The Doctor Who Dismissed Kim vs. the Doctor Who Saved Her Life

Tell Me More

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 losing her mind.

On this episode of Tell Me More, Kim joins me to discuss the physical symptoms she experienced in the four months leading up to her hospitalization and describe how the chronic pain led to suicidal ideations.

She walks us through the long list of specialists she saw and treatments she tried before a neurosurgeon asked the right questions and discovered her displaced cervical spine.

Listen in to understand what the neurosurgeon who saved Kim did differently from the neurologist who dismissed her and learn how to confront a doctor who does you wrong in a way that makes them better.

Key Takeaways How Kim was initially diagnosed with adult-onset migraines (yet medication didn’t help)

The symptoms of dizziness, lightheadedness and nausea Kim suffered in addition to her headache

Kim’s experience of trying 23 different medications and countless treatments with no relief

How Kim’s chronic pain and dizziness led to suicidal ideations

Kim’s reaction to the hospital neurologist who accused her of faking symptoms for attention

The neurosurgeon who discovered Kim’s displaced cervical spine and resolved her pain

Kim’s post-op confrontation with the neurologist who dismissed her

Why a good physician will not be offended if you advocate for yourself and ask for a second opinion

Kim’s advice to PCPs on creating a team of colleagues to support patients who aren’t doing well

What the neurosurgeon who saved Kim did differently than the other doctors she’d seen

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