[brady8]

Much of being a physician is pattern recognition - the vast majority of Bell's Palsy is idiopathic (generally viral), and thus that's how we usually treat it. If we tested everybody for everything everytime the health system(s) would collapse.

It definitely helps as a patient to advocate, and add anything that a physician like myself maybe wouldn't always ask, like if you've been a tick-infested area and/or discovered a tick attached to yourself recently.

[dec0dedab0de]

I don't know why you're being down voted, of course you can't test for everything, and you're going to start with the most likely causes.

The frustrating part for me is when people think of the symptom as the cause. Like they understand that multiple things can cause a fever, but they don't understand that multiple things can cause bronchitis.

When I was a kid I had "sinusitis" multiple times a year, but my doctor never explained to me that it could be the same or different causes. When I learned that '-itis' just meant inflammation, it blew my mind. I have done my best to spread that knowledge ever since.

[cco]

> If we tested everybody for everything everytime the health system(s) would collapse.

Looks like Labcorp made over 3 billion dollars last year, so I think probably that number would go up instead of collapsing?

[refurb]

Labcorp is one of several labs and most hospitals have their own labs and only send out specialized tests.

It is true - you can’t test every patient for everything. There is an estimated 1B primary care visits in the US each year. Assume every patient get 5 tests at $50 a test and you just spent a quarter of a trillion just on tests.

[fsagx]

The test itself for lyme must be inexpensive - The vet did a test for my dog as part of routine yearly office visit. I don't know if it's just in my area, or if it's common now.

[netaustin]

Yeah I agree that’s what happened to me. Alas, no tick, no rash, and I’m not sure my PCP in New York City sees a ton of Lyme. Still, I’m glad he caught it when he did!