#197 Doctors are people too...

In my career as a professional patient, I have met a lot of doctors. Some of these meetings have been horrendous  (like the family doctor who told me to stay at home and do nothing when he couldn't diagnose my joint symptoms - which turned out to be RA, and the neurosurgeon who said "Don't take it so personally, think of it like it's your jacket that's been broken", when I was partly paralyzed after failed surgery) and some of them have been amazing (like the rheumatologist who took me in on short notice and stopped my first RA flare in it's tracks, the neurosurgeon who validated, explained and cured my back pain when everyone else had given up).

When I went on the pilgrimage to Santiago, serendipity would have it that I met a German pain specialist who was doing the pilgrimage at a turning point in his career. The two of us meeting and sharing part of our pilgrimage together turned out to be a blessing in disguise for both of us. Him seeing life through the eyes of a chronic pain patient for a few days, being able to observe what all his patients had explained to him in real life, gave him new meaning in his practice. For me it was a true eye opener to be given an understanding of a doctor's professional thoughts and struggles, and it really helped me to see that doctors are people too! Walking together through the hills of Valencia, we shared our stories and thoughts on chronic pain. I learned more about pain from him than any of my doctors at home in Norway, and the meeting changed my attitude completely.

I realized that my Doctors were really just people who had chosen a challenging profession and were doing the very best they could. When a computer engineer has a bad day and makes a slip up at work, no-one dies because of that. But oh my God, what about the neurosurgeons? Just because someone has completed a medical degree doesn't mean that person stops being human! Today, I trust and respect the doctors I meet. If one of them acts really weird or says something I feel is wrong, I put it down to a bad day, and get a second opinion. I don't take it personally. I don't have to like all the doctors I meet, I can take their advice or leave it. But I can do my best to be a good patient to ensure that we're both doing the best we can.

#191 Question your diagnosis

Categorizing and naming medical conditions is essential to get treated, but when it comes to your personal healing journey, being pinned down by a chronic diagnosis may be very limiting. Giving something a name has a very stigmatizing effect, and if a doctor says that "This is incurable" it can be almost impossible to maintain hope and activate your own healing system.

That's why it is essential to question your diagnosis, and get a second, third or fourth opinion if you feel that your doctor is not correctly identifying your symptoms.

"As any doctor can tell you, the most crucial step toward healing is having the right diagnosis. If the disease is precisely identified, a good resolution is far more likely. Conversely, a bad diagnosis usually means a bad outcome, no matter how skilled the physician." says Mind-Body Medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weill.

Many people are misdiagnosed, and because of that are treated for the wrong condition. If your symptoms don't get better with treatment, that may be reason to question your diagnosis - according to CNN Health.  Unfortunately, even when we are sick we need to be strong and stand up for our rights. "A diagnosis is a process of give and take, and no matter how skilled or committed your practitioner, no one else has the same commitment, drive, and persistence as you can have in assuring that your course of treatment is the best possible option for you." - Jake Mayer - aka The Unruly Patient

#167 Have a contact list

How many different treatments have you tried for your condition? Are there several practitioners in your healing team? When I was a "good patient", I had a General Practitioner, a rheumatologist, an orthopedic surgeon, two neurosurgeons, a neurologist, a specialist in post surgical rehabilitation, two physiotherapists, an ergotherapist, a masseur, a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, a psychologist, a pharmacist and counsellor all on my immediate contact list. It really was a full time job being a patient.

After I'd been a professional patient for a few years I realized that every time I met a new health practitioner and had to tell them my story, that was a huge investment in time, energy and money. Some of my practitioners I only saw for a few months, some followed me for years and are with me still. But I realized it was important to keep track of everyone that was part of my treatment. So I started writing a contact list. There I wrote down all the health care practitioners who were involved in my treatment.

Today this list is invaluable. Even though I rarely need treatment anymore, these professionals are still active. I know I can go see them if I need help, they know my health story, they've seen my x-rays and test results. I don't have to tell them everything all over, which is a great relief.

Do you have a contact list for your treatment and for your healing team?