sorry for the delay in part 2- the first post was meant to be all-inclusive, but 1- it got too long; and 2- i am dealing with a small bout of stomach flu…
so, onward and upward…
the second area that i notice a marked lack of confidence is in medical matters. from having a baby to treating a fever (or a stomach flu!) to dealing with the normal bumps and scrapes of life, we have become convinced as a society that we do not have the wisdom- much less the basic common sense!- to deal with our own bodies.
small disclaimer here: i am not a “get in tune with your body” person by nature. i would get dressed in the dark even if i was alone, and i’d prefer to pretty much have as little contact with my groovy parts as possible. so i am not here to preach to you new age meditation or zen-like body worship.
i am, however, gonna point out that most of us are continuously unaware of even the most basic and simple sensations coming from our bodies. we eat past the point of being full. we often eat past the point of discomfort. we certainly don’t eat (most of us- me included, sadly) as ways to provide quality fuel for our bodies so that they can engage in healthful and purposeful work. we don’t rest when we are tired. we use artificial lights and artificial stimulants and artificial relaxants to coax (read: coerce/smash/destroy) our bodies into being machines that go on demand. we treat our bodies the way we would never treat our cars; we expect them to go without maintenance or tune-ups and not to break down. when they do break down, we just cover up the symptoms with more drugs so we won’t feel the damage we continue to cause. in the case of full-out illness that becomes chronic, we just add more meds and never try to get to the root of the problem and try to fix it.
we don’t know how to stay hydrated or get rested or give birth. we shrug our shoulders helplessly and turn to the “professionals” for help.
and that whole industry- because make no mistake that medicine is an industry- will happily perpetuate our ill health so they can justify their own existence. they exist because we are too afraid to take charge of and take responsibility for our own health (or lack thereof).
yes, there are good doctors. there are good clinics and good hospitals and good medicines. if i am ever in a 20 car pile-up and have a limb or two severed, i would probably like to have a trained neurosurgeon on hand to put me back together. i would not like to remove a ruptured appendix on my diningroom table.
but i would also like to be able to go into a doctor and say, “listen i had this infection. i cleared it up with __________________ (fill in the blank here with herbs or food or homeopathy or acupuncture or whatever). i just want you to know for my medical record.” and have them not look at you like you committed a felony. i would like for women in labor to never again be threatened with, “you don’t want your baby to die, do you?” especially since the U.S. has one of the highest infant mortality rates of any developed country when people birth in hospitals, maybe this should be a cautionary sign on the door to the maternity ward instead of an excuse to do one more unnecessary c-section. i would like to be able to treat simple conditions with solutions that are more in line with what i believe and not have to be treated like a pariah because i questioned the holy medical establishment.
i’m reading so much lately about high dose vitamin c. i’m learning about medicinal plants. i’m hearing from people- in whispers, of course- who have taken better charge of their health and that of their families, and every time i am in the hospital, i see why they speak in hushed shadows.
because the medical folks often don’t have the answers either, but they are beyond threatened by you trying to be a partner in your own health care. frequently ER personnel are trained to ignore what patients say. they are taught to assume you are lying. that’s right,. they will do their protocol regardless of what you tell them because they assume-rightly or wrongly- that most patients are not telling the truth. they can’t possibly understand the whole truth, or even what is important, so the doctors will let you talk, but few of them will really listen.
and when you see that you are just another piece of meat on the table, you will begin to devalue your information as well. and most of the time, the patients’ voices get quieter and quieter, until you learn to just lay there and shut up and only speak when spoken to.
people continue to die of doctor error- even from well-intentioned doctors. they die of hospital interventions even when the correct procedures are followed. yes, people died before the growth of the medical establishment, but never did they feel so devalued or so powerless.
and that’s really my point.
there’s a place for conventional medicine and a place for doctors and a place for acupuncture and a place for homebirth.
but when we are so psyched out in the face of “experts” who don’t really know more about our own bodies than we do, that gets us into trouble.
because if people were empowered- even a bit- the really intensive interventionist health care could be available for those who really need it instead of those who think they need a doctor’s permission to drink soup when they have a cold. and those who think they need a prescription for a fever instead of letting the body kill whatever it is trying to kill. and those who don’t even trust themselves enough to wait 24 hours in non-emergent situations.
and if your first reaction here is “yeah, but in some cases, that 24 hours could be the difference between life and death!”- or some such mutation of that thought- then you are either missing my point or proving it.
