"Can I forgive myself for my daughter's death?" Shocking, heartbreaking.

[Ms. Toad]

14. I don't think they are ill intentioned -

but doctors have egos - particularly the less experienced ones, and some of the old school ones.

And, they live in the 95% world. What they do works for 95% of their patients. Unfortunately, as I have to keep reminding them by giving them a litany of all of the uncommon or rare conditions in my life, I live in the 5% world. Hoofbeats, in my experience, nearly always mean at least a zebra is on its way - and more often than not - a unicorn.

So I not only have to get second and third opinions, I have to become an expert in anything my symptoms might mean - and in any condition I have. If I can't predict everything they are going to say to me at an appointment one of two things is going on (1) I haven't done enough research or (2) I have encountered the rarest of rare - a doctor who is farther ahead on my condition than I am. Fortunately, I've encountered a few of those gems - and when I do it is almost worth following them when they decide to move to Timbuctoo simply to remain their patient.