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misdiagnosis again

T

tiggerrs

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I have been suffering from a bent wedding ring finger for over 1 year now with no sensation in my pinky. I have had nerve conductions tests, with good results considering I have had type 1 for nearly 30 years. I have been told it was trigger finger, not, then dupuytrens contracture, not and also tigger finger again not. eventually i was sent to see an orthopod, who adv she knew the condition but has not seen it in over 20 years and will have to do more research. giver the ortho her due she called me at home 2x to advise that I have cheiro-arthropathy, a rare condition, auto-immune linked to my diabetes and another referral with 18 weeks waiting to see a rheumatologist hand specialist.

Can I ask why as a diabetic I have been mis-diagnosed on numerous occasions, firstly with with auto-immun urticaria, adv it was flea bites and given 3 courses of steroids and mis-diagnosis with my hands. why is it that GP's know so little about diabetic complications or any related illnesses. I even spoke to my diabetic liaision nurse at hospital who adv too much info is a dangerous thing??????? why when I have symptoms and I try to find out info on how to treat orwhat caused problem do I get so much ignornace, as they say ignorance is bliss

We say that we live in such a fantastic medical world, but diabetic wise I feel it is quite poor as knowledge of common problems seems to be missing in quite a lot of gp's/hospitals
 
Have you even seen an endocrinologist,Tiggerrs? They are the ones more expert in diabetes. Normal GP's are not experts in all conditions that they see unless they are of particular interest to them.
 
Hi sue
sorry been on my hols, well dog breeding and 9 pups to show for it and im knackered. haha. Mo I have never been to an endo specialist. I have never been refeer to an immunologist either. Each time I bring up the links and the auto immune disorders that I have, my diabetic liaison nurse told me too much knowledge is a dangerous thing????? my sister, like yourself is a nurse with diabetes and works in research auto immune and even she has never heard of cheiro arthropy also known as diabetic stiff hand syndrome. I even tried the scottish diabetic office in glasgow and was told there is practically nothing about this hand problem. So where do I go from here. The more I ask, the more I feel they look at me and think how do u have all this info, one I read medicine and have done for over 25 yearsand if I have a condition I will go to any length to make sure I do the best that I can to keep my symptoms as painless/short as I can. I have lived with diabetes for nearly 30 years and there aint much that I do not know, my consultant said he haas never seen someone with so much info and my results are great for a conditions thats nearing 30yrs. My eyes, nerve conduction, etc all great mbut now all the rare things are starting to rear their heads. Do you have any suggestions how I can ask for a referrral to an immunologist, as I have a dermatology appointment to confirm if I have urticaria vasculitis which was misdiagnosed as flea bites 2 1/2 yrs ago and have been having massive itchy spots for all that time. I sometimes feel that ignornace is bliss and if the doc dont know, then they pass you off with some exzcuse that is plausible. I believed I have flea bites and had 3 coursed of prednisolone steroids, which were never needed as the itchy spots were an auto immune disorder and nothing asked about my diabetes at time of consultation
 
There is an answer to your stiff hand syndrome question under wrist/hand cramps where you have posted a question ?

As regards a referral you will have to ask your Gp for one. Be prepared to be assertive. Your GP/Nurse are certainly not best equipped to deal with all your problems. Insist on it.

An extract from the NHS Choices website:
If you are unhappy with the advice you have been given by your GP, consultant, or another healthcare professional, you may ask for a second (or further) opinion.

Although you do not have a legal right to a second opinion, you have the right to ask for one. A healthcare professional will rarely refuse to refer you for one unless there is sufficient reason.

Ken.
 
GPs are exactly that, General Practitioners.

In my opinion, a good GP knows the limits of thier knowledge and refers on when necessary. Good general practice makes the course of chronic illness much easier to deal with, because they refer you on.

The problem with long term chronic illnesses is that GPs sometimes don't think that there is anything that can be done and therefore don't always make referrals they could make. This is not helped by patients who often have problems creep up slowly and they get used to living with the problem and accomodating it in to their lives, so the seriousness is overlooked. Also, doctors and patients sometimes believe the hype around medicine - that they do have all the answers and that if they don't have an answer, there isn't one :?

I have found that the best way to get a referral is to explain what the problem is and ask for a referral to investigate it - do not underplay inconvenience eg not being able to hold a knife or get the lid off a jar and pain, especialy if over the counter medication does not relieve it. The worst possible thing to do is go in armed with stuff downloaded from the internet and self-diagnose, far better results by describing the impact on your everyday life. Although I did once tell my GP I thought I had roseaca (a skin condition) which he said was eczema, and i have just been diagnosed with rosacea by the dermatologist :roll: :lol: He referred me to dermatology when I told him the treatment he prescribed ( a good moisurising regime) wasn't working.
 
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