Be nice to your doctors part 2

Your doctor is trained as a doctor in western medicine. He is not a naturopath, osteopath or any other type of alternative practitioner - well not usually. This means he is listening to and dealing with you from this perspective. His opinion about these other ways is probably no more informed than yours. He may think they are all tosh but harmless. He may be strongly against them. He may even dabble. He could have a qualification.

His philosophy on life may not be the same as yours.

When you go to see a doctor you should be expecting a medical opinion. If you are lucky he may be a good listener and have a good bed side manner. Some patients prefer bluntness others prefer a more gentle approach. Find a doctor that suits you.

Medical knowledge as you may know if you have read some of this blog isn't necessarily straightforward and black and white. In fact the more one delves into things the more grey they often become. Now and again things are easy and straight forward but often they are not.

When seeking a medical opinion accept that you may not know what's wrong. Some patients come in and tell me they have got this or that. They've been on the net. They want their serum selenium measured. By all means tell your doctor what you think but then let them do their job. Your doctor is trained to make diagnoses - that's what he does, to start with. When telling your story talk about your experiences - don't talk in labels, categories and diagnoses. Let him give you his medical opinion. There's a good chance he might be wrong. It's only an opinion. It's a starting place.

Headache is a diagnosis. I have a recurring knife like pain in the centre of my forehead, isn't. Indigestion is a diagnosis. I have a burning sensation here - point, isn't. Stress is a label, so is pressure and tension. It's not easy to describe sensations but do the best you can.

If you give labels and diagnoses, your doctor will have to undo these. You may feel irritated thinking he doesn't believe you. He isn't deconstructing your labels because he doesn't believe you. It's because he can not do his job if he accepts your labels. What you call vertigo or whatever maybe different to how others use this word. Things go grey, black and I feel I am falling is very different to the walls are moving or spinning.

Unless you are heading for hospital, there is time. Time to reflect and maybe get another opinion. Time to do some research. So you have a raised cholesterol - there is no rush.

Remember and remind yourself, it's your body, it's your health issue and it's your choice as to what happens. You are the one in charge of your life. Don't let anyone ever bulldoze you. But do let your doctor in on your inner most secrets and fears - once you've sussed him out of course.