Self Diagnosis vs Professional

It is worth searching the forum for similar threads as there is lot of advice elsewhere on the forum.

If you work you may prefer an official diagnosis as this will allow reasonable adjustments; you would be very lucky indeed to be allowed reasonable adjustments when self-diagnosed. This link may be of use:
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/multipage-guide/employment-workplace-adjustments

Thanks for that.

Following a conversation with a psychiatrist I see about chronic pain, he gave me the name of a specialist who could formally diagnose. 

As a result, I got an official diagnosis last week: I think it's just a matter of personal preference if you feel comfier being formally diagnosed or doing it yourself: We're all going to be the same people post diagnosis anyway.

Hi there sorry if I have missed it but did you get NHS diagnosis or private?

 Glad it gave you a way to be you, no more having to explain yourself.

I am still in the process of drafting some notes to help when seeing my gp for referral. I looked into private and total costs given were £1500, two health professionals first, they then decide if a visit with pyschiatrist is needed. 

I am stumbling with the notes or letter. I cannot do anything half hearted, I also fear failure! If I get it wrong it means the difference between a diagnosis or not,,,,well in my mind it does, a bit of anxiety?

I also trust and always assume a specialist is right. I shape shift to fit into life.therefore when talking to the gp I understand a lot about my condition,the drugs, the chemistry behind the drugs and changes and effects it has.

they usually assume I have a job in the field of medicine.

they are shocked and bewildered when I tell them I am a ground worker.

 So I will have to not cope! Counter productive as I must succeed, Do I try to cope or be myself, The I know I must put across my daily issues, how I cannot cope with Disorder, how I work with people who disengage brain, I struggle when meeting clients, that’s getting a full time thing now, all the never decreasing admin for health and safety I am dyslexic! I took the choice to do manual work as my memory is so bad, fast forward thirty years and I am writing every day, whole pages, it wears me out.

Sorry a rambling life history, I have no one to talk to about me! Sorry it just comes out in buckets..

This place is probably good for venting, so I wouldn't worry about ranting 

Thank you.

I apologise  for ranting but it happens, life just gets complex sometimes, 

I will bounce back, that is always a given,,,,,,well so far I have..,,,thanks to the May ears that listen on here and do there best to support. 

Yeh....That sounds like a lumbar bulge alright - It's crazy how much the back can hurt, however it's logically explained. The sciatic nerve root is as big as your thumb: Compromise that and....BOOM.

If they injected your back in hozzy, it was either a steroid into the epidural cavity or a stonking great dose of local Difene...an anti-inflammatory.

All you really need to watch out for is that it doesn't degenerate: Your right in requesting an MRI, as this would reveal if the bulge had grow, but you'd have to pay to get this done. Explore an epidural - It'd be an investment in your health

The people on this open forum understand much, they do not judge, I understand much of their issues, I don’t always come up with answers but I do whatever I can with what I have to give.

They do the same for me, I am so grateful for their help. 

I wish I could do more for each and every one of you. Sadly I am but me.

I have tried being me elsewhere, it annoys,causes pain and I am only needed for what they want not what I need. Hence why my real thoughts are kept firmly in the box, 

thank you for understanding though, you have helped me in the past, I hope one day to repay that.

Thank you for listening and understanding. They take me for a fool the doctors, I am no fool, I research very thoroughly, I control my body, I understand everything that is going on in minute detail,

It is the overburdened system that is denied the funds and support it needs, The doctors do as much as they can with what they have. It is not their choice it is a fact they some how have to deal with. They have limited resources and must make life changing decisions daily.

I can still walk, I get by, I am being sincere when I say you deserve the resources more than I do, only as in this less than perfect world it the right thing.

I understand their job, how they keep going I do not know, they are amazing to keep going.

I am so sorry you have to cope with such pain and really feel for you. I had a short sharp reality check, my pain was intense, it destroyed my mind as suddenly I was no longer able to function. I have days I feel intense pain. So I take more pills, I hate them but as said if it works then so be it.

Thank you for the advice regarding the L5/S1 bulge, I shall discuss it when I see my GP next, I have now something to research, When I first attended the clinic after the initial problem, I was in so much pain they had to inject my back, it took a long time to take effect, I was asked if I could put my shoes on in the waiting room as the room was needed, I cried out and slid off the bed, I stumbled out into the waiting room, my wife went in got my shoes and put them in for me, I spent four weeks propped up on a sofa, side on, each part of my torso had to be supported to keep it straight to stop the pain. Pillows to stop my body twisting as my arm was trying to pull it to the side.

