Reply All: #75 Boy Wonder
September 1, 2016 3:03 PM - Subscribe
Barry develops a small but very inconvenient health problem, which becomes so persistent and pernicious that it feels as if someone put a curse on him. Sruthi Pinnamaneni goes deep on a decades-long medical mystery.
Although Barry's story was really sad, I am not sure I was crazy about this episode. It was pretty similar to episode 42, and not as interesting of a story. The Occam's Razor/Hickam's Dictum was a nice addition.
posted by radioamy at 1:25 PM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by radioamy at 1:25 PM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
I got so hopeful listening to the beginning of this episode. My father was diagnosed with celiac, Sjogren's, and interstitial cystitis. His symptoms aren't as bad as Barry's sounds like they are, but it's been very difficult. I was hoping that there was a cure at the end of the mystery.
posted by gladly at 9:54 PM on September 2, 2016
posted by gladly at 9:54 PM on September 2, 2016
As someone who suffered with a mystery illness that was never solved (but luckily for me eventually mostly went away), I really enjoyed this episode.
First of all, I loved when the doctor acknowledged that doctors don't understand a lot of things. This should be basic obvious stuff, but if you've ever had a mystery illness you probably have seen firsthand that it is not. Lot's of doctors just assume that your illness is fake just because your test results are negative, so hearing this doctor speak was incredibly refreshing.
I also really enjoyed hearing Barry describe how happy he is now at the end of the show.
When I was sick it often felt like what I was supposed to do was spend 100% of my time figuring out the illness, and only then after I had conquered that big problem would I be allowed to move on and be happy with my life and relax and do other stuff. This mindset drove me crazy really fast.
I eventually reached a point like Barry where I started figuring out how to do what I wanted even if it meant working from bed and napping at random times. I talked to my family about not centering every single conversation on only what was going wrong in my life and ignoring all the good stuff. I fought to be happy despite feeling like I was not allowed, and it worked! Those were some really fun and interesting years despite the health hassles.
Barry sounds awesome. I love that he went to all those business meetings and had no shame about having to leave to pee constantly. I am so glad he is happy now even without having his mystery solved. Good for you Barry! You can be happy and sick!
posted by insoluble uncertainty at 4:46 PM on September 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
First of all, I loved when the doctor acknowledged that doctors don't understand a lot of things. This should be basic obvious stuff, but if you've ever had a mystery illness you probably have seen firsthand that it is not. Lot's of doctors just assume that your illness is fake just because your test results are negative, so hearing this doctor speak was incredibly refreshing.
I also really enjoyed hearing Barry describe how happy he is now at the end of the show.
When I was sick it often felt like what I was supposed to do was spend 100% of my time figuring out the illness, and only then after I had conquered that big problem would I be allowed to move on and be happy with my life and relax and do other stuff. This mindset drove me crazy really fast.
I eventually reached a point like Barry where I started figuring out how to do what I wanted even if it meant working from bed and napping at random times. I talked to my family about not centering every single conversation on only what was going wrong in my life and ignoring all the good stuff. I fought to be happy despite feeling like I was not allowed, and it worked! Those were some really fun and interesting years despite the health hassles.
Barry sounds awesome. I love that he went to all those business meetings and had no shame about having to leave to pee constantly. I am so glad he is happy now even without having his mystery solved. Good for you Barry! You can be happy and sick!
posted by insoluble uncertainty at 4:46 PM on September 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Can someone please make a Squarespace site of Barry's quotes?
posted by sparklemotion at 10:22 AM on September 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sparklemotion at 10:22 AM on September 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
First of all, I loved when the doctor acknowledged that doctors don't understand a lot of things. This should be basic obvious stuff, but if you've ever had a mystery illness you probably have seen firsthand that it is not.
I did appreciate that aspect of it too, since it seems like the fact that medical science involves a lot of guesswork gets glossed over all the time.
Plus it brought me back to the moment about a year ago when I had three doctors peering at me saying, "Well... it's either syphilis or hand-foot-mouth, so we can give you penicillin or three days' bed rest." (Thankfully, the latter was correct.)
posted by psoas at 11:15 AM on October 3, 2016
I did appreciate that aspect of it too, since it seems like the fact that medical science involves a lot of guesswork gets glossed over all the time.
Plus it brought me back to the moment about a year ago when I had three doctors peering at me saying, "Well... it's either syphilis or hand-foot-mouth, so we can give you penicillin or three days' bed rest." (Thankfully, the latter was correct.)
posted by psoas at 11:15 AM on October 3, 2016
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posted by Fizz at 8:07 AM on September 2, 2016