Tell your doctor about ALL your symptoms!

I’m currently researching my next book, about hidden disabilities and conditions, and how to help make the workplace feel more welcoming and inclusive.

It is truly scary just how many of the people that I have interviewed so far were mis-diagnosed in the early days.

The pattern is the same. You have a pain somewhere in your body and some other niggles, probably all related you think. You don’t want to complain. You consider yourself fortunate compared to others. But the one key pain is unusual. It lasts more than a few days. You tell your doctor. Your doctor prescribes a painkiller. The pain goes away. 

Or. You have swollen glands as well as some other smaller issues, probably all related you think. You leave it a few days then call your doctor, who tests for glandular fever. The results are negative. Painkillers and rest are prescribed.

Or. Your period pains are worse than normal. There are some other niggles. You don’t want to talk about it with anyone, it’s embarrassing and might make you look feeble. You curl up with a hot water bottle and some painkillers, until it all goes away.

Often, it is only once the same pattern repeats many times over that the doctor looks more holistically and starts to ask about the little niggles, and by doing so finally realises that you need a referral for a much more serious condition, such as lupus, fibroids, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, lipoedema, polycystic ovary syndrome, even diabetes and cancer.

As a real example, the pains in the lower back for one person were relieved by painkillers and physio for a while, but it was only when the doctor learned about the other symptoms (irregular heavy periods, headaches, nausea and apparent infertility), that investigations could begin, which led to the diagnosis of endometriosis.

In some cases, my interviewees have lived with a condition for more than ten years before it has finally been diagnosed and a proper treatment regime established (which very rarely uses painkillers).

This is a therefore a very simple message. GPs are generalists. They are not specialists. They have 4 minutes to speak to you before the next patient becomes impatient. Write down all your symptoms on a piece of paper before talking to your doctor and make sure they are aware of them all. They won’t find anything embarrassing. Only then can they decide whether you need a referral, or a painkiller.

For those of us in HR its also worth thinking about those people who seem to be off work a lot, often with different issues. It might be that they have a serious underlying issue. A referral to an occupational health doctor might just be a life saver for them, rather than a punishment for having too many days off work. Who knows?