Monday January 27, 2003
When Good Reputations Go Sour
Some things to watch out for:Have you ever gone to a psychiatrist just because of their reputation? Before jumping into anything, there are some questions that should be asked. How long ago was that reputation formed? Doctors often times burn out just like you and me. Their MD status does not mean that they are God, just that at one point in time, they really believed in what they were doing and devoted all their time to it.
Another question that should be asked is How responsive are they? Are you able to ask questions and get clearly thought out and conscious answers? Or does it sometimes feel like you are listening to a worn out tape recorder that is not really hearing you? Sometimes, when doctors get worn out or have taken on too many other patients and responsibilities, the quickest and less complicated answer can sometimes seem like the correct answer. That is not because they do not care, it is because they have so many other things going on that they are used to taking the first obvious solution and diagnosing it with the first obvious answer. This does not always work, in fact sometimes it can make the situation that you came to them for worse. Also, if a doctor is doing other things while you are talking about your symptoms and concerns, that is a clear cut sign that maybe you should look elsewhere for someone who has time enough to listen to why you came to them in the first place. It is very difficult to diagnose a problem that you do not know anything about.
A few other questions that you should ask yourself are: Are they patient and willing to listen to and answer your questions? If they are not willing to help you understand what is wrong, it is quite clear to that they do not know themselves or do not care enough to take the time to explain. How long do you have to wait to get a follow up appointment? Do they want to see you four weeks after prescribing new medication or two months? If you have to wait two months to see your doctor after starting new medication, this may be a sign that the doctor is taking on too many tasks at once and cannot see you sooner, or that he/she may not be as devoted to your wellbeing as you thought. It is important with psychiatric medication, due to the combinations and numbers prescribed, that any side effects be watched closely and are dealt with properly.
When talking to doctor after doctor as some of you I am sure have done, searching for the miracle cure, it can seem as though the doctor with the quickest solution to your dilemma is the one to go with. But no one knows you better than you do and it may take time for a doctor to get to know you, find out what medications and treatments your body and mind respond to, and find a diagnosis that fits the symptoms. Doctors do make mistakes and the more they listen to you, the symptoms you are experiencing, and any medication side effects you have, the less room there is for error.
Finally, are there any other patients you can talk to? Sometimes just one person will shine a light on any faults or strong points a doctor might have that could either make or break your decision to put your treatment in their hands.
It is definitely not an easy decision to find a doctor who is right for you, and sometimes it takes some trial and error. Always go with your first instinct, if something is not right ask questions, that is what doctors are there for. Their devotion to you should not be effected by how many other patients they have, or the seriousness of your concerns. Just because they can give you a diagnosis on the spot, doesn it mean it is accurate, and the same goes for their treatment plan. Every person is unique be it in sickness or in health and each must be attended to differently.
Site Suggestions
This issue's suggested site: Saving the WomanReturning to the Primative: Dr Atkins vs. the Obesity Epidemic
I am sure you have all heard about Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution. Within all of the hundreds of different diet plans floating around telling you to cut out fat, carbohydrates, dairy, or red meats, Dr. Atkins makes his "Diet Revolution" look simple and even sinful. It allows you to eat foods from Big Macs to regular "non-diet" cheese. The fallback, and the most difficult part of the diet is that you are only allowed 20g of carbohydrates. And if you are anything like me, this isn't anywhere near what you normally eat. Your diet will consist of almost pure protein and fat. After the first two weeks, the carbohydrate allowence is increased but you will never again be allowed to eat anything made with refined sugar or white flour, as well as milk, white rice, and white bread.Eating a diet purly consisting of proteins and fat is certainly not a change you want to make if you are only moderately overweight or just looking to lose ten pounds. In the first two weeks, someone who is of a healthy weight is guaranteed to gain weight on this diet, and will be lucky to return to their original weight in a reasonable amount of time.
For others, the first two weeks of this diet must be followed exactly. Although no results may be seen at first, your body will goe into a state of ketosis, here it changes from a carbohydrate-burning machine, to a fat-burning machine.
As an example of when humans may have actually eaten this type of diet naturally, we can go back to primative times, when meat was the staple food of the human diet. Humans consumed anywhere from 3000 to 4000 calories on a regular basis to keep their energy levels high enough to sustain life, and up to 7000 calories per day for a pregnant woman. Refined sugars, white flour, and other such pleasures had not been introduced into our diets. On the one had, humans have lived this way in history, but on the other hand the average life span was half what it is today.
Unfortunately, the experts rarely back this diet up. Such things as cholesterol levels, the traditional food guide pyramid which calls for six to eleven daily servings of bread, pasta, and grains and at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, are not taken into account in Atkins' diet plan. The body also needs about 150g of carbohydrates a day to function properly and to keep the metabolic rate sustained. The brain also needs glucose to function efficiently which fats and proteins provide at a much slower rate than vegetables, grains, and fruits. The presence of fruits in our diet also accounts for the physiological advances in modern humans.
Because this is a high-fat, high-protein diet, there are possible problems such as an increased risk of heart disease and many of the foods recommended by nutritionists are forbidden. As with all diets, consult your doctor. Also, if you have any history of anorexia, you should not consider starting any diets without a doctor's close supervision.
Resources:
The Atkins Diet by Lorraine Dusky, AOL health, November 2002
The Discovery Channel Documentaries
various other news articles from news magazines, online articles, and television broadcast news.
Screaming Undead
by Jim Grundman