For the five years, I have sporadically made my way in to either a family doctor or the gyno to try and understand some troubling symptoms.
Each time they look at me, find out I am employed full time, a marathon runner, writing on the side and traveling a lot for work...then comes the speech "I'm sure you are just stressed out."
After hearing this twice I decided that even know I wasn't really feeling stressed out maybe they were right and I should just stop worrying. In January, I passed out and had a seizure, suddenly I wasn't just stressed out any more. However, after going to the ER and running a battery of tests the doctors simply left it with a well this is strange and you should probably keep an eye out for things.
I fully understand that doctors can't know everything, but I also know that deep down I knew something was wrong. I had spoken to my husband, to my mother and to friends that I couldn't pin point the issue but I simply felt off. I didn't want to complain so if I mentioned anything it always seemed very random.
Now I am being more forceful when I see a doctor. I come in prepared with notes. I do not let them give me an "oh you are stressed". I ask them about tests and I require them to give me answers or ideas.
We are in charge of our health and though it is scary to stand up to the experts, I think it's required.