December 4th 2020

Wednesday September 10th 2014

How do you know what or who to believe?????????

You know yourself, when regaling an interesting tidbit, sometimes humans have a tendency to:

1. 
   
2. over react
3. embelish
4. elaborate with no further knowledge
5. change words and therefore the actual meaning
6. leave out vital facts

But what happens when it is a medical professional who does this????????

I have lived through a doctor telling me to take a laxative BY PHONE because he believed I was exaggerating my symptoms. FYI I had a hole in my intestine, a fistula that burst out of my stomach and I had gone septic 24 hours later.

But this is not about me.

My Mom and Dad are both 72 years old. They believe that a doctor does know almost everything and that his/her word are good enough. They do not question advice given medications prescribed or opinions offered.

So, when they said Dad would need immediate surgery because he had 2 blockages in his neck (one on each side), naturally the family was distressed. Today he was told yes there were blockages but the surgery could wait until January.

Who is really at fault here? The elderly patient who believes and may have over reacted? The doctor for alarming the elderly couple with this shocking news before having a specialist look at it? or the specialist who now seems to think it can wait?

I was thinking just the other day. I wonder why I don't feel well? I just had remikade and should be good. What is this new burning pain in my incision? Why am I so tired and sleeping until 11am? What I decided may surprise you. Nothing. I go see the specialist for Crohn's regularly and when I mention anything I get no where. I am told everything looks good and see you in 2 months. 

I love that our health care is free. I love the fact that I have access to medical care. I just wonder though, if I had to pay for what I am getting would I be satisfied with these answers?

I am happy my dad is ok but I am very concerned about leaving this surgery for months.

Good night!