About

So, what’s a problem patient then?

Depends on which side of the consulting desk you sit.

More sensitive practitioners call us ‘heartsink’ patients – those with a stack of notes covering lots of symptoms, tests and treatments but no successful diagnosis or treatment.

The less sensitive consider us members of the ‘awkward squad’ – our symptoms and test results don’t neatly fit defined conditions, or we simply ask questions that don’t seem to be rewarded with answers. More cynical practitioners indicate that they doubt we are being 100% truthful and may even suggest our physical symptoms are psychological and consider us non-compliant if we raise doubts about suggested tests or treatments!

As patients we understand and share the frustrations of those who take us seriously (but still can’t help us find a successful treatment), but have nothing but contempt for those who consider us beneath their own contempt.

What about this problem patient?

This problem patient is most definitely not a happy bunny.

More precisely, I’m a 38-year old, fat, frazzled, female ex-management accountant living somewhere in the north of England (with family on both sides of the England/Scotland border, so I’m British, not English), getting increasingly frustrated at:

1. not being able to find out what my condition actually is – and what caused it, how it can be effectively treated and what are the long-term effects of the condition and its treatment; and
2. feeling as if UK health professionals are specifically trained to treat patients as if they are idiots, incapable of understanding tests, results and treatments and whose concerns and opinions are irrelevant and should NEVER be taken seriously. Not a good way to treat anyone, especially if you want their co-operation.