My biggest challenge was getting doctors to believe that my symptoms weren’t all in my head.

I still haven’t found a doctor who completely understands my condition. I rely a lot on online support groups and my own research to manage it. It’s been a tough trying to advocate for myself.

I was lucky to find doctors for each type of condition, but it's taken 7 years to do so. I now search for a primary care doc who can at least imagine the total package.

I saw three psychiatrists before one was able to diagnose me with BP1. The first would only see me remotely and was more interested in getting me off the medications (which worked!) that my GP had had me on before I moved out of state. The second knew I was having trouble with acute anxiety, but thought I was just a drug seeker because one of the medications the previous doc had taken me off of happened to be Klonapin. It took having a psychotic break and being hospitalized before the third doc, which the hospital found for me, took an actual interest in what I was going through, not the meds I had been on, and diagnosed me. He prescribed some non-addictive meds that have worked like a charm, thankfully. The first two were more concerned with what they didn't want me to take than what was actually happening with me. It was very frustrating.

I still haven’t really found one.. :/ I had a great care team out in California, but here in Iowa-?? Nobody seems to care or take my health seriously.

It took 10 years to get diagnosed, and I went through countless doctors before then. So I'd say VERY hard :(

Very hard until 2019 things started to change

Yes. It’s hard to find a Dr who I can trust and rely on

Exceptionally hard because they kept giving me exercises and meditation to no avail

My first challenge was a cultural one. My first rheumatologist was a Male Indian and I am a female. He did not have a good or professional attitude towards me. Always gaslighting me. Like when I complained about my hair starting to fall out he says Oh you have plenty of hair. He told me I only had one option for treatment after I failed Taltz injection for Psoriatic arthritis. I found a new female rheumatologist who told me I have many options for treatment and put me on Humira. She actually listens to what I say and is helping me with my symptoms.

It’s been hell

I am still looking

Honestly it’s just hard to find a doctor to treat my issues has a whole. Specialists stay in their lane and other doctors don’t understand and just send me to more specialists. The best I’ve gotten so far is an integrative health doctor who actually seems to care about my issues a lot and finding the cause of it all.

I’m still looking for doctors that understand me and what I go through. I’ve got some that get it and truly care, but they are rare.