Five Lessons for Patients from Mystery Diagnosis

Mystery Diagnosis is one of my favorite television shows. As an aspiring physician, it is interesting to learn about people's firsthand experiences with rare diseases. However, there are some practical lessons to be learned from Mystery Diagnosis from the perspective of the patient. In this article, I will describe five lessons I have learned from Mystery Diagnosis about how patients can aide in the diagnosis of medical conditions.

Mystery Diagnosis Lesson #1 - You Are Your Own Best Advocate
Often it seems like the people that were diagnosed most quickly were those that were most vocal about their symptoms. Patients that are willing to tell their physicians, "no, this treatment isn't working," or, "that diagnosis doesn't sound like what I have," tend to be diagnosed correctly more quickly. If you don't speak up and tell your physician exactly what is going on, it's unlikely that you will receive proper or effective treatment.

Mystery Diagnosis Lesson #2 - Give a Thorough Medical History
One of the best things you can do to help your physician diagnose your condition is to give a thorough, detailed medical history. Leaving certain symptoms out of your medical history, even if they are embarrassing or seemingly unrelated, can prevent your physician from making a diagnosis or can delay the process. Take the time before appointments to write down all of your symptoms so that you and your physician miss nothing.

Mystery Diagnosis Lesson #3 - Change Physicians If Necessary
Sometimes patients don't get along well with their physicians, or feel uncomfortable or pressured. This is problematic, especially in the diagnosis of an unknown illness or condition. If you have trouble communicating with your physician or feel that he or she is condescending towards you, request or search for a different physician that is more respectful towards you and that can communicate with you more easily.

Mystery Diagnosis Lesson #4 - Journal Your Symptoms
One of the most useful things you can do for yourself and your physician is to journal your symptoms. Certain illnesses have flare-ups of their symptoms. If you have a condition that comes and goes with time, it is a good idea to keep a daily journal in which you detail the nature of your symptoms, their severity, and their duration, as well as any other pertinent information, such as time of day, weather, or previous physical activity.

Mystery Diagnosis Lesson #5 - Do Online Research
If you or a loved one has a persistent condition that can't be diagnosed by your physician, do some research online. Though you very well may not be able to diagnose the condition, you may be able to find a more adequate description of your symptoms or may be led down a new path as far as thinking is concerned. For example, you might begin to suspect that your condition is an autoimmune or metabolic disorder. Likewise, there are support groups for those that have undiagnosed conditions, and these may help you endure the tough times.

The diagnosis of medical conditions is sometimes complex and sometimes requires persistence. If you have an unknown condition, following the above tips might help you to be diagnosed more quickly and more accurately. If you have any suggestions for faster and more accurate diagnosis of medical conditions, please share your thoughts in the form of a comment. Thank you for reading!