Stay Informed and Keep an Open Mind
ello Everyone,<br><br>It saddens me to see that
Wendy has left our support group. She is a kindly
person who gave many of us words of
encouragement.<br><br>Having said that, I must respectfully disagree with
Wendy’s reasons for leaving. Her doctor, and
individually, none of our doctors have a monopoly on medical
knowledge. None of them have all the answers or best answers
to all our questions or all our problems. Unlike
with professionals in other fields there is a
temptation for each of us to treat our doctor like a Pope.
Like a source of infallible truth. Medicine is not
religion. We are not required to have "faith" in our
doctors. That is why groups like this are so valuable and
so important.<br><br>When I first consulted my
family doctor about weight loss surgery he looked at me
like I was crazy, and then when I persisted he told me
that he considered such practices "fringe medicine."
Should I have had "faith" in this advice? Should I have
considered this the ultimate unquestionable truth just
because it came from "my doctor"? He gave me a referral
to a surgeon only when I firmly insisted that he do
so. So bottom line is, I had weight loss surgery, I
am thrilled that I made that decision, and no thanks
to my doctor’s advice. Instead I relied on other
knowledgable sources like books, web sites, and of course -
this support group.<br><br>We all have a DUTY to
ourselves to be informed consumers of medical advice and
medical care. Please don’t ever bury your head in the
sand, live in ignorance, and just follow your doctor’s
lead like a puppy dog. Ask yourself this, if so many
doctors disagree about so many issues we have discussed,
how can they all be right?<br><br>Confusion is a
state of mind which results from a lack of information
or a lack of communication. If you have received
many conflicting opinions, bits of information, or
advice about a particular issue - and your doctor’s
appointment is not for another two weeks - YOU DON’T HAVE TO
SIT AROUND BEING CONFUSED. Assemble your information,
perhaps do a little more research if necessary, write
down your list of questions, and then get your doctor
on the telephone or go knocking on his door. Medical
ethics dictate that he has to talk to you. And you have
a right to talk directly to your doctor, not just
his assistant. Also, don’t let him treat you like a
child when you have questions or when you confront him
with authoritative sources that disagree with his
opinions. If you won’t let your hair stylist, lawyer, or
auto mechanic treat you like a child, then you
shouldn’t allow your doctor to do so either. If all else
fails and your doctor refuses to communicate with you,
fire your doctor and get another one.<br><br>Do I
still have the same family doctor? Yes. And I still
like him and I trust him and he is following my
progress. And if he gives me advice on a serious matter in
the future I will listen, give it due consideration,
and then LOOK IT UP FOR MYSELF as soon as I get home.
If it still seems reasonable then I go with his
advice. If not, I will march myself right back to his
office and confront (politely) him with the information
I found. Being a good doctor (not an ego maniac) he
won’t mind this and the whole event will be a learning
process for both of us. Don’t be afraid to ask your
doctor lots of questions and if he tries to rush you
then demand that he gives you the attention you need.
He is getting paid plenty of money for it.<br><br>We
are not sheep. We are human beings with minds that
should look, listen, observe, inquire, and most of all -
question.<br><br>Good health to you all - and Wendy, if you see this
message - we miss you.<br><br>- DAN