My current main doctor (the functional medicine chiropractor) is extremely knowledgeable in the areas with which my body seems to be struggling the most. He very often takes on the most difficult cases, and my case seems to fit that category. This doctor has potential patients complete testing prior to signing up for his program, so that both doctor and patient can make informed decisions about future program participation. Before we signed up for his 10-month program (that we knew would be much longer than 10 months for us) in early March 2023 and paid a huge amount of money, we specifically asked some very pertinent questions about his program and the services he provides. We are very aware that my body is tired and that we don’t have many more chances left to get on a healing path.
One item that we addressed with the doctor prior to signing up for his program was whether or not he had treated many patients with cases like mine. This wasn’t my first rodeo, and I had enough previous knowledge about the test results and their implications to know that this was going to be a long and difficult journey. He assured us that he had treated many cases like mine (and also other difficult cases that differed from mine), and he had a great success rate due to his ability to go slow and not rush the process. He indicated that my test results showed that I had quite a few pathogens, toxins, etc. that needed treatment, but that the previous work I had done had made my circumstances not quite as bad as some cases he had seen with similar test results. We were glad to hear that we weren’t the worst case he had seen.
Another item that we addressed with the doctor prior to signing up for his program was that I needed a doctor who cares about my health as much as they would if I were their sister. I needed someone who was in it to win it regardless of how long it would take and/or the obstacles along the way. I needed someone who was as persistent as I am and won’t let detours get in the way of success (healing). He assured us that he was in it for the long haul. He did say that he wasn’t sure I really wanted to be treated like a family member, because he is even more blunt with his family members than he is with his patients. Ultimately, we decided that we didn’t care about him being blunt as long as he was persistent in my care.
The third main item that we addressed with the doctor prior to signing up for his program was about contact with him. Based on previous experience, we knew that my body was probably going to throw us some curve balls along the way, and we knew that we needed to be able to stay in contact with him (within reason) when the curve balls came. He informed us that we would have the ability to direct message him through the patient portal as often as needed between virtual appointments, and that he checks and responds to messages every day and usually at least once on the weekend. We were comfortable with this level of communication and contact since I would only need to contact him for treatment protocol issues and corresponding questions. I am not usually someone who reaches out unless it is absolutely necessary and/or discussed in advance.
Well, a lot has happened since that day in early March. My doctor and his wife had their first baby (Congratulations to them!) in early April, and his practice has grown at such a rate that he has added 2 additional doctors (a MD and a DC) to his team in the last 6 months in addition to the second doctor and nurse practitioner who were already part of his practice. He is very busy growing his business and building his brand. All of these things have left less time for individual patient care and attentiveness. I know how much he genuinely cares about his patients, but there are only so many hours in a day.
One thing is for certain: His wealth of knowledge in the specific areas I need is near impossible to find in other practitioners. So far, we believe that knowledge is more important than attentiveness given the severity and urgency of my situation. However, my journey would be a lot smoother if I could have both knowledge and attentiveness. And, I believe that every patient should be able to have both. Unfortunately, having both is not always available when you have a health situation that is not well understood in the medical community, and you also have a doctor who has found a large amount of success with the most difficult cases and is, therefore, very busy.
My hope is that, someday, the medical community in this country will have a better understanding of cases like mine (and other equally difficult cases), and that the current medical care system in our country will move from prescribing medications that only cover up symptoms to actually treating the root cause(s) of the symptoms. This would put less stress on the current medical practitioners who are tackling all of the most difficult cases on their own. This would also reduce the financial hardship caused by cases like mine, because there would be more options for healing.
I am well aware that there are a lot of factors involved in these hopes of mine, and that many things in this country would need to change before my hopes can become a reality. However, I will continue to have hope and do my best to bring more awareness to situations like mine. One of my favorite public figures on the internet, Sharon McMahon, always says, “Do what you can, where you are, with the resources available to you.” (see image below)
So, that is what I will continue to do. When I am feeling the physical effects of my health situation and the weight of it all, I will continue doing what I can even if it seems small and insignificant. I will continue to authentically write about the “messy middle” — the brutal and beautiful — parts of my healing journey even though it feels strange to write about my life in the midst of so much uncertainty.
Brutal. Choosing between knowledge and attentiveness. The physical effects of my health situation. Feeling the weight of it all.
Beautiful. Having a doctor with a high success rate. Hoping for change and bringing more awareness. Doing what I can, where I am, with the resources available to me.
Just another day of . . . This Brutiful Life: The Brutal & Beautiful Moments of My Life.
This Brutiful Life 