uncertainty

Oftentimes in medicine, we don't have explanations. The body is complex, and some things we just cannot know. I saw a few patients this week for whom I was frustrated- I didn't have a good answer as to what was causing their ailments, and I didn't think testing would yield any more clarity. So I gave them precautions for if things worsened, and we agreed on "watchful waiting", hoping the symptoms would resolve. Truly, the body is resilient and often this can happen.

I also know it can be challenging to know that something is not quite right with your body, to want to have a diagnosis to pin signs and symptoms to, and yet there isn't one. And the unknown, the what-ifs, seem harder to bear than a definitive diagnosis.

Especially when it comes to my own healthcare, I try to think of what it would be like to be one of my patients, with no medical training, navigating the healthcare system and going through the process of examination, testing, and diagnosis. You await an explanation, hoping that the worst case scenario isn't really what's going to play out. You try to brace yourself to face the truth if it does. And I can empathize with all those who have waited, patiently, for answers. However, fearing or worrying about the outcome will not get us anywhere.