Asking for a referral at the dr- will they laugh me out the room?! (Sjögren’s syndrome)

[GodivaEater]

Hi all

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years ago, but the rheumatologist was batty and didn’t take me seriously (she actually spent 20 mins telling me about a feminist magazine, wtf!). Running alongside the tiredness and body pains I’ve had itchy irritated dry eyes every fucking day for years. I’ve now learnt that both of the above are symptoms of Sjögrens Syndrome, which Venus Williams has. I’ve read more about it and it describes me to a t.

No if I ring my dr tomorrow and suggest I might have this syndrome, are they going to get snotty with me for ‘self diagnosing?’ I would like this possibility to be taken seriously and do I have a right to ask for a referral?

People self-diagnose using Dr Google all the time. Maybe present your symptoms, see what the doctor says, and if they don’t suggest a referral, then mention the syndrome and a possible referral. It’s not unusual for patients to ask,for referrals, although the gp,doesn’t actually have to give you one if theyndon’t want too.

I don't think it's a straightforward diagnosis to make, partly because of the overlap in symptoms among so many autoimmune conditions and the lack of a definitive blood test (antibodies to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and/or to specific nuclear antigens [ss-A/Ro or ss-B/La] should be diagnostic but many patients with the condition have negative results for the former and the latter are also likely to be present in other autoimmune conditions). It's probably best to just go in complaining of dry eyes so this is at the front of the GP's mind while she/he goes through your history and any previous test results (although it sounds like you might not have had m/any tests). Do you have a dry mouth, too? That would make Sjögren's more likely. Have you been investigated for scleroderma, which causes similar eye symptoms and is often accompanied by fibromyalgia?

Whatever you do, don't mention Venus Williams. This will make them much less likely to take you seriously. I'm sure every time a sleb is announced as having a medical condition GPs' waiting rooms will fill up with people insisting they must have it, too.

Oh no I wouldn’t mention VW.

I’ve seen the dr in the past and have been having blepharitis treatment and the false tear drops for a few years now. I don’t think the dr made any connection to my pain problem.

I don’t really have a dry mouth. I’ve not heard of scleroderma, I’ll look that up! Thanks for the info, are you a dr?

No, I'm not a doctor: don't take anything I say as authoritative. I teach medical students and am surrounded by doctors all the time, so I pick bits up.