So as not to hijack the other thread from its original intent, I thought it better to bring our discussion here.

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Elmer, just to clarify, I disagree with your assumptions about how I view the medical profession. It is not how I view it at all. Rather, I think Drs are generally wonderful people and the world is immeasurably better off having them in the world than not. I think science is incredible and has brought innumerable advances to the world. They know a lot about the human body, its illnesses and treatments and cures. However, they are largely limited to two treatments for patients: cut it out, or prescribe toxic chemicals. When I mentioned this to my dear doc, he thought for a minute and then said, "Well I can encourage them to live a healthier lifestyle." Great.

Moreover, while doc's may know a lot about the human body, they don't know me and my experiences. They only know what I tell them or what they can test for. They don't live with me to see how I eat, sleep or move. They can't feel what I'm feeling. And because I'm with my body 24/7 for my entire life, I understand it, what it does, how it reacts and what works best for me and what doesn't far better than they ever could.

So, IMO, for best outcome, and the way I've worked with all my doctors is to partner with them. I know my body, they know medicine. We meet in the middle. They have to explain to me what they want to do and why in such a way that I understand it. They have to help me understand the risks and the benefits as it is *I* who will have to live with the consequences of that choice, not them. I need them to listen to what I have to say, and take me seriously. I need them to tell me when I'm wrong and answer my questions to my satisfaction. If I'm wrong, I need to understand why. If they don't have any good answers then they need to let me know that and then together we can try to find a solution by trial and error and research. And if they have no answers, but I'm still suffering, I will go elsewhere to find solutions even if that takes me somewhere outside their ken such as nutrition, chiropractic care, naturopathy or chinese medicine as examples.

It's my body, my suffering, my life and I have to do what makes the most sense for me...not some medical protocol that will be revised over the next few years.

What are you working on?

The Kitchen Table