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lobstertown

Updated 1y ago

First Doctor Visit Tomorrow - What to Expect?

first doctor visit tomorrow to see whats up/whether im right in my assumptions... any expectations i should have going in? its only the uni doctor so i'm likely going to get referred elsewhere but i figured its a good starting point since its free.

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RyeRyeBread

1y

prepare for possible gaslighting. it's unfortunately very, very common - and it helps to know what it can look and sound like, so i recommend reading up on that if you can. I always feel more at ease when I have lists of my symptoms, examples of how bad they can get/how they affect me, questions i want to ask/my goals for the visit, and info on the conditions I'm concerned about. I knew as soon as my symptom onset that there was a high likelihood that i had developed ME, and after over a year of doctors and BS, i was diagnosed, and my assumptions proven right. DO NOT GIVE UP if you get bullshit answers like "stress", "anxiety", etc. when you KNOW something else is going on. ❤️ If they ask where you want to be referred to/ if they don't know where to send you, I'd say go to rheumatology. Also, don't let them talk you into graded exercise therapy/GET. Some physical therapy (while you're in control of the pace and don't overdo it) is okay, but not graded/increasing ((if you have ME)) Good luck!! I hope you get answers soon!
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lobstertown

1y

thanks for the reply! i have a list of my symptoms, i'll be sure to expand on it a bit and include how much they affect me. i'm definitely aware of the gaslighting so i'll try to push back as well as i can. hopefully theyll have a good idea of where to send me but i'll keep rheumatology in mind just in case. one of the things i'm bringing up is my inability to exercise so maybe it'll be taken seriously. though thats a big hope for the first doctor. thank you!!
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thrillsnchills

1y

Hello I have chronic fatigue was wandering what ME is? Is it the same thing and who can help with it?
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Bubbles18

1y

Hi ME and CFS are the same condition yes! As for who can help, you normally get sent to a rheumatologist by doctors.
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RyeRyeBread

1y

Hi, chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome are different conditions, but chronic fatigue syndrome and ME are usually referring to the same condition (there's some debate about this as the diagnostic criterias and severity levels vary greatly, but overall they are considered the same). Chronic fatigue is long-term fatigue. CFS or ME is a chronic illness with many symptoms, including chronic fatigue. But plain chronic fatigue is very, very different from chronic fatigue syndrome or ME (they are often mixed up [even by uneducated doctors!] and its ridiculous lol)

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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