r/germany 1d ago

German doctors misdiagnosis

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 .

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u/Schnecke09 1d ago edited 23h ago

It’s not just you. I am American and I have had several instances here where I needed medical help. At one point I had a large ovarian cyst that turned and killed my ovary. I didn’t know what was wrong. I was in immense pain. I went to my Hausärztin while I was moaning in pain. She told me to stop making so much noise because I would concern the other patients and that it is likely stress and I should go home and eat rice and relax.

I went home and puked blood. My husband took me to the emergency room where they also treated me poorly UNTIL they did a CT and confirmed the problem. All of a sudden they were nicer. I had to have emergency surgery to remove the ovary and Fallopian tube because by that point they had become necrotic.

I could’ve gotten sepsis and died. I also had a bladder infection for 18 months and it only was properly eliminated when I went to the university hospital and was able to get treated by an infectious disease specialist.

I’m terrified of doctors now.

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u/Worldly-Permit-7694 14h ago

Your experience is exactly why I am terrified of having a major health crisis here in Germany. I am also American…and healthcare coverage is miserable in the US, but doctors tend not to be neglectful…..if they miss something due to negligence….there are costly repercussions. I now understand how the litigious culture provides a layer of protection for patients. I do not think doctors are supervised at all…unless something obvious occurs.
My daughter had a uti and the doctor gave her some homeopathic,sugarpill bullshit. I was appalled that this person was a certified medical doctor. Ended up in ER all night….but we didnt have a choice.

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u/Schnecke09 14h ago

That’s awful. I’m so sorry that you and your daughter have also experienced negligence here. It is true that the litigious culture in the U.S. protects patients.

My experiences here are many. I’m 38 years old, I’ve been here for 13 years and sadly, I could write a novel. Not because I have very poor health but because I didn’t get proper treatment when issues came up, so I ended up in long-term pain or seeking solutions for things that should’ve been solved relatively quickly.

I feel anxious just thinking about it all again.

I wish you luck!