What would really like to know…(and perhaps too much information.)
Posted on | November 19, 2008 | 20 Comments
Does going to the doctor actually makes you better?
I mean this in the most innocent, unsarcastic way.
See the thing is I grew up with homeopathy and have, as an adult, veered towards for the most part. I like the route of least intervention. I like the idea of treating the whole person, rather than just a specific set of symptoms. I like the idea that your body can develop it’s on strong defenses to most ailments. And in general, I’ve experienced that it can…
And I’ve also experienced some rather negative encounters with traditional doctors who mostly seem to be prescription writers for antibiotics… (again, this is just my experience.) I’ve discovered from these encounters that a) I get righteous and horrific yeast infections the minute I take any kind of antibiotic and that b) the doctor’s solution is to then prescribe Diflucan which I am apparently violently allergic to (last time my lips burst out into blisters within hours of taking it and my chin and cheeks went numb.)
Not to mention, when I fell pregnant I thought I had a virus picked up in Spain so I went to my GP who told me she thought I had IBS. (Ick. Look that one up.) I sort of rolled my eyes and cocked my head and said, “any chance I could be pregnant?” to which she declared with much bravado, “Absolutely not.”
So you see why I’m a skeptic?
But now, well, I’m in a bit of a predicament.
I feel like my natural immune defense is not winning anymore against the tide of germs coming my way from school–twenty odd kids with germy hands and Strep and Pneumonia and everything else they’ve been passing around…plus whatever Bean has been bringing back from preschool (which has resulted in his first ever double ear infection.) I’ve kind of reached my limit in fact. I’ve been sick to varying degrees since September. And before that I had morning sickness… so basically I’ve been affected by some form of malaise for the past 6 months and it’s kindof affecting my will to do anything other than bury my head under several pillows and sob.
So I want to know: what do doctors actually do these days–other than prescribe antibiotics? Is there anything they can actually do to help me that will help as much as my mom stopping by to rub my feet and feeding me chicken soup?
Do you ‘believe’ in your doctor?
Comments
20 Responses to “What would really like to know…(and perhaps too much information.)”
Leave a Reply
My Book:
ELSEWHERE:
33 before 33
CATEGORIES
Archives
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
November 19th, 2008 @ 9:31 pm
Maybe you just haven’t ever experienced a good doctor, and quite frankly I am almost always much, much more impressed with the nurse practitioners. Every nurse practitioner I’ve ever had was focused on natural, homeopathic, whole body treatment as well as the science of western medicine, and they all took the time to listen to me and hear more than just the physical symptoms of what was troubling me (or my son). When my OB/GYN was telling me various cold medicines that were okay for me to take during different stages of my pregnancy, the nurse practitioner in his office sat down with me and talked about neti (sp?) pots and manipulating the septum and breathe right strips. When Sam’s pediatrician was telling me specifically in that left-brained way the schedule of foods that could be introduced to Sam at different ages, the nurse practitioner in his office was telling me that no two children were alike and I should follow my own instincts because as Sam’s mother I knew him better than any doctor.
Sorry to hear your continuing to struggle. I know for me November is always the hardest month and sometimes I have to approach it like I do a steep hill when I’m running, just put my head down and focus on my breathing and take it one step at a time.
Hang in there.
November 19th, 2008 @ 10:06 pm
Yes, I do. It is different with different doctors of course, but to a certain degree, having this faith is your own choice.
November 19th, 2008 @ 10:10 pm
Ouch, I realize that my comment above looks as if I was saying that you could believe if you wanted – no, no, that is not what I meant. I was actually thinking about the various doctors I have trusted, and realized that there was a point where, despite my misgivings (and there were many real problems too), at some point I found that I had better let it go, let them work out things… Somewhat of an involved story here, and more reflections than a mere comment can handle. Long and short is, we trust someone who talks. Simple. Not someone who just looks and prescribes – we want human warmth most of all in a doctor…
November 19th, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
Aren’t I sleep deprived today! Forgot to add ‘get well soon, and may your own resilience get a boost from all our well wishes’.
