The Dreadful Doctor Merry Go Round

Nowadays, there's a specific doctor for every organ system (and even part) of the body. There are dermatologists for skin, gastroenterologists for the digestive system, otolaryngologists (ear, nose & throat doctors), neurologists for the nervous system, gynecologists for the female reproductive system and list goes on and on.

You would think that that would provide you with more specialized, higher quality care and in the case of acute illness, such as heart attack or tonsillitis, it usually does. But when it comes to chronic illness, it really just translates into more office visits (and copays), more tests, more prescriptions and a longer diagnosis time. That's because the cause of chronic pain and illness, such as acne or diabetes, are usually multi-systemic.

The symptoms of diabetes, some of which are blurry vision, vaginal yeast infections, dry or itchy skin, and frequent urination could lead a person to visit up to four (4) different types of doctors (http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/b72.htm). Of course, none of these doctors communicate with each other and each doctor you visit is likely to skim your medical chart just seconds before your appointment--if not during! Thus, the diagnosis of many illnesses remains elusive until someone is able (or willing) to put all the symptoms together and find the cause that connects them.

Acne is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in our society, affecting "more than 90% of all adolescents, nearly 50% of all adult women and 25% of all adults" (acne.com). Many dermatologists and websites claim that diet has absolutely nothing to do with acne, but rather is caused by an mysterious imbalance in hormone levels and oil-based products. Such declarations are usually followed by an overpriced prescription or OTC (over-the-counter) topical of limited effectiveness. In extreme cases powerful drugs such as Accutane and birth control are prescribed to "control" the disease. No dermatologist or gastroenterologist will tell you about the 2002 study conducted by Dr. Cordain that directly links acne with a high-sugar diet (see http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/28193). As doctors refer patients from one specialist to another, it seems that even they have forgotten that they're treating a whole person not just an organ system.

So what is a person with chronic symptoms to do?

A healthy diet and regular aerobic exercise is some of the best medicine around, but definitely the hardest to take. It is your first line of defense. Generally, a healthy diet consists of a low glycemic index diet that contains lean protein (see www.the-gi-diet.org/lowgifoods/). Regular aerobic exercise is usually considered to be 30 minutes of heart pumping movement resulting in perspiration at least 3 times a week. It can help treat and prevent so many illnesses from acne and endometriosis to diabetes and arthritis. Few doctors will ever prescribe you this type of medicine because it's cheap and readily available to everyone. It just requires a lot of discipline but if you're fighting for your life, you'll give it all you've got! The field of dermatology and gastroenterology alone would lose so many patients to this kind of medicine.

Write your own medical chart. Keep a journal. For at least two to three months, keep track of daily activities, sexual partners, the weather, diet, weight, bowel movements, emotional health and if you're a woman, monitor your reproductive system using the fertility awareness method (see Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler). You're bound to discover more about yourself than you've ever known. Your journal could also help your doctor diagnose elusive conditions.

Stay optimistic. Multiple doctor visits and mystery diagnosis can cause you to want to give up, but don't! There are lots of resources out there in books, on the internet and through word-of-mouth. And, believe it or not, there are still some knowledgeable doctors who are able to connect the dots. So before you make that next appointment ask friends and colleagues for referrals or do your own research on a site like ratemd.com. It just might save your life, save you money and save you from a prescription-happy quack-doctor.