I've been misdiagnosed.
I've had a doctor call me a "little shit" because I couldn't lay still as he vaccumed the puss from behind my right ear drum.
I've had a doc (just recently) tell me quite blankly, "I think we can put that theory to bed" about me having allergies after the allergy test he gave me came back negative - This, even though I turn into a foggy, sneezy, itchy eyed, drippy nosed, Eustachian tube clogged mess EVERY TIME I try to stop taking my Claritin.
I've had 4 ENT docs not have a CLUE what is wrong with my left inner ear - I've been frustrated to tears with that undiagnosed mess!
I've had those SAME ENT docs tell me that practicing a gluten-free diet probably has NOTHING to do with why my inner ear issue has improved/halted for the time being - because it "doesn't make medical sense".
I've had a doc blatantly NOT listen to me, for whatever reason. Who kept diverting to something else he saw instead of what I was visiting for.
I had a doc tell me that I was going to lose my middle by 16 weeks of pregnancy because of a blood clot in my uterus. He was wrong, and thats ok. I praise the Lord he was wrong! And he was thrilled that he was wrong!
So, on I go.
This is not born out of saving face. For me or for my husband. It does not fully stem from hurtful comments said or written about my husband.
The boat has been rocked and then finally tipped, and I write. I write when the boat tips.
For all the doctors, everywhere.
For all health care providers:
This is the deal. I'm tired of it. I've heard it too many times and I've wanted to write this post for some time now.
I am married to a physician. He's a family physician. Otherwise known as a "Doctor".
He's a D.O., not an M.D. D.O.s are "Doctor of Osteopathy". They go to the same amount of medical school. They go to the SAME types of medical school (the difference is that D.O.s learn osteopathic (bone) manipulations (KIND OF like a chiropractor, for those that need a comparison). They have more schooling in this regard, but that is neither here nor there.
He is a FAMILY physician, which means he'll be paid less than the majority of other types of physicians. Less than "specialty" docs. He's known he wanted to be a doctor since he was in his pre-teen years.
It was that day, that day that he visited Marty Stemwettle's (sp?) house and had chocolate milk for a drink treat. Marty's dad was a doc. Young Josh thought to himself that having chocolate milk any time you want would be THE life, so his desire to be a doc thus begun. So he could be rich and get chocolate milk whenever he wanted.
So, yes, the initial driver was for the moolah.
I have walked by his side.
I have watched him study through excruciatingly long hours of exhaustion.
I have witnessed as he forfeited sleep in order to pass med school tests.
My boys and I have been the first hand receivers of how appropriately he deals with his priorities - us before school - us before work.
I have laid in bed with him many a night as he turned all about in a heap of anxiousness about whether or not he made a right decision for a patient that day.
I've driven with him and many times heard him randomly blurt out a diagnosis that he's just figured out. Then he'll make a call, to tell someone - if it's urgent. Or he'll rake himself over the coals that he didn't figure it out during the initial office or E.R. visit of the patient. Days later, MONTHS later, he STILL thinks about it! He STILL searches for that right diagnosis.
I've stood by and listened to him recount stories of senseless and untimely death that he's witnessed all the while knowing full well that his Creator, in whom he puts all his trust and cares, is still sovereign.
I've stood behind him and supported his boys and his home as he spends ridiculously long hours with sick and hurting people. Why, so that he can make the big bucks? No, because he loves people.
I've seen the sacrifices that he's made during med school and during residency, why? So that he can make the big bucks? No, because he loves and wants to help people.
I've seen as he spends 21 hours laboring down a DOP (duration of pregnancy) patient only to have her peter out in the end and not push, forcing a c-section.
I've listened as he's prayed for clarity of mind and knowledge as he practices his medicine.
I've stood by as countless facebook posts and blogs are written about "ignorant", "cocky", "pretentious", "over confident", "jack ass", "stupid", "self righteous", "prideful", "arrogant" doctors.
I've listened as he frustrates over patients that he harps on, because he really DOES know the answer to help them and they just.don't.listen.
Sometimes he doesn't know the answer, and I listen then, as well. I listen as he mulls over and mumbles through the possibilities. Why? So he can get more money? He gets paid the same amount whether he's right or wrong. Not for the money. For the patient. For their life! For their well being. Because he loves people and wants to HELP.PEOPLE.
