A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:I am really annoyed and seriously at my wits end. I have been having some medical symptoms and have now been to THREE different doctors now who have all fobbed me off and sent me away saying my symptoms are stress related or something of this nature or acted as though they are not that serious and will go away on thier own (I am NOT stressed or anything of the sort! And I know my body and I know this is not normal and something is wrong!!!) So my last resort now is to try to do my own research on the net or something then go back to my original doctor with my findings of what these symptoms could potentially indicate is wrong with me, whatever illness could be related to it and DEMAND he sends me for the relevant testing to check for that which I may require. I am not sure if anyone here are medical professionals or if anyone has had experiences of these similar symptoms but they are:1. I keep getting very quick flashes on the corners of my eyes - just like a quick spot of bright light; like a camera. It maybe happens a couple times a day - both eyes.2. When I read things somehow the words can get a bit jumbled up or not flow smoothly, I am not dyslexic but that is the best way I can describe - as though the letters and words become somehow jumbled (not always,only sometimes) and I have difficulty reading and understanding.3. Sometimes my speech gets a bit slurred or confused-again a similar manner to the reading but instead it is with speaking.Ok so my symptoms may not seem serious to most people and believe me, I am not a hypercondriac, but these things started happening all at the same time. And I have never had any of this before - so I know something must be wrong. If there is anyone who can recommend what I should ask my doctor to test me for I would really appreciate it. I really would not be worried or scared by any suggestions people put forward - it is more scarey NOT knowing and just sitting here with no one willing to take me seriously or send me for any relevant tests I may need; if these ARE symptoms of something more.Would really appreciate any thoughts on what symptoms anyone will relate this too.And please, I really don't need a smart alec telling me to go see another doctor! And of course I am not expecting anyone to give me a full diagnosis - I know it is speculation and can not be certain of anything until I get the relevant testing - but of course before I get testing I need to get some ideas of WHAT it could be indicating and WHAT they should be doing tests for!!!Sorry to sound rude but I am terribly frustrated and this is now the only way I can get this sorted I feel - ie to do my own research then go back and demand they test me accordingly to what medical thing these symptoms could be relating to.Thanks all.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (12 January 2009): Ahhh man... the medical profession. I know of the same kind of thing happening (not the symptoms, the thing with the doctors) from 2 women, where the doctors really didn't take them seriously. One of them complained of massive headaches and had to go to the ER because she woke up one morning with her eye swollen shut. The ER doc basically dismissed her. The next day she went to another ER for a 2nd opinion... turned out she had 3 brain anuerysms and needed emergency brain surgery.
The other woman I know had symptoms... difficulty walking, numb hands, temporary blindness in one eye, etc. She went from doc to doc, all telling her it was "stress". I remember when she told me this at the time, she was furious because the only thing stressing her out were the damn symptoms. I put her in touch with the first woman with the brain surgery. Gave her the strength to basically DEMAND that the doctors take her seriously and find out what is wrong. They did an MRI, and turns out she has MS.
I remember reading somewhere that women tend to get dismissed more by doctors than men. For some reason they don't take us as seriously.
So the point of mentioning all that is that YOU KNOW your body... you KNOW when something is wrong... you know its not stress. What you need to do is basically DEMAND that your doctors run tests on you and make them take you seriously. Sit at their offices all day if you have to. Self-diagnoses can only go so far, but make those high-priced MDs do their job and find out what the heck is wrong with you.
Apparently we women, unlike men, have to fight a little harder to be taken seriously.
A
female
reader, Tisha-1  +, writes (12 January 2009):
 Here is a tool that might help you with your quest:
http://symptoms.webmd.com/symptomchecker
I think you should start keeping a daily diary and note down exactly what kind of symptom you are experiencing and when. This will help you in a discussion with the doctor as you'll have a log of the symptoms. Also do things like take your temperature and your blood pressure and record those as well. I know this might make you look like a hypochondriac, but it might also convince a doctor that you need referral for further tests. You know your body and yourself; do not let yourself be fobbed off any more.
It is worrying and I do not blame you for feeling frustration with the medical system. Is it possible for you to go to a private physician and ask for a referral? I know the health care system is different in the UK from the US, so this may not be practical. My guess is that the default position is to NOT order any tests in order to keep costs down. So what you need to do is to make sure that your symptoms are logged and keep the pressure on the doctor to test you. You suggest that this jumbling of words and the slurring of speech is interfering with your everyday life and work; perhaps this will be sufficient for a referral.
Good luck, and I hope this helps.
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A
female
reader, SugarCookie +, writes (12 January 2009):
You need an MRI. It sounds like you had a trama to a part of your brain. If you have fallen and hit your head. It could also be a warning sign to a tumor. Tumors apply pressure to the brain and cause misfires which it sound like you are having. Go to the doctor lie if you have to and say that you hit your head and need an MRI. Tell them you hit the back and sides of your head on a rollercoaster. Good luck.
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A
male
reader, Passthrough +, writes (12 January 2009):
 Why dont you humor the professionals and take a breather for a week, see if you get better? Sleep more, drink less, breath deep and seek peace.
I have half of these symptoms when I am under alot of stress at work- I have no other medcal oddities about me, and they go away when I relax for a day or two.
And being frustrated doesnt help :D Relax, resolutions come quickest in moments of clarity, and you cant see whats in front of you if your eyes arent focused enough to see it.
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A
male
reader, The Gentle Man +, writes (12 January 2009):
 Do the following seem similar to your experiences ?
The flash - You lose sight for a fraction of a second and it registers as a flash.
Reading - You look at the page and see black text on white paper but cant make sense of it even though you feel you should ?
Speech - Sometimes unable to associate a word to something ? e.g. Look at a pillow and think its soft, comfy and you put your head on it but you think of the word, you know you know it but cant seem to find it.
OR
You sometimes say something like "How was your day ?", your brain registers you saying "How was your day", your positive you heard those exact words coming from your mouth but the person your speaking to insists your were just talking jibberish.
Does this match your experience ?
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