November 20th, 2008 @ 12:14 am
I’m with you on being leery of doctors. I grew up with ‘natural’ stuff too. Not having experienced your particular kind of assaults, I don’t know that I can say exactly … but I do find that what I eat (particularly any kind of refined sugar, white starch, or alcohol) depletes my immune system almost immediately. Also as a possible antidote … I imagine you’ve heard of colloidal silver. There is a great website which not only explains the vast difference between types and sources of colloidal silver, but also sells theirs (I’ve had experience with other ‘colloids’ too which did nothing … so I do recommend them) Silver kills all manner of bacteria, germs, and viruses. Quite the stuff. I haven’t taken it (or needed to take it) as an actual prescription before, so I don’t have specific experience there. But it does clear up pink eye marvelously.
(Their website is http://www.purestcolloids.com. If you’re of a scientific mind, and want to know the whys and wherefors, go to that address /learning . htm (without spaces. Comments get caught in spam if there’s more than one link …)) My other thing is a triple echinacea green tea (which I’m sure you use) coupled with raw honey. Raw honey is actually a anti-bacterial as well, and the tea does wonders.
That’s what I have! Don’t know anything about doctors …
November 20th, 2008 @ 12:17 am
It depends on the doctor. I’m the daughter of an “all-things-alternative” mother (who is also an RN) and have had varying levels of success with homeopathy all my life. If I take anything, it’ll probably be something homeopathic. I will only take “drugs” if I need them in order to be able to “function (like when I worked outside the home.) I generally don’t like taking things that will just suppress all my body is doing to get RID of the germs in the first place.
ANYHOW. Do I believe in my doctor? I have to add another plug for nurse practitioners. I LOVE the one I see for my prenatal visits. So sensible, realistic, down to earth and offers alternative suggestions instead of just telling me which drugs are “safe” during pregnancy.
My daughter’s pediatrician is another story. I don’t exactly NOT believe in him – I think he’s great – but I think he’s jaded by the many many parents he sees who are super extreme in the non-drugs, non-vaccine, non-everything end of things. I haven’t built quite the rapport with him that I have with my NP.
Anyhow, I hope you feel better soon… you must be endlessly exhausted. I wish I could do something to energize you – wouldn’t it be great if I could “sleep” for you? =) I wonder what a doctor would say if you mentioned you weren’t necessarily looking for a drug prescription. I think so many of them just assume that’s what you’re after (as many OB’s assume you’re wanting/getting an epidural) that that’s what they skip straight to, thinking they’re saving you (and them) time.
November 20th, 2008 @ 3:23 am
I really feel for you. Pregnancy isn’t exactly fun to start with, and it must be especially difficult while dealing with all the sickness little kids are so fond of spreading.
Have you tried grapefruit seed extract? I never used to believe my husband when he praised its many benefits until it cleared up my UTI in ONE EVENING, completely. Apparently, it’s known for fighting infection quickly with none of the icky side-effects of antibiotics. I hope that you start to feel better soon!
November 20th, 2008 @ 4:01 am
Is a nurse practitionar = gynecologist? If so, I have to double this, too. She’s the only doctor I have the feeling who takes note of me as a whole, she even literally takes notes of things like what exams I have been taking at university, where I’ve been travelling etc. She’s wonderful.
I just recently changed my dentist, and the new one is awesome as well – but then, this is not the kind of doctor you’re asking about, are you? I have a deep sense of trust for my ear, nose and throat doctors – there are two of them in their office. They “carried” me through a mean tonsillitis and the follwing operation one year later. I remember the hospital nurses wanting to give me pain relievers on a strict scedule, which would have killed me, as it hurt SO much. My doctor was much “easier” about it and let me do it the way I thought it right – but of course, not more than what would have been good for me.
It’s a matter of trust – but not only in the doc, but in yourself as well. That’s my experience. With doctors on the same wavelength, I find it much easier to relax and take whatever it is that’s troubling me more light-hearted and just “trust” my body to be alright, and work it out. If I listen too hard, I probably always hear something – and if I doubt myself too much, I will probably always feel a bit off. So. Right now, I’m trying to trust myself into feeling better
As for homeopaths? I am totally intimidated by them. I’ve never been to one, although I’d like to go, but wouldn’t know to whom.
But then, I don’t really know my way around general practitioners’ either. I’ve found a nice guy who signed me off work when I was doing an internship and felt bad, but apart from that, he couldn’t really help me with my “general” issues. On the other hand, what am I expecting him to “do”, when my blood test results are a-okay? Again – I have the feeling I should trust myself more, and not question if this is normal or that is strange and just get along with it.
