You and Your Doctor - part 2: It’s Not “All in Your Mind”
Joint pain not connected to any injury. Headaches. The strange habit of forgetting where you’re headed once you’re in the car. As people with lupus know all too well, mysterious symptoms that appear and disappear are hallmarks of the disease. But when you’re seeing a doctor who isn’t familiar with lupus, all of these issues can sound like, well, a long list of complaints that just don’t make sense. That’s why, sometimes, a doctor may say, “I think I need to refer you to a mental health practitioner.”
But you know your own body, and the symptoms you’re describing are real. So, what do you do?
A. Scold the doctor for not believing you.
B. Say nothing, but find another doctor.
C. Politely but firmly insist that your symptoms are not all in your mind, and ask for further evaluation.
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