In a healthcare system where misdiagnoses and rushed decisions are all too common, stories like Favour’sserve as a reminder of the critical need for thorough medical investigations. Favour, a young woman in her mid-twenties, vividly recalls the day she narrowly avoided undergoing an unnecessary surgery due to a hasty misdiagnosis at a private hospital. Her experience underscores the importance of second opinions and proper diagnostic procedures in patient care.
Favour had been dealing with recurring episodes of stomach pain for some time. The pain would often last for days, causing severe discomfort and vomiting.
“I usually had this episode of stomach ache. Over time it became so serious that the pains normally lasted days. During these episodes, I’d throw up. Once I did, I’d feel better. But after that, the pains would move to my abdomen,” she recounted.
The Clinic Visit
On one of these occasions, the pain became unbearable, and Favour decided to visit a private clinic, hoping to find relief. After waiting for what felt like hours, she finally met the doctor. His response, however, left her shocked and anxious.
“After spending so much time, I met the doctor. He examined me and said it was appendicitis. He didn’t perform any tests, didn’t ask many questions. He told me I’d be admitted for surgery that same day,” Favour explained.
There was no discussion of alternatives, no mention of further tests. The doctor seemed confident in his conclusion. But what stood between Favour and an unnecessary surgery was not a second medical opinion. It was money.
“The only thing that saved me was because I didn’t have the 500k in my account,” she said. Unable to afford the surgery, Favour returned home, still in pain but grateful she hadn’t gone through with it.
Second Opinion
Determined to find answers, she went for a lab test the following day. The results came as a surprise. What the doctor had claimed was appendicitis was actually excessive gas in her stomach.
“I went home, went for a lab test, and was told it’s excessive gas in my stomach. I couldn’t believe it.”
Armed with the lab results, Favour sought a second opinion at another clinic. This time, the doctor took the time to review her test results and prescribed her the appropriate medications to relieve the gas.
“I went with the result to another hospital where drugs were prescribed. Na so dem for don tear my belle o (That’s how they would have cut me open for no reason),” she remarked, reflecting on how close she had come to unnecessary surgery.
Favour’s story highlights a disturbing reality in parts of the healthcare system where patients are often rushed into drastic measures without proper diagnostics. Her experience serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the value of being proactive, seeking second opinions, and advocating for more careful and thoughtful medical attention.
