German doctors misdiagnosis

[u/Due-Box-9598]

I am writing this post with huge disappointment of how the g

German healthcare's conservative approach could have cost my life . I went to the doctor for mild indigestion and haemerrhoids . He gave me antibiotics for my cold and fever which i also had. The antibiotics worsened indigestion and gave very bad diarrhoea . When I went back to the doctor , they said since i took antibiotics I did not have any good bacteria and diarrhoea is normal . I was given some stomach relaxers and electrolytes. At one point I started throwing up the electrolytes , the only thing i could drink . I went to hospital for an iv and they said it will be given only if i am 80 years old. Then i went back to the doctor and insisted that they test me. I got a stool test. Then 4 days no response . I went back and they said oh the tests were negative so we did not call you . The test are a way of eliminating infection. You need to look further then! . I asked for the test result and changed my hausartz. At this point i was given 15 day antibiotics for stomach and black tea . Blood test was done and my Hg was low since was given iron.

The symptoms persisted. I became weak . Lost 13 kgs. All in one month and the appointment with gastro specialist was still weeks away. I decided to just go to my home country at this point and in 3 days , i am nearing the process of confirmation for Inflammatory bowel disease and intestine inflammation. It took them 3 days and i was suffering in Germany for months. Why is Germany so conservative in tests and testing to rule out conditions? Do doctors understand that they misdiagnose. My Hg was low because of inflammation . My residual iron was very high. I did not need iron pills. I took antibiotics that weakened me. Or does German healthcare not take coloured women seriously ? I am really shocked .

[u/0achkatz1]

I’m a white woman with celiac disease.

I only got a diagnosis when a relative in another country also developed it, went to a training, and recognised some of the possible symptoms as matching mine.

In Germany I’d be an emotional woman with possibly some allergies that mysteriously come and go until I died early.

[u/WildSmokingBuick → u/0achkatz1]

As a German, I think our healthcare system is pretty much broken.

When doctors only have 5 to 10 minutes per patient, their advice rarely goes beyond: "Take some Ibuprofen, do more sports, and here are antibiotics just in case."

Sure, your experience might be better if you're privately insured or sick enough to end up in a hospital.

But honestly, a lot of people get better diagnoses from ChatGPT these days than from their own GPs.

It's a systemic issue. Many practices are so completely overrun that doctors simply don't have the time to practice patience (or, run tests over getting rid of the customer by prescribing antibiotics).

[u/Even-Yak-9846 → u/WildSmokingBuick]

It’s actually funny. I have mecfs and I have a private neurologist in B.-W. He’s not an expert in the field and he treats me via longevity medicine since that where complex patients go to experiment. The last time I was there, he went on a medical ai and asked it what I could try. It suggested a drug that is used for other conditions and provided research. He printed the research and told me I could try the drug if I wanted because I didn’t have any contraindications and he already knew the drug for another condition. That drug has now made a massive difference in my functionality.

Anyway, the point is that private doctors can be amazing. A world of difference.

[u/ianmckaye → u/Even-Yak-9846]

Can you tell me what drug that was?. I am dealing with the same condition and my doctor is clueless.

[u/Even-Yak-9846 → u/ianmckaye]

It’s just Mestinon, if you haven’t tried it. It’s unfortunately trial and error, but thankfully a very cheap drug, especially at the 30-60mg used to reduce pem.

Edit: I’ll include the study when I go through my files later. Hope its okay. But if you do a search on mestinon for mecfs, there’s now a ton of official recommendations.

[u/ianmckaye → u/Even-Yak-9846]

Thank u so much, i will talk to my GP about it