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Day 4

Francesca

Peer Supporter
The most discouraging thing a doctor ever said to me about my symptoms was when, after all the efforts I had made to try to recover — and not having fully succeeded — they told me I was too down and that taking a medication might help. But also, at the end of the hospital rehabilitation program, during discharge, I had all the doctors around me and none of them could give me an explanation as to why, after recovering my shoulder, I was now experiencing terrible pain in my mouth, couldn’t open it, and it was completely crooked!
Same at the follow-up visit. A resident doctor even wanted to secretly take me to a posture specialist — a so-called luminary in the field. What stayed with me the most was the sense of dismay they projected onto me.
 
I don't know what generation you're in, @Francesca, but back in my day doctors were treated, and acted, like gods who had all of the miracle answers. We know better now, but the old practices and attitudes are well-entrenched in both the profession and in the beliefs of patients. The growing epidemic of "mysterious" conditions (which such a small number of us know are stress-based) just adds to the confusion even as doctors continue to be educated and trained to be miracle workers. It's really kind of a mess...
 
I don't know what generation you're in, @Francesca, but back in my day doctors were treated, and acted, like gods who had all of the miracle answers. We know better now, but the old practices and attitudes are well-entrenched in both the profession and in the beliefs of patients. The growing epidemic of "mysterious" conditions (which such a small number of us know are stress-based) just adds to the confusion even as doctors continue to be educated and trained to be miracle workers. It's really kind of a mess...
And imagine — I actually have a doctor at home… and just think how many times in the past I heard, “I don’t know what else to say or do for you”… and how many tests he had me take. Just a few days ago, I asked him to read the book, but he told me he’s afraid to — afraid it might shake the foundations of how he practices medicine…
Every day, I try to educate him, even just based on what he tells me about his patients, about how it might be possible — in some cases — to consider the psychological side behind a symptom. The road is definitely long, but not impossible for this new generation of doctors...I think
 
Every day, I try to educate him, even just based on what he tells me about his patients, about how it might be possible — in some cases — to consider the psychological side behind a symptom. The road is definitely long, but not impossible for this new generation of doctors...I think
That's so great that you are putting the possibility out there to him, @Francesca!
Maybe as you share more and more that you learn, he will be even more and more open too.
There is definitely hope for more and more integration!
Hope your Day 5 went well.
 
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