Many people with a chronic illness go undiagnosed for years, and without a diagnosis it can be difficult to manage a condition. To get diagnosed it can sometimes mean seeing a new doctor often in the hope that one of them will work out what the problem is.
To reduce the time it takes to get answers it is important to find the right doctor, this can be incredibly challenging, sometimes there are no suitable specialists living in the area which can mean a lot of time and money travelling to appointments.
What type of doctor do I need?
It can be very important to see the right kind of specialist, seeing a gastroenterologist when what is needed is an immunologist may not be all that helpful, and can be an expensive waste of time.
Try writing down all your symptoms, for some people this may take some time as lists can be long. Be sure to write down EVERYTHING, even writing down what makes it worse (e.g. the cold weather; or being out in the sun too long) it is all important. Once your list is written if you can attempt to divide the list into categories, into which seem related to bowels, or your immune system, or if it seems hormonal. If you cannot do this on your own, discuss the symptoms with your GP specifying you want to see a specialist and want to see the best one for the job.
Listed below are some of the types of specialists available:
- Gastroenterologist – Bowel issues, such as IBS, crohn’s, celiac, etc.
- Immunologist – Disorders of the immune system, such as autoimmune disorders, please note some conditions cross fields and you may need more than one type of specialist. Immunologists also treat allergies but it may be helpful to see an immunologist that specialises in allergies if that is the issue (yes there are specialists of specialists)
- Endocrinologist – Disorders of the endocrine system, such as diabetes.
- Urologists – Prostate and kidney problems
- Gynaecologists – Female reproductive system. Be aware that some gynaecologists focus more on fertility issues, and it may be better to see an endometriosis specialist if you suspect that is the problem.
- Haematologist – Disorders of the blood
- Oncologist – Cancer
- Ear nose and throat specialists – Problems with the ear nose and throat, such as sleep apnoea
- Neurologist – Disorders of the neurological system, including chronic migraines.
Which doctor?
It is always worth asking around and finding out which doctor’s other people have had success with, even if this means asking in forums.
Another method of finding a good doctor can be to do a web search, specialists very high up in their field might have a website with information on what they do and if they are involved in any research. Sometimes seeing the best of the best helps get an answer faster.
If you feel you have seen a few specialists, perhaps try going to a different GP for a referral. GP’s often have ‘usual’ specialists for referrals and may not know of all the options around. Be aware you can ask for a specific specialist if you know their name and details from any GP.
If you are unsure of what type of specialist to see, just start seeing any. If it is the wrong type the specialist can suggest who to see next, the most important thing is to keep the ball rolling. It can be disheartening and expensive, but without a diagnosis getting help becomes near impossible. A strong support network is important during this time to remain positive while waiting for answers.
