Why is it that healthcare professionals refuse to admit to what they obviously cannot help with?

[OrganicHairbrush]

Rant coming up. I know I'm being very vague about details here, bit if I were to say very much more, I'd identify myself to half the local NHS workforce.

To explain... I'm facing two serious yet unrelated health problems, one of which is relatively rare and the other of which occurs in about one woman my age in Britain each decade. Obviously, neither medical science nor the NHS have a clue about how these affect one another... and really, I wouldn't expect them to.

So WTF is wrong with saying "OrganicHairbrush, I'm understand why your question is an important one but I cann't provde an answer"? Some of the professionals I've seen recently can say it, but most can't.

I'm fed up being patronised with unjustifiable reassurances and anecdotal misinformation. I'm fed up with being told "oh but that happened to my grandfather when he was 86 and he still managed to play carpet bowls and lived until he was 89". FFS I'm in my early thirties and find the thought of being able to play carpet bowls rather terminal...

Have you tried letting them know it is ok to say this to you?

I suppose it's a combination of professional pride and wanting to reassure the patient that prevents a doctor from saying 'I don't know what's wrong'. I'm not sure if 'I don't know what's wrong but I'm going to tell you about my bowls playing grandfather' is better than 'I know exactly what's wrong and I'm afraid you're toast'

Agree with the above. Let them know that you'd be happier with the blunt truth than flim-flam.

I keep telling them

For fear of sounding like the Daily Mail, I don't pay my taxes to prop up professional egos.

Its a shame you don't have my Dad as your GP, he used to make a point of saying "I'm sorry, I don't know what is wrong with you" to patients (he would obviously than try to find out but he never waffled on to save face). I'm not sure if all his patients appreciated it but he did have a loyal following who missed him when he retired.

His honesty is not always appreciated when his opinions are asked for on new outfits etc. though!

To be fair, my GP is a shining exception and is always very honest. Otherwise, I'd be begging you to persuade your dad to unretire just for me!

I do from a serious lack of fashion sense, but am not currently seeking medical assistance with that

I think health professionals usually try to reassure people if they can, and this is probably welcomed by many.

It sounds like there just isn't any real information they can give you and perhaps they feel a bit impotent and that reassurance is the best they can offer you?

The best they could offer would be freshly brewed filter coffee and an aromatherapy massage in every waiting room adorned with lava lamps, fibre-optics and fluffy kittens. But that's another topic, surely.

I'm fully prepared to take on board that such reassurance does help most people and would indeed help anyone else in my position. It just doesn't work for me...

Not all do. I admit when I don't know or can't help someone and try to refer them to someone who does know or can help.

I'm sorry you're getting the runaround

Thanks. I hope you can attract patients like me who appreciate that!

They seem to - thanks!