Merriman walked into a doctor's surgery and was given a shock diagnosis. In this series, she interviews people who - like her - were changed by a diagnosis. Told through an immersive sound design, this intimate series shines a light on misunderstood conditions, asking how we cope when our bodies and our minds no longer behave as we want them to.
Listening to the recordings of her regaining the ability to speak was a tear jerker. Hope we can get to a day where doctors think outside the box, stop gaslighting and are open to the idea that the galloping hooves they hear may not end up being horses but rather zebras.
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