DOCTORS HELP PEOPLE!
NO, they don't know EVERYTHING - but YOU don't either!
NO, they are not ALWAYS right! But neither are YOU!
NO, they aren't all in it for the right reasons. (But just because YOU have one bad experience with a "crappy" doc doesn't mean they are all "stupid")
I'm using words that I've personally witnessed. I'm using words that those close to ME, to US have used to describe their doctor. I'm using words that I've read that described MY husband, MY doctor husband. I'm using words that have been used rashly, in an unforgiving and intolerant manners.
They go to medical school so that YOU don't have to, PEOPLE!
They go to medical school to help YOU!
They go to medical school because WE.NEED.PHYSICIANS!
WE NEED MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE!
NO, my husband is NOT a perfect doctor!
NO, he doesn't know everything.
NO, he hasn't been without a misdiagnosis.
NO, he's not without pride.
NO, he's not without mess-ups.
YES, he loves people!
YES, he's a God fearing man that is following the calling on his life!
YES, he is a God fearing man who loves his wife and his children without reserve to the best of his human ability!
YES, he KNOWS.A LOT.ABOUT.YOUR.BODY!
YES, if you are NOT a doc, he probably knows MORE than you do! MORE than that blogger does! MORE than the facebook friend of yours does that posted that snarky comment about that stupid doctor and how they don't have a crap clue what they are talking about.
I've stood in the middle of conversations between large crowds of people where what I like to call "Doctor bashing" has commenced. There are times that I grimace that THESE are the people that my husband has BENT.OVER.BACKWARDS to serve and help heal. I grimace at times that he has trudged through ME.DI.CAL. SCHOOL for these types of people. For the crazy bloggers who have NO medical training. For those nutso jaded facebookers that have NO medical training. For the people that go RUNNING to the doctor's office anytime their baby sneezes or has red insides of their ears only to come out GRIPING up one wall and down the other about how stupid the doctor was that was in charge of their care.
Some doctors are a little wacko, yes. Some PEOPLE are a little wacko! DOCTORS ARE PEOPLE!
Some doctors act like they know more than they do. Some PEOPLE act like they know more than they do (doc bashing bloggers!) DOCTORS ARE PEOPLE!
Some doctors misdiagnose. (I am NOT making light of that unfortunate fact). Some PEOPLE misdiagnose things EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES! DOCTORS ARE PEOPLE!
Some docs ARE a bit pompous and self righteous. So are PEOPLE. DOCTORS ARE PEOPLE!
Some doctors......and the list goes on.
DOCTORS ARE PEOPLE!
So step down off it! Lay off them a bit! Give them some grace! Be grateful that YOU are not a half million dollars in debt and have the burden of medical PRACTICE riding on your shoulders EVERY day of your life! Be grateful that SOME ONE ELSE has taken that load, is carrying that load so that YOU don't have to. So that YOU have somewhere to take your kiddos when they are hurt or sick! So that YOU have someone to go to to fix your busted up bones! So that YOU can get your allergy meds and not feel like a gray cloud of misery everywhere you walk. So that YOU can get that lump removed from your breast (EVEN if it's benign and it was thought not to be!) So that YOU, YOU YOU AND YOU can take comfort knowing that SOMEONE knows. That SOMEONE cares! That SOMEONE has taken the burden of countless hours, countless YEARS of training (and CONTINUED training) so that YOU can feel better!
And if you DON'T feel better, if they ARE wrong, PLEASE remember that
DOCTORS ARE PEOPLE!
They aren't perfect.
They aren't God - (and for the LOVE OF ALL THINGS! PLEASE STOP SAYING THEY THINK THEY ARE GOD!).
They are THERE.TO.HELP.YOU!
I will probably look back at this and think to myself, "you probably could have calmed the hell down a bit about that". But for now, I'm done with keeping my doctor's wife trap shut. It's time someone stood up for all these PEOPLE do for PEOPLE!
Thank you.
And now I close this off and continue to pray for my husband as he labors through his final boards exam. Because he LOVES PEOPLE!
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