But You Don't Look Sick? : Helpful Medical Abbreviations

On the message boards, reading our main site/ online magazine, or in day to day conversations, you may find that people use many abbreviations when talking about a diagnosis, a medication or other phrases. This alphabetical list might help you. Please feel free to contact us if you have anything that can be added.

ADs = antidepressants
ADL = Activities of Daily Living
AI - Auto Immune
AIH = Autoimmune Hepatitis
Bx = Biopsy
CAPD = Central Auditory Processing Disorder
CC = Chief Complaint
CFS/CFIDS/ME = Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
CI = Chronic Illness
COPD = Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Costo = Costochondritis
CP = Cerebral Palsy
CT (or CAT) scan = Computerized (Axial) Tomography
DD = D**n Disease
DDD - Degenerative Disc Disease
DJD = Degenerative Joint Disease or Osteoarthritis
dx = diagnosis
EDS - Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
EEG = Electroencephalogram
FM/FMS/Fibro = Fibromyalgia Syndrome
fMRI = Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
GAD = general anxiety disorder
GERD = Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Hx - Medical history
Hydro = Hydrocephalus
IAIYH = It's All in Your Head
IBD = Inflammatory Bowel Disease, eg. UC or Crohns
IBS = irritable bowel syndrome
INH = isoniazid (Isonicotinyl hydrazine), an antibiotic used to treat TB
MCTD = Multiple Connective Tissue Disease
ME or CFS/CFIDS = Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Meni = Meniere's disease
MPS = Myofascial Pain Syndrome
MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging/MRI scan
MS = Multiple Sclerosis
MVP = Mitral Valve Prolapse
NSAIDS = Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
Neuro = Neurosurgeon/Neurologist
OA/DJD = Osteoarthritis OR Degenerative Joint Disease
OCD = obessive-compulsive disorder
PA = Psoriatic Arthritis
PBC = Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
PET [scan] = Positron Emission Tomography
POTS = Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia
PPD = Post-partum Depression
Pred = Prednisone, a steroid used to treat many AI illnesses
PRN = as needed (with meds; from Latin "pro re nata.")
PTSD = Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
QoL = Quality of Life
RA = Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumy = rheumatologist
RLS = Restless Leg Syndrome
RSD = Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, also known as Amplified Pain Syndrome or Amplified Reflex Dystrophy
rx = prescription
Sclero = Scleroderma
SLE = Sytemic Lupus Erythematosus/Lupus
SMS = Smith-Magenis Syndrome
SS = Sjogren's Syndrome
SSc = Systemic Sclerosis
SVS Slit Ventricle Syndrome
TB = Pulmonary Tuberculosis
TMJ = Temporo-Mandibular Joint (disorder)
TP = Tender Point
TrP = Myofascial Trigger Point
UC = Ulcerative Colitis
UCTD = Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease
UTI = Urinary Tract Infection
VP = Ventricular-Peritoneal [shunt]
VV = Vulvodynia