Sadly, this situation is not uncommon. I've watched a friend and a co-worker in their respective battles to get help for their children. The gaslighting from the medical and education professionals was unbelievable.. It was such a relief for them to both finally receive diagnoses after years of being told nothing was wrong. I see stories…
Sadly, this situation is not uncommon. I've watched a friend and a co-worker in their respective battles to get help for their children. The gaslighting from the medical and education professionals was unbelievable.. It was such a relief for them to both finally receive diagnoses after years of being told nothing was wrong. I see stories about Munchausen by proxy and I wonder how the hell these mothers pulled it off when sane mothers have to jump through hoops to get what their children need.
As to the "just a vet" comment. Vets have to have knowledge of multiple animal systems, not just one. They perform surgeries. They also specialize. I had a 4 month wait to take my cat to a dermatologist, lol. My own vet, practicing for over 50 years, can tell me what's wrong by look and feel. (Confirmed through medical testing).
Vets also don't have the benefit of a patient who can describe symptoms (never mind how difficult it is to get into veterinary school).
The comment about the seeing the google search up on the doctor's computer screen was particularly galling. Yet imagine what would have happened if the parent had mentioned reading about something online!
Yes, great point about animals not being able to describe their symptoms!
I have had a couple of Google medical experiences. My elderly mother has macular degeneration and was experiencing some visual hallucinations (seeing flowers and patterns). I looked it up to make sure she wasn't "losing it". It turns out it is a real thing called Charles Bonnet Syndrome. On an unrelated trip to the ER, I mentioned it when relaying her medical history to the attending physician. He condescendingly said " Ah, Dr. Google." I said "Well, you didn't know what it was until I told you, so maybe Google is a good thing."
I also used Google to self-diagnose a kidney stone. At the ER, I was asked, "What brings you here tonight ?" I said "I think I have a kidney stone. I Googled my symptoms." They didn't seem to have a problem with it and promptly provided me with IV fluids and pain medication. They then confirmed the stone through testing.
Sadly, this situation is not uncommon. I've watched a friend and a co-worker in their respective battles to get help for their children. The gaslighting from the medical and education professionals was unbelievable.. It was such a relief for them to both finally receive diagnoses after years of being told nothing was wrong. I see stories about Munchausen by proxy and I wonder how the hell these mothers pulled it off when sane mothers have to jump through hoops to get what their children need.
As to the "just a vet" comment. Vets have to have knowledge of multiple animal systems, not just one. They perform surgeries. They also specialize. I had a 4 month wait to take my cat to a dermatologist, lol. My own vet, practicing for over 50 years, can tell me what's wrong by look and feel. (Confirmed through medical testing).
Happy Mother's Day!
Vets also don't have the benefit of a patient who can describe symptoms (never mind how difficult it is to get into veterinary school).
The comment about the seeing the google search up on the doctor's computer screen was particularly galling. Yet imagine what would have happened if the parent had mentioned reading about something online!
Yes, great point about animals not being able to describe their symptoms!
I have had a couple of Google medical experiences. My elderly mother has macular degeneration and was experiencing some visual hallucinations (seeing flowers and patterns). I looked it up to make sure she wasn't "losing it". It turns out it is a real thing called Charles Bonnet Syndrome. On an unrelated trip to the ER, I mentioned it when relaying her medical history to the attending physician. He condescendingly said " Ah, Dr. Google." I said "Well, you didn't know what it was until I told you, so maybe Google is a good thing."
I also used Google to self-diagnose a kidney stone. At the ER, I was asked, "What brings you here tonight ?" I said "I think I have a kidney stone. I Googled my symptoms." They didn't seem to have a problem with it and promptly provided me with IV fluids and pain medication. They then confirmed the stone through testing.