Thsnk you,and I wish you well,

) ( said:

This place is my ears, sorry I have no one to share my frustrations with, 

:( .....but I bet there are also people here in that same boat...life can give us a lot to navigate with only a half scrawled map to follow

The same was said to me and it is true.

Surgeons only operate on the manifestations of symptoms.

I've had as many open spinal surgeries as surgeons will perform and have a genetic condition where the discs crumble. I wanted to get regular MRIs to be proactive, but tat's not how it works.

From what you say, you most likely have an L5/S1 bulge. This can be treated with an epidural injection of hydrocortisone: The steroid will shrivel the bulge. Explore it with your GP before it gets worse. Oral painkillers will provide short term relief, but eventually your disc annula may rupture, leading to a herniaton.

I have 8 herniations and live on an invalidity pension and morphine. 

Hi sorry for my rants, I have good days and bad,today is a bad day,

my back pain is work related meaning I was shivering tons of wet concrete, I had to be off work for five weeks, unable to even sit up,

The official diagnosis is???? We did an X-ray and couldn’t see anything! So being given the old story, take these tablets and it will ease the pain. 

I afgued I needed a scan, the reply says it all “ we do not like to do a scan as it may show up something other than what we are looking for”.

sounds unreal but the actual words. I said how long must I take these tsb,ets? “ as long as you need to,” was the reply. so I argue it will just hide the pain and it will get worse, reply was “ if it allows you to continue your life then this is the right way forward” .

I tale codiene supposedly I can take eight a day. I also take naproxen potentially two a day.

Niether should be taken long term, the codiene is to make my body produce morphine,it doesn’t contain it.

as I am aware I gradually took less until now I take only two. The pain varies, I do not want to become addicted to it. My body is getting used to them and therefore the dosage will be increased.

I have researched the drugs as I do with everything in my life.

One side effect of long term use of codiene not stated is that it can reduce magnesium in the body, so now I take a supplement to help. I was getting severe muscle and joint pain due to low magnesium levels, the pain stopped the very next day.

So I imagine I have damage to a disk, I already had sciatica before that which adds to the pain. No meds for that I was told to swim more.

Jeez I do go on. This place is my ears, sorry I have no one to share my frustrations with, 

What is your back condition?

Thank you,yes I fear not being understood, I am guilty of being able to cope, my mask fits too well, I come across as being ok, I am very good at adjusting, it doesn’t mean I am ok, it wears me out. Mentally and physically. I have chronic back pain,on meds for three years now, In effect instead of presenting my coping self I will have to battle to not cope.?? I hope they have lots of tissues handy, 

I went private - The local NHS waiting list is 1 year +

1500 quid? No way...That seems a lot to me.

I paid 500 for the private diagnostic interview alone and that was without a referral from my GP.

There is a presentation online about getting an adult ASD diagnosis, but it's against forum rules to identify anyone, so I can't post it.

Just look around though, it's not hard to find.

I was sooooo stressed about my interview, so I know how you feel. It's not fear of failure you have, it's fear of not being understood - Of having to plead your case as it were: I'm used to that due to my chronic pain....That's relatively invisible, too.

Tell you what though, all you have to do is be yourself and they'll pick it up instantly. 

I went private - The local NHS waiting list is 1 year +

1500 quid? No way...That seems a lot to me.

I paid 500 for the private diagnostic interview alone and that was without a referral from my GP.

There is a presentation online about getting an adult ASD diagnosis, but it's against forum rules to identify anyone, so I can't post it.

Just look around though, it's not hard to find.

I was sooooo stressed about my interview, so I know how you feel. It's not fear of failure you have, it's fear of not being understood - Of having to plead your case as it were: I'm used to that due to my chronic pain....That's relatively invisible, too.

Tell you what though, all you have to do is be yourself and they'll pick it up instantly. 

This place is probably good for venting, so I wouldn't worry about ranting 

Thank you.

I apologise  for ranting but it happens, life just gets complex sometimes, 

I will bounce back, that is always a given,,,,,,well so far I have..,,,thanks to the May ears that listen on here and do there best to support. 

Yeh....That sounds like a lumbar bulge alright - It's crazy how much the back can hurt, however it's logically explained. The sciatic nerve root is as big as your thumb: Compromise that and....BOOM.

If they injected your back in hozzy, it was either a steroid into the epidural cavity or a stonking great dose of local Difene...an anti-inflammatory.

