Tell Me More

When a patient comes to me with complicated symptoms, I typically order a series of tests to arrive at a diagnosis. But what happens if those tests all come back normal?

There are conditions that can’t be identified by CAT scans, blood tests or ultrasounds. And sometimes testing only adds to a patient’s anxiety and makes them feel worse.

So, how do you decide when testing is necessary and when it isn’t?

On this inaugural episode ...

For many years, Keri suffered from debilitating gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, weight fluctuation, and depression before she was finally diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

And she has had more than her fair share of conversations with doctors.

How did the experience improve once Keri felt heard? How did effective communication impact her health? And what does effective doctor-patient communication look like?

On this episode of Tel...

Danielle doesn’t feel like a medical miracle. But after experiencing a stroke at the age of 33, being misdiagnosed for several months and enduring complications from brain surgery, her health journey is truly extraordinary.

Unfortunately, Danielle and her husband Stan had a number of difficult conversations with the not-so-sympathetic specialists who treated her along the way.

What were those conversations like? Should we tolerat...

A lot of us feel a little blue during the holiday season. But for some, that blueness is much more significant. It can be a medical diagnosis of clinical depression or anxiety that disrupts their lives. 

And as good as medicine has gotten over the years, we still do a pretty rotten job when it comes to talking to patients about their mental health. There's this stigma that if life is pretty good, and you have a lot going for ...

11 years ago, Kim woke up with a headache that refused to go away. After five days of suffering, she went to her primary care doctor and was diagnosed with adult-onset migraines.

But four months and 23 medications later, she was admitted to the hospital for pain control. None of the treatments had worked.

That’s when the hospital neurologist accused Kim of faking her symptoms to get attention. And Kim started to wonder if she was...

Molly endured the life-or-death experience of an ectopic pregnancy. Then, when her obstetrician said it was safe, she got pregnant again and delivered a healthy baby boy.

Today, she has two children under the age of two. And while Molly is grateful to have had two successful pregnancies, the journey was fraught with the frustration of having to explain her history again and again.

So, what can we do to make women who’ve experienc...

When I was growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, ADD wasn’t a thing. Kids with attention deficit disorder struggled to succeed and often developed anxiety and depression as a result.

This is exactly what happened to Kim, and it wasn’t until she was homeschooling her own children during the pandemic that she made the connection: Perhaps the cause of her mental health issues was undiagnosed ADD.

But it’s been much more challenging than ...

As the drummer in a popular band, Jeff has been playing music and performing for audiences of thousands for many years.

But at the end of 2020, he started experiencing symptoms of dizziness and a feeling of heaviness in his upper body during shows. Jeff relied on kinesthetic memory to play the drums, while he focused on not fainting.

And despite the best efforts of his primary care doctor, a GI specialist, a gallbladder surgeon a...

For most of my adult life, I had no relationship with alcohol whatsoever. And then, in 2016, I discovered a love of bourbon and started enjoying an old fashioned when I was out with family and friends.

But then the pandemic hit, and I started having a regular cocktail at home to cope with the stress. I was only drinking one adult beverage, but I was drinking every night.

Fast forward to three months ago when a patient I’ve known ...

Kathy’s problems began in 2011 with a cold that wouldn’t go away.

She was initially diagnosed with bronchiectasis, and after seeing a local specialist, Kathy discovered she had mycobacterium avium complex or MAC as well.

But the cocktail of antibiotics she was taking didn’t stop her nagging cough or keep her from getting sick on a regular basis. And then she started seeing blood in her sputum. 

Why did it take 10 years for Kathy ...

What makes for a good doctor-patient relationship?

Yes, we want a doctor who has excellent control of our disease. Someone who diagnoses us correctly and gets us to a point where we’re pain-free.

But for a patient living with a challenging condition like rheumatoid arthritis, it’s important to consider quality of life. To find out what matters most to them and develop a treatment plan accordingly.

Nora was an active, athletic, 35...

When Leslie was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, her oncologist said, “This is the best cancer you can get.”

And while she understands in hindsight that he meant to put her at ease, in the moment, Leslie resented his delivery and wondered if he really cared.

Was he taking her situation lightly? How could any cancer be considered good?

On this episode of Tell Me More, Leslie describes the feeling of heat in her throat that persisted...

A few weeks ago, I sent in a prescription for an opioid medication for a longtime patient of mine. And when the pharmacist called and left a message, I immediately got angry.

Why was he questioning my authority?

As a result, I went into the conversation ready for a fight. And I’m not proud of the way I treated the pharmacist—who was simply trying to do better by my patient.

Dr. Melissa Turner, PharmD, knows what it’s like t...

Emily was married at 22 and went off birth control. And while she wasn’t actively trying to get pregnant, she was not NOT trying.

But after three years, nothing had happened. She brought it up with her PCP and OBGYN, who both said, ‘Well, you’re still young…’

So, it wasn’t until Emily was 30 years old and seeking help from a fertility specialist that she found out her thyroid levels were off.

And within two months of going on Syn...

When Pam’s dad was diagnosed with tongue cancer 13 years ago, she made it her mission to find him the best possible care.

So, after a consult with a local surgeon, Pam made appointments for a second and third opinion with university-level providers within driving distance.

What was their experience navigating big-name surgeons and oncologists at well-known university hospitals? Did such accomplished doctors come with outsized ego...

Doctors trained in the West often resist nontraditional treatment modalities and focus on prescribing pharmaceuticals, citing data to back up our decisions.

But medication is not the answer for every patient, and many are interested in exploring natural treatments to manage their health.

So, what if it doesn’t have to be an either/or? What if medical professionals were open to offering patients a holistic treatment plan that comb...

When people are struggling with their mental health, they tend to bring it up with their primary care doctor first.

And while I love that my patients feel comfortable bringing these issues to me, I don’t always feel like I have the time or expertise to facilitate a really good conversation and address their concerns effectively.

So, more often than not, I end up writing a prescription.

What can PCPs do to engage in better convers...

The patients I send to a pain management doctor are some of the most challenging cases in our practice.

Typically, these patients have been to physical therapy, they’ve had imaging and been prescribed meds, but they’re still struggling with chronic pain.

So, doctors who specialize in pain management are often tasked with explaining treatment options that sound scary and delivering bad news. 

What is the best way to approach these...

Kermit Farmer’s wife, Linda, enjoyed a successful career as an oncologist until she was diagnosed with stomach cancer herself.

She faced complications throughout the treatment process and was hospitalized 11 times in ten months before making the decision to go on hospice.

And after 18 days of hospice care at home, Linda passed away.

Kermit wanted to honor Linda’s legacy. So, he leveraged his experience as a caregiver, his underst...