Day 4 Doctors

What was the most disheartening thing a doctor has told you about your symptoms? In what ways have you kept that in your mind? If you feel comfortable sharing, post your response in theStructured Educational Program section of the PTPN's discussion forum. We would love to hear from you.

My favorite was the neurologist who commented on my peripheral neuropathy diagnosis.

"In most cases we don't know the cause. You will have this the rest of your life. It might subside in your sixties." this was followed by a shoulder shrug.

Mentally I was like FU buddy. I kept looking for answers. Some were dead ends, some things helped, but just accepting and giving up is unacceptable. Had I stuck with them I would be no where. I just don't know why you would tell a patient to give up. Hope is a powerful force.

 

I've posted before about the head of cancer surgery of the big hospital who wanted to open my neck
a dozen years ago when he diagnosed a tiny pimple and said it was cancerous. I insisted he first take a culture
and I finally got him to agree. It turned out to be a tiny water pimple. I saved myself from having
neck surgery. I've been skeptical of doctors ever since.

 

I think what's most disheartening about MDs is their post-Cartesian pseudo-scientific bias that assumes there is no connection between your emotional life and your health. Like they never talk to you or ask you, "How are you doing?" Like none of that stuff really matters. Also, their belief that no one ever can self-heal without some form of medical intervention with drugs or the knife, like people don't just get better on their own when we all know from personal experience that just isn't true. Of course, today it's a "Doctor Business", every MD has a right to a bourgeois life style in the burbs with a flash new Mercedes or Bimmer to confirm your election to the secular priesthood. Maybe a good plumber or skilled carpenter ought to have an upscale lifestyle too?