I guess this comment doesn’t help at all – sorry!
November 20th, 2008 @ 8:31 am
I was raised by “homeopathy” parents. Even when we had broken bones my father would treat them (sounds a little drastic I know). Although my father thinks everything is a government conspiracy (lol). As an adult I now go to a nurse practitioner once a year as well as my children. I love her. She listens to me and does not treat me like she is on a time schedule and has to shove me out the door. She offers homeopathy advise as well as prescription advise and 99.9% of the time I use the home remedies with great success. I have a terrible allergy to any antibiotic it seems and I hate taking prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs. I get kidney infections when I use them.
There are a lot of home remedy stores around, and they can give some great advise too but I would do some research because of being pregnant before you take anything they recommend.
Most of all – trust you own instincts and your own body. It is a shame that parents send their kids to school or daycare when they are ill. HANG IN THERE, the tide will turn soon.
“I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.” ~Agatha Christie
November 20th, 2008 @ 9:33 am
Hi there. I’m not a fan of homeo/naturopaths and I’ve met plenty of doctors who aren’t worth the paper their degree is written on so over the years I’ve developed a little checklist (five questions) to sort out the wheat from the chaff when faced with the prospect of attending a new clinic. As such, I’ve met a few who’ve really turned my life around.
One of them was a young doctor who spotted the signs in me that I’m spotting in your monologues and put me on the path to wellness.
I’ve been reading your other entries and am picking up an underlying tone: I was wondering whether you have considered depression as the possible root cause of your apparent failure to overcome your malaise?
It’s just a question, not a judgement – I just recognise it all to well, that’s all.
Anyway, I hope you find what you’re looking for and I do hope you get better.
November 20th, 2008 @ 10:52 am
I’m so sorry you’re still sick! Why is it that a cold/seasonal uckiness can make you feel so miserable? It’s wearying, indeed.
I’m not a big one for doctors, either. This stems from my own mother’s done-ness with doctors, mistrust she feels towards them – she was a very very sick child and has spent lots of times in hospitals. (One of her first memories is listening for her mother’s high heels coming down the hallway – that breaks my heart.) The most I’ve ever been to the doctor was when I was pregnant with Thomas and goodness was I tired of going to them – even though I had good experiences each time, except for one time I got a grumpy nurse. I wanted to hit her. (With the love of Jesus Christ in my heart, of course, HA!)
Even now, we are not run-to-the-doctor-for-everything kind of people. We’re just not. We’re also ridiculously healthy, which is helpful. I am much more likely to break out my echinacea and Vitamin C stuff than go to the doctor, and thankfully Thomas seems to have inheirited my strong immune system. I am interested in the triple echinacea green tea that Annie mentioned. I need some of that!
November 20th, 2008 @ 11:38 am
I’m down with doctors, but I’m also highly skeptical and with my limited knowledge of wester medicine, (1 year of pathophys hardly makes me qualified), it’s hard for me to embrace all that’s allopathic, esp. when it’s not working for you.
Acupuncture, that’s my answer. As an acupuncturist of course I’m partial, but I do know that your immunity will be stronger and you’ll finish your pregnancy and the winter, feeling better. It’s safe when you’re pregnant and will also help any of the associated discomforts you might be experiencing.
November 20th, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
I had the greatest Dr. (who delivered both my children at home and never believed in over prescribing meds.) but then we moved and my new neighbor recommended her pediatrician and i could NOT stand the guY! he prescribed meds. for my daughters stomach ache saying she had acid reflux after only looking at her for literally 2 SECONDS and i walked out of there and never went back. she actually was having anxiety and threw up before her first day of school and other different big things that happen in her life. so i changed dr.s and i could not be happier! mine is a happy medium dr. he prescribes ONLY when he sees a definate need for it. he doesn’t give meds if he can recommend something we can do at home naturally. i LOVE HIM! I hope you keep looking until you find a Dr. you can LOVE!
tara
November 20th, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Western doctors are good if you have something wrong (ie cancer) that they know about and maybe have some idea how to treat. If they don’t know what is wrong with you (general ongoing sickness) or they don’t know how to treat it, you need a good naturopath (I emphasize the word good). You need some serious vitamins, girl. I’m not sure what you can take while pregnant. I’d recommend a good multi vitamin, mineral (cal mag) and some C for starters. Then a good probiotic (culturelle from the drug store) its amazing how much faster I get well (even from colds) when I’m taking it. And zinc piccolate. I know, its a pain and it costs a lot of money but it’s better than an antibiotic.