All you really need to watch out for is that it doesn't degenerate: Your right in requesting an MRI, as this would reveal if the bulge had grow, but you'd have to pay to get this done. Explore an epidural - It'd be an investment in your health

The people on this open forum understand much, they do not judge, I understand much of their issues, I don’t always come up with answers but I do whatever I can with what I have to give.

They do the same for me, I am so grateful for their help. 

I wish I could do more for each and every one of you. Sadly I am but me.

I have tried being me elsewhere, it annoys,causes pain and I am only needed for what they want not what I need. Hence why my real thoughts are kept firmly in the box, 

thank you for understanding though, you have helped me in the past, I hope one day to repay that.

Thank you for listening and understanding. They take me for a fool the doctors, I am no fool, I research very thoroughly, I control my body, I understand everything that is going on in minute detail,

It is the overburdened system that is denied the funds and support it needs, The doctors do as much as they can with what they have. It is not their choice it is a fact they some how have to deal with. They have limited resources and must make life changing decisions daily.

I can still walk, I get by, I am being sincere when I say you deserve the resources more than I do, only as in this less than perfect world it the right thing.

I understand their job, how they keep going I do not know, they are amazing to keep going.

I am so sorry you have to cope with such pain and really feel for you. I had a short sharp reality check, my pain was intense, it destroyed my mind as suddenly I was no longer able to function. I have days I feel intense pain. So I take more pills, I hate them but as said if it works then so be it.

Thank you for the advice regarding the L5/S1 bulge, I shall discuss it when I see my GP next, I have now something to research, When I first attended the clinic after the initial problem, I was in so much pain they had to inject my back, it took a long time to take effect, I was asked if I could put my shoes on in the waiting room as the room was needed, I cried out and slid off the bed, I stumbled out into the waiting room, my wife went in got my shoes and put them in for me, I spent four weeks propped up on a sofa, side on, each part of my torso had to be supported to keep it straight to stop the pain. Pillows to stop my body twisting as my arm was trying to pull it to the side.

Thsnk you,and I wish you well,

) ( said:

This place is my ears, sorry I have no one to share my frustrations with, 

:( .....but I bet there are also people here in that same boat...life can give us a lot to navigate with only a half scrawled map to follow

The same was said to me and it is true.

Surgeons only operate on the manifestations of symptoms.

I've had as many open spinal surgeries as surgeons will perform and have a genetic condition where the discs crumble. I wanted to get regular MRIs to be proactive, but tat's not how it works.

From what you say, you most likely have an L5/S1 bulge. This can be treated with an epidural injection of hydrocortisone: The steroid will shrivel the bulge. Explore it with your GP before it gets worse. Oral painkillers will provide short term relief, but eventually your disc annula may rupture, leading to a herniaton.

I have 8 herniations and live on an invalidity pension and morphine. 

Hi sorry for my rants, I have good days and bad,today is a bad day,

my back pain is work related meaning I was shivering tons of wet concrete, I had to be off work for five weeks, unable to even sit up,

The official diagnosis is???? We did an X-ray and couldn’t see anything! So being given the old story, take these tablets and it will ease the pain. 

I afgued I needed a scan, the reply says it all “ we do not like to do a scan as it may show up something other than what we are looking for”.

sounds unreal but the actual words. I said how long must I take these tsb,ets? “ as long as you need to,” was the reply. so I argue it will just hide the pain and it will get worse, reply was “ if it allows you to continue your life then this is the right way forward” .

I tale codiene supposedly I can take eight a day. I also take naproxen potentially two a day.

Niether should be taken long term, the codiene is to make my body produce morphine,it doesn’t contain it.

as I am aware I gradually took less until now I take only two. The pain varies, I do not want to become addicted to it. My body is getting used to them and therefore the dosage will be increased.

I have researched the drugs as I do with everything in my life.

One side effect of long term use of codiene not stated is that it can reduce magnesium in the body, so now I take a supplement to help. I was getting severe muscle and joint pain due to low magnesium levels, the pain stopped the very next day.

So I imagine I have damage to a disk, I already had sciatica before that which adds to the pain. No meds for that I was told to swim more.

Jeez I do go on. This place is my ears, sorry I have no one to share my frustrations with, 

What is your back condition?

Thank you,yes I fear not being understood, I am guilty of being able to cope, my mask fits too well, I come across as being ok, I am very good at adjusting, it doesn’t mean I am ok, it wears me out. Mentally and physically. I have chronic back pain,on meds for three years now, In effect instead of presenting my coping self I will have to battle to not cope.?? I hope they have lots of tissues handy,