SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) - Diagnosing a neurological condition can be complex, putting patients through a range of mental and physical difficulties. Now, a new clinic at UCSF is hoping to make it easier for patients to navigate the system.
Many patients who come to the Neurology Complex Diagnosis Clinic at UCSF Health are seeking their third or fourth opinion for puzzling symptoms that have eluded diagnosis with other providers, Dr. Maggie Waung, Neurologist and director of the clinic, told KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart on this week's episode of "As Prescribed."
Being in limbo without a diagnosis is a very difficult place and can prevent patients from living their lives, making plans and doing things that are meaningful. The problem is that it's often difficult to pin down a diagnosis for a neurological condition. Symptoms may come and go or not follow a typical pattern, and patients with rare conditions may be misdiagnosed.
Dr. Waung said the UCSF Neurology Complex Diagnosis Clinic is designed particularly to treat these kinds of cases. The clinic brings together experts from many disciplines -- from neurosurgeons and neuropsychologists to rheumatologists and endocrinologists -- to consider all possible contributing factors and arrive at the right diagnosis.
"I think we're the only program in the nation, and I can't think of anything that's similar," said Dr. Waung. "It takes a lot of time and resources that I don't think other institutions have invested in."
Dr. Waung understands how much despair patients can experience when they feel like they don't have any answers, but they know something is wrong.
"Both my parents had mystery neurologic diseases," she said. "As I was going through this with both of my parents, I was really frustrated with how little time that we actually got to spend with doctors and in them listening to the whole story and not being able to find something right away. And also the waiting in between visits was excruciating."
"So when I had the opportunity to start this clinic, I really wanted to focus on getting people an expedited workup, listening to people's stories, hearing their concerns and understanding what was worrying them and why they thought something was wrong," she added.
The clinic utilizes the most advanced diagnostic tools available to deliver answers for patients with neurological symptoms that have eluded a clear diagnosis.
"One of our early cases we had was someone who is a very hardworking mom and grandmother, and she came to our clinic just sort of wasting away. And she wasn't someone who really asked for help and tried to deal with things on her own. So she didn't even really share with her kids what was going on until they realized she was losing weight, she wasn't eating, she kept having these headaches," Dr. Waung explained.
"We were able to get her in very quickly, get a lumbar puncture, and we found that she had a rare form of lymphoma. And then from there, we were able to connect her with our amazing UCSF lymphoma treatment team," Dr. Waung added. "And her daughter still drops me notes every so often and let me know how she's doing."
Listen to this week's "As Prescribed" to learn more. You can also listen to last week's episode to hear why doctors are shifting their treatment plan for concussions, here.
DOWNLOAD the Audacy App
SIGN UP and follow KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
“As Prescribed” is sponsored by UCSF.