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Neurologist reveals personal struggle after misdiagnosis

Ilene Sue Ruhoy shares her journey from doctor to patient after facing a lethal brain tumor diagnosis.

July 27, 2025 at 03:01 PM
blur Doctors dismissed my symptoms as a sinus infection... a year later I found out I had a deadly brain tumor

Ilene Sue Ruhoy, a neurologist, recounts her harrowing journey from doctor to patient.

A neurologist shares her story of misdiagnosis and resilience

Ilene Sue Ruhoy, a seasoned neurologist from Seattle, faced a life-altering misdiagnosis that changed her career and personal life. She suffered symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and migraines for a year before doctors finally agreed to an MRI. The scan revealed a meningioma, a benign tumor pressing on her brain, which could lead to serious complications. Despite having searched for answers, she felt unheard by many physicians, leading to her eventual diagnosis. After numerous surgeries and radiation treatments, Ruhoy was compelled to help others feel validated in their healthcare journeys. She now specializes in complex post-exposure illnesses, aiming to tackle the medical community's tendency to dismiss patients' concerns about unexplained symptoms.

Key Takeaways

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Ilene Sue Ruhoy experienced severe symptoms that went misdiagnosed for a year.
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Her eventual diagnosis was a meningioma, a tumor that could have deadly complications.
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Despite her medical background, she felt dismissed by multiple healthcare professionals.
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Ruhoy's journey led her to specialize in helping others with complex post-exposure illnesses.
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She emphasizes the need for empathy and thoroughness in patient care.
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Her story highlights the emotional struggle faced by patients when seeking help.

"The sad part is that if someone had believed me earlier, I could have prevented a lot of the recurrences."

Ruhoy reflects on how earlier intervention could have reduced her health complications.

"When a neurologist asks you to order a brain MRI, you order a brain MRI."

This quote illustrates the importance of taking patient requests seriously, especially in specialized fields.

"I was basically begging people to believe me because things just were getting worse."

Ruhoy expresses the emotional toll of feeling unheard during her medical struggles.

"If you care for yourself and attend to the signals your body sends you, you have a great chance of being well."

This statement showcases Ruhoy's belief in self-advocacy and health awareness post-illness.

Ruhoy's experience underlines a crucial issue in healthcare: the importance of listening to patients. Her story reflects a broader trend where doctors can overlook symptoms, attributing them to stress or psychological factors. This not only worsens conditions but also sows distrust between patients and doctors. The medical field must recognize that effective treatment involves both physical diagnostics and empathetic communication. Her transition from patient to advocate for complex chronic illnesses sheds light on a gap in current practices and highlights the need to prioritize patient experience over routine assumptions in medical evaluations.

Highlights

  • Patients deserve to be believed and heard in their healthcare journey.
  • Every patient story is unique; truly listening can lead to better outcomes.
  • The struggle for diagnosis often leaves lasting scars beyond the physical.
  • Empathy in medicine can change lives and save health.

Concerns over medical misdiagnosis and patient care

Ruhoy's story raises awareness of the risks when patients' symptoms are dismissed by healthcare providers, leading to severe consequences. This misdiagnosis could provoke political and public response towards medical practices.

Ruhoy's story is a call to action for healthcare providers to better listen to their patients.

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