Are you Comfortable with your Doctor?

This is one of those things that I bet many of you do not even think about. 

     You go to a doctor for a routine exam or maybe a problem expecting good news or information on how to fix the problem. If related to a problem you just want to know what will be done, when it will be done, and how long until you are fixed. 

In, out, done!

     That works OK I guess for some but please recognize that it leaves a whole lot of openings for issues. Treatments might have side effects that possibly could be avoided or at the least understood and managed. There might even be long lasting limitations that change your life or ability to do things you like/love. In some instances there could be the possibility that the treatment might not fix the problem or even make it worse.

     From the first visit with any doctor they do an exploratory talk with you. How are you? What do you do in your daily life? Work? Hobbies? Travel? Then what seems to be the problem?

    Many will respond to How are you with what the problem is and not give the doctor the opportunity to understand you as a person, an individual with a problem. They won’t know how the problem affects your life other than their training and experience dictates. This also involves the treatments they could offer.

     There are many that this is the way they interact with the medical profession. Just like how we interact with a car mechanic. Take car for repair, get it fixed, drive away, problem gone.

In, out, done!

     With the medical profession is that OK? For a few reasons I say NO!

     Lets look at this another way, when you are working on a task at your home and need some help you might ask a friend to help you. Why a friend and not someone just walking down the street? Well you know them, how they think, how they react, what their experience & background is. Simply put you are comfortable with them. And they know you and how you think and are comfortable with you in return.

     Your doctors need to know you as a person, an individual with a life history and a unique personality in order to assess you correctly. They need to understand how your problem affects you and then choose the treatments that fit both you and your problem. Side effects, reactions to those effects will impact your living. These all weigh in on the choosing the medical actions. Sometimes there are only two choices: only one treatment or no treatment at all. If you are comfortable with your doctor then you will be an informed patient and choose with an understanding of outcomes.

     Now, how do you get comfortable with your doctors and support staff? Follow their lead and ask them the same questions they ask you, other than the problem part. Ask in the way they do, like an interview, seeking to understand them. Doctors are people, individuals, like you. If they are surprised at your asking or seem put off then maybe they are not who you could be comfortable with. Your choice.      

     Doctors are in the profession to help people, mostly, and they are just like the rest of us. We all like talking about ourselves, to a point. During the first visit and exam the doctor will be able to interact longer than usual.

     Final thing to note is you need to interact with all you meet the same way, word spreads among the staff. Your first nurse will note your openness, the NP or PA will make sure the doctor understands where you are coming from. They are a team working to help you and they do talk about the patient interactions and remember your way of interacting with them.

     Open, honest, and real communication always results in a better outcome.

You need to be comfortable with your doctor!