Oh, also, a good western doctor (and a good naturopath) will run blood tests. Have you had your thyroid checked lately? How’s your vitamin D level? Iron? etc.
In any case, it sounds like you should do something. I hope you feel better soon!
Kisses,
Katherine
November 20th, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Oh, Christina . . .
I’m sorry this has been your experience. I’d like to reassure you–as, perhaps, the one doctor you happen to really know–but reassurance seems a bit futile in the face of your frustrations.
Let me just say that there are certainly situations in which antibiotics are necessary. But for the run of the mill stuff, antibiotics are almost never the answer–and, as you have found, compound the problem. As uncomfortable as Bean must have been with his double ear infection, most of the time it will clear on its own.
As for you–wash hands, wash hands. Don’t chew on your pencil, don’t kiss Bean before he washes up after preschool . . Most of all, don’t despair! Your immune system is under seige right now with the pregnancy and it needs to be treated kindly. Sleep, eat well, breathe deep, sleep, deligate . . .
It is winter–or at least, winter impending. It’s a bad time to be pregnant.
Not all doctors are evil . . .
November 20th, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
You’re probably already doing this, but do you drink Kefir and take a good probiotic? It seems to help me fight off colds, etc.
Yes, most doctors have not impressed me. But I have found an amazing doctor now, for which I feel very blessed. She takes lots of time to listen, is funny and authentic, doesn’t act condescending or rushed. She’s helped me address a lot of longstanding issues that other doctors were always quick to dismiss.
November 20th, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
I trust my pediatrician to the end of the world because she listens and talks and knows me and my children — and I can feel her love for my children. And I love my OB/GYN because she is a great communicator. I trust her when it’s time for medicine and she trusts me when I want to try something else. Even my asthma doctor is one who will talk it out and offer different strategies to try vs. one course of treatment — and he’s a guy!
I think the key is truly finding a doctor who respects your philosophy and will talk out a strategy *with* you and not *for* you. I won’t doctor with someone I don’t trust — and I don’t trust people who talk to me like I’m an idiot, a child, or an answering machine. I need a two-way exchange of information, suggestions, and questions.
Feel better soon and good luck. I know that nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants are both more prone to conversation.
November 20th, 2008 @ 10:26 pm
Ditto on nurse practitioners. I have felt like mine is a better listener than my doctor and actually request her rather than my doctor (though I like my doc a lot too).
Your situation is different than mine. When I was pregnant I had better immunity than ever! I was taking care of other sick children and my husband and somehow pulling through without getting sick with anything! Influenza, the stomach flu, and even colds didn’t take hold though my family was getting violently sick!
When I was nursing I came down with everything so that was tough. I was getting severe ear and sinus infections. Luckily my babies got immunity from my milk and were healthy.
Something a doctor can do that alternative medicine doesn’t provide is a good blood work-up of hormones. My sister wasn’t feeling well with her pregnancy and found out that she has hypothyroidism. Her doctor had the sense to send her to an endocrinologist to make an accurate diagnosis and treat her with medication. That has made a huge difference for her!
My best advice is to examine your life and radically change your expectations so that you don’t have that nagging guilt of what you “should be doing.” Letting go brings much-needed relief. I know that when this season of life (raising pre-schoolers) passes, I can go back to things that are important to me that I took a break from.
November 22nd, 2008 @ 9:18 am
A doctor can be helpful if you’ve broken a bone and need someone to put on a cast. Otherwise …. eh.
I went to midwives during my pregnancies.
November 24th, 2008 @ 12:53 am
I’m Canadian so our health system is a bit different than yours. I still miss my doctor in Vancouver (we moved), who spent much of her time in appointments trying to find the underlying emotional & lifestyle roots to the symptoms. In my experience, most docs don’t take this kind of time or have this kind of empathy – but they’re out there, I’m sure. You find them by word-of-mouth & many have wait-lists (in Canada, at least.)
To follow up on the comment above, one of the things I really appreciated about my doc was she often recommended blood-work – & often found out that I was low in something that could explain the symptoms I was experiencing, something as simple as needing more Vitamin D.
Hope you find a health practitioner you trust, in whatever form they take. Be well.