Trust Your Gut: When to Seek a Second Opinion

By Marion J. Herbert

When it comes to our health, we all have a human desire for certainty. Mysterious symptoms and the array of possible diagnoses can be both overwhelming and maddening. But what happens when you seek help from a doctor and the results still leave you with more questions than answers?

Even if that little voice inside your head is telling you to seek a second opinion, many patients are still hesitant. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a 2015 report by the Health and Medicine Division (HMD) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, finds that many patients are nervous about rocking the boat with their doctor, fearing they’ll appear “difficult” and it may impact their level of care.

Asking questions, conducting research and advocating for yourself can be critical parts of becoming an engaged and empowered patient, according to “e-Patient Dave” deBroknart, a patient advocate for participatory medicine and author of Let Patients Help! A Patient Engagement Handbook. Here are a four reasons you might want to consider getting a second opinion.

Your diagnosis doesn’t feel right.

When living with symptoms of a chronic illness, you want a name for what it is you’re experiencing. Receiving that initial diagnosis, however, may leave you feeling puzzled rather than relieved.

Misdiagnoses are more common than you think. The HMD report found that five percent of patients get misdiagnosed every year, and that one out of every 10 patient deaths are affected by a missed diagnosis.

This isn’t necessarily because a doctor doesn’t have your best interest in mind, however, says deBronkart. Because the dissemination of medical literature is still startlingly slow, many doctors may be unaware of how your unique symptoms are tied to a particular illness. This is particularly true if a doctor doesn’t specialize in your illness.

“The state of knowledge is advancing rapidly, far more rapidly than the rate at which it reaches doctors’ desks,” says deBronkart. Plus, the simple truth is that diagnosis is difficult. “There are thousands and thousands of known diseases, yet the body has a limited range of ways to tell you something’s wrong.”

The doctor makes you feel rushed.

Time can be a real barrier to your doctor getting a full picture of what it is you’re struggling with. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most doctors spend an average of 20 minutes in the exam room with their patient. Summing up what may be several years worth of chronic illness symptoms in under 20 minutes could absolutely lead to a diagnosis that isn’t accurate.

You’re questioning your treatment plan.

There’s not always a one-size-fits-all method when it comes to treatment, especially for individuals with a chronic illness. What worked for one patient may not actually work for you. Sometimes, a treatment plan may be too expensive or difficult to follow. Maybe you want to seek integrative or holistic approaches, but your doctor is resistant. In How Doctors Think, Jerome Groopman, MD, recommends that if your treatment isn’t working, you ask your doctor to rethink your case, starting from your original story.

Most importantly, if your symptoms worsen or new symptoms emerge while following a treatment plan you should speak to your doctor or seek a second opinion.

It’s hard for you and your doctor to communicate.

“But… but… but…” Ever feel as though you’re not being heard? In one 2001 study in the journal Family Medicine, patients spoke an average of just 12 seconds before being interrupted by their doctor. This could be because the doctor has follow up questions, or perhaps has seen symptoms such as yours before. Asking your doctor every question you have and if they recommend any sources you can read to learn more can help set the stage for open communication from day one, says deBronkart. Being able to have a thorough, open dialogue with your healthcare professional is critical to receiving the right care.

No one knows your body better than you do. Ultimately, if you feel you aren’t receiving sufficient answers or care, it is not only your choice, but your responsibility to seek a second opinion.

Article originally published June 2, 2016 on Chronicality.com