Long-lasting medical issues without help
Assalamu ‘alaikum.
This post is mainly just to rant because I have no one to talk to about this right now.
I don’t want to go into detail in case somehow my family comes across this site and figures out that this is me (I don’t think they know about it, but just to be safe), but I’ve had some medical problem for a few years. It’s an obvious condition, but not one that’s crippling or anything, just really bothersome when it acts up (and I’m worried it’ll act up during my exams in a few months, when it might delay me or something, and time is precious in exams). I’ve been dealing with it for years and just assuming that this is the way my life is going to be, like, I just have this issue that exists, but recently, a very good friend (she’s very religious as well Allahumma barik, so I really developed a fondness of her very quickly) who’s into medicine (we’re still at school, but she has this interest and stuff) suggested what could be wrong with me based off how she had seen this issue in someone before. And I researched the condition, and of all the research I’ve done regarding my issue, this is the only thing that I feel actually applied to me, with all the symptoms matching up. I’ve been to the doctor (not a specialist) once before, and she suggested what was wrong with me, but I knew that wasn’t the issue because sometimes you can just feel what the situation with your own body is and also because I just don’t really have the precedent and stuff to have had that issue. So I went to the doctor for this condition my friend told me about, and he basically told me that since I’m not a doctor with knowledge and stuff and neither is my friend, I shouldn’t be talking to friends and asking Google about my situation and he just kind of made me feel a bit stupid whilst talking to me in such a nice, sympathetic way. But I’m sure that this is what’s wrong with me because it’s the ONLY thing I’ve looked at that adds up, and the doctor gave me medicine for what I know isn’t my condition because I have no life basis for it nor the other symptoms of the condition which I now have no choice but to use even though I’m certain it won’t help me. And the thing is, what I think is the problem can happen spontaneously only very rarely, and what this means is that people with this condition have spoken about how it takes years for them to get diagnosed because doctors don’t really believe in it. So I’m worried that this is the situation that’s happening to me now, and the reason why it’s scaring me especially is because I don’t think in the future I’ll be able to get treatment as easily as I can now, and I want to be fixed up (from any all problems I have) because my future plans means I really need to be in good health and I don’t want my ability to do those things to be affected. There’s also a risk that people with this condition can end up with VERY dangerous infections, stuff that can cause seizures and death within hours and brain damage and all kinds of things like that. And there was some kind of closure in me knowing what I believe is really the problem, but now it’s like I can’t, like, sort out and seal the whole situation and I guess close this chapter because the people who can actually treat me don’t believe I can have this issue. And I can’t think that they know better because they’re trained because
- I do not have the symptoms except for what the doctor told me was the issue except one symptom, and I have all the symptoms for what I believe is the issue
- The people who’ve been diagnosed have explained how a lot of doctors don’t believe they have such a problem
- THE DOCTOR DIDN’T EVEN GIVE ME THE CONSIDERATION OF TESTING ME TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. There is a test for the condition that takes only three hours to carry out. You take a sample (seconds), put the sample in the testing thing, and then you just wait. But the doctor told me that there’s no reason to bother. He could’ve just tested it and given us an answer and closed up the situation.
I accepted previously that this was just how my life was going to be because I didn’t realise that what was wrong with me could be treated and ended easily. But if what I think is the situation really is the situation, the entire procedure to sort me out could be done in an hour or a little longer, and then the whole issue would be over and I’d be fine. Now that I know that exists, I just want this to be over. But this doctor didn’t even check my situation properly, and based off other people’s experiences, I can’t hope that I’ll be able to see someone else and get myself sorted out any time soon.
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Response from a “Fatima Counselor”:
Waalaikumussalam varahmathullahivabarakathuhu,
Thank you for writing in! The medical world – much like the mental health one – is vast, and not every clinician will be the best fit for every case. I can’t offer medical advice but do want to encourage you to seek the perspectives of a medical specialist and other primary physicians to offer their own professional opinions, and to possibly discuss options that could be available. Our health journeys (both physical and mental) are most supportive when there’s a collaboration between clients and clinicians. A clinician is an expert in their chosen field and clients are the experts in their own lives. Both voices hold value. It sounds like you might feel your voice isn’t being heard or valued with your current doctor. It’s okay to seek another professional option and find a space where your voice will be heard on this journey.
Sincerely,
Your Sister in Islam,
“Fatima SS”
Reviewed by “Fatima AH”
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