Although a misdiagnosis can feel like a dead end, there is valuable information to be learned from the process. Here are seven steps to help you harness the information you have already gathered and use it to help you move forward in your wellness journey. Follow these steps and you are sure to get the right diagnosis and regain freedom and control over your life.
Determine what caused your misdiagnosis. The more specific and concise you can be the better. This is the most important step you can take to prepare yourself for finding the right diagnosis.
Salvage the beneficial information from your misdiagnosis. Remember the saying; do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Your current treatment plan may contain beneficial information in terms of helping you mitigate your symptoms.
Re-evaluate your symptoms. This will help you figure out if there is any information you can provide your new practitioner that will help you get the proper diagnosis and/or treatment.
Determine if there are any additional changes you can make to mitigate your symptoms. Figure this out and you will be able to focus less on your symptoms and spend more time finding a practitioner who can help.
Decide if you prefer to follow traditional or alternative means of addressing your symptoms and then find an appropriate practitioner. Be sure and take into consideration any mistakes you may have made before when choosing a practitioner. Armed with this knowledge, be thorough in your new search. You will thank yourself later when you do not repeat the same mistakes twice.
Determine your commitment level. Are you willing to do EVERYTHING that is asked of you or do you have boundaries? Figuring out your level of commitment will help you make realistic decisions about your healthcare. Remember, lasting changes are those that fit your personality and are true to who you are.
1. Maintain your new lifestyle. Once you start feeling better, it is tempting to revert back to your old ways. However, it is important that you not forget the level of awareness you have developed over the course of your wellness journey.
2. Choose the right doctor. Find a doctor who is willing to work with you in determining the right diagnosis and treatment. Your doctors opinions should also make sense to you. For example, if your doctor accuses you of abusing laxatives when you know good and well that you have not (as in my case), then it is time to find a new doctor.
It is a good idea to seek a second opinion in general, especially when seeing specialists (who tend to be somewhat nearsighted by nature). For example, if you have pain in your wrist, it could be a bone problem, a muscle problem, a neurological problem, or an immunological problem. Do not rely on the diagnosis of just one specialist, especially if the treatment based on that diagnosis does not seem to be working.
3. Become an active e-patient. The Internet offers so much free, valuable information! You can learn about any medical condition online, and you can also interact with other people who have similar symptoms. Do not let this opportunity go to waste. Become your own health detective! By performing your own research, you will likely discover alternatives that your doctor did not consider.
4. Work with your doctor. Please do not attempt to diagnose yourself! That is not what being an e-patient is about. Work with your doctor; provide detailed notes of symptoms and ask intelligent questions. Pay attention, and do not be afraid to speak up when you do not understand something. This is your health we are talking about!
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 