How Not To Get The Most Out Of Your Doctor

By editor | August 26, 2007

As in any human relationship, what you get out of your visits with your doctor usually depends on what you put into them. Here are a few attitudes that just about guarantee that you’ll shortchange yourself.

“Whatever you say.” Some people look on their doctors as all-knowing, all-powerful beings and expect doctors simply to “fix” them. They want pills that will make them well,period. They don’t want to be involved in their own health care, and they don’t volunteer much information unless asked. They do exacdy what the doctor says without asking questions or letting her know when things don’t seem to be working or when they’re feeling worse.

“Oh, sure.”Some folks sit quietly while visiting a health care professional, but inside they’re fuming or saying to themselves, “I’m not going to do what she says” or “This guy doesn’t understand what I’m talking about.” They go home and completely ignore the nutritionist’s advice or don’t fill the prescription the doctor has written. If this is you, you’re essentially shooting yourself in the foot. You’re not only wasting the money you’re spending to visit a professional and wasting the doctor’s time as well but also are likely hampering your progress in fighting the disease.

“I know what treatment I need.” While it’s great to learn all you can about your disease and a good doctor welcomes your input it’s important to realize that some of what you read may not tell the whole story. Going to see your health care professional positive that you know what is best, perhaps waving a magazine article that promises a cure for your ailment, doesn’t help. Instead, show your doctor the book or article and ask questions such as “What about treatment xyz I just read about?” Realize that a good doctor usually prefers to wait until not just one or two but multiple studies (on large groups of people, not just a few) have indicated consistent results and testing has shown that the proposed treatment is safe for you. And any new medicines, of course, must wait for approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA testing process, while lengthy, assures you of quality and protects you from potentially serious complications that may not have shown up in a few limited or poorly designed studies.


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Topics: Arthritis |

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