Don't be afraid to question your medical care
"Oh don't worry, I'm not!"
This is not medical advice.
This article is not for those of you who answered in the subtitle. I know many retirees, who are, lets say, “vocal” and unafraid to express their opinion. “My time is just as important as the doctors!”
This article is for those retirees I’ve met who refer to me as “Doctor” (I’m a lowly assistant). Those retirees from another generation who revere all doctors, and show tremendous respect. That was not unwarranted. Especially if you had a country family doctor who really knew your health long term, and was able to remember your history. That doctor may have hand written a paragraph as to your visit, and the care may have been better. Done and done. Next!
Things have changed. You may have noticed Doogie Howser is now treating you (me included, “so…how long you been doing this?”)
Doogie may not respect you as part of the Greatest Generation. Doogie may think hardship is waiting in line for Starbucks. Doogie may think 40 hours per week is “crazy talk.” Doogie may talk about scheduling “me” time (not you time). Doogie may be highly “edamacated” with studies, claiming nothing works. Doogie may have his face in a device the entire time, typing while you are talking, mildly autistic with no eye contact. Doogie may have tattoos. Nothing wrong with that, just not that same Marine tattoo you earned 50 years ago. Doogie may lecture you on eating better, and more exercise. Nothing wrong with that either. Doogie may advise you on some medication, yet you know you can’t take that. Why didn’t Doogie know that? Well, in his defense he is wading through a mountain of “data” in the epic computer system. That’s actually the name of the system, “Epic.”
Wait a minute. What’s all that information for? Government data collection. “Managing care” on a colossal level.
Don’t be afraid to question your medical care. When I was 25y/o, and a recent graduate, I was handed a scalpel for wound care. I wasn’t cocky, I was too scared to say I was unqualified. That’s better than over confidence, which can injury people. Needless to say, I sliced a world record smallest piece of tissue from that wound. One epithelial cell across. Whew! That was a close one. Done and done. Next!
Years later I had asked a doctor about some wound tissue removal, and he said, “don’t be worried about taking more than is necessary.” Uh, no. I’m good thanks. What he meant was, get all the necrotic tissue, but I’m thinking within reason.
There are some doctors and therapists with tremendous egos, who are also very talented. In my experience, if someone gets angry at you for asking questions, or that you want a second opinion, that’s a red flag.
You frequently hear the industry complain that you “read something on the internet.” Good for you. Get educated. The industry hasn’t been wrong about anything the last three years?
I don’t think it’s wrong to educate yourself. Just try to read as much as possible in all directions. We want to avoid anecdotal evidence, like the article I’m writing. Or, stories that I hear all the time, like “my sister’s, husband’s, brother in law, says that you wanna put Vicks on that.” That could be true, but read all the stories in both directions to make your best choice.
When I suggested a shoulder book online, I told people to read all the negative reviews. That way they heard both sides.
It takes a while, but it’s ok for us to say “I don’t know.”