Susan Bachus
Dec 28, 2011 @ 23:24:43
Brava for putting this out there! I just had surgery for the first time in my life, at 58, and had horrible post-op complications that could have been avoided if the doctors had only listened to me. I kept complaining that my throat hurt terribly and all the doctors kept telling me “that’s just from the intubation” and ignoring me. They sent me home with a raging oral thrush infection (natural yeast got out of balance because of the antibiotics) that didn’t get diagnosed till several days of being unable to eat or drink later, when I drove myself back to the ER even though I wasn’t supposed to be driving. Then I wound up back in the ER again a week later with blood clots, which I only knew about because I’d been taking my temperature regularly. The surgeon then admitted that there are probably always blood clots after this (laparoscopic) approach, which it sure would have been nice if someone had warned me about! Perhaps you’re right that the solution is for us (patients) to be better at advocating for ourselves. I know that if I ever need surgery again I will approach it very differently!
Joy Poot
Dec 28, 2011 @ 23:33:07
Thank you for posting this! It’s so true. Often I have friends text me or e-mail me with minor complaints that they have no idea on. Usually it’s nothing that a bowl of soup, a warm bath and some extra sleep won’t cure.
There’s a time and a place for everything. If your throat is swelling shut and you can’t breathe, a doctor might be a good plan.
Otherwise, rest and wait…it takes the average virus 10-14 days to run it’s course…that’s normal. Time really does heal.
All in good balance, all with a time and a place.
Deb Seymour (Deb Goes Green)
Dec 29, 2011 @ 01:04:58
I agree that people often do not do much in the areas of preventative medicine for themselves. I also think that one major thing lacking in children’s education (maybe not so much home schoolers 🙂 ) is anatomy and physiology. Kids all seem to want to learn to drive a car and do or know all the technical details of a computer.. but what about learning what your muscles are called, where they attach and how they function? What about learning that the patellar tendon is not in your ear and that the heart has four chambers? Add to that that most people know diddly-squat about first aid and CPR. I am continually shocked at how very well educated friends of mine haven’t a *clue* as to how their bodies work. And if we don’t bother to teach them and ourselves, how on earth are we supposed to talk to a doctor?
Deb Seymour (Deb Goes Green)
Dec 29, 2011 @ 01:06:30
P.S. I am also flabbergasted at how many people don’t ask about medication side effects or bother to read the labels when they get prescriptions filled.
Or check to see that the pharmacist even dispensed the right stuff.
Deb Seymour (Deb Goes Green)
Dec 29, 2011 @ 01:09:03
Last but not least to Susan; so sorry you had to go through all that. Thrush is awful!
Deb Seymour (Deb Goes Green)
Dec 29, 2011 @ 01:10:41
(I’ve gotten the wrong pills twice-scary! But I checked before leaving the store, so it was resolved)
Rosemary Walsh
Dec 29, 2011 @ 05:03:50
A thought to add to this, maybe several. I believe all patients need an advocate, family member or wise friend to question anything they think may be dubious. I’m not cynical by nature – far from it, but getting agitated at a medical practice I’ve gotten four different opinions from, diametrically opposed.
Anne Treadwell
Dec 29, 2011 @ 05:22:29
I think I read you that high dose Vitamin C is good — right? I have been taking Ester-C 1000mg, several a day for several years and believe I have avoided all kinds of sruff. The Ester-C is not ascorbic acid, which can cause diarrhea, but calcium ascorbate which will just spill harmlessly if not needed. It is accompanied by bioflavonoids or vitamin C complex.
knutty knitter
Dec 29, 2011 @ 06:56:26
We are so lucky to have real public health here. Which means you get pretty much what you need and the doctors are human and don’t mostly mind alternative approaches. They also are trained to listen to you 🙂 Its not perfect but then nothing ever is. And, if you need it, there are patient advocates available to speak to in the hospitals.
All of which means that I have been able to ditch the stuff that was giving me side effects on the principle that it was rather unnecessary anyhow and swap things around until I found a med that was ok for me.
As for schooling – I did try homeschooling for a year when the public system was failing my eldest, but it was just not a happening thing. I eventually found a school which did well by the child (and the next one too) and they have flourished ever since. I would homeschool again if I saw the need but at present, they have a wonderful school and excellent teachers.
In both fields I am in charge however and always have been. And I can put arneca on a bruise just like the next person 🙂
viv in nz
pheel
Dec 29, 2011 @ 11:38:32
i couldn’t agree more & i can’t remember the last time i took a pill.
headache? i just sleep it off! i got repeated force lesion in my wrist, bcoz my job involves 8 to 10 hrs a day using a notebook/mouse etc., but i read up on google & moved the position i used the mouse & within 24 hrs, i cleared that up, though it was still sore for a couple of weeks.
as for vitamins, i guess we’re lucky living in brazil where fruit is dirt cheap & widely (wildly) abundant, so we’re home juicers extraordinaire…. making up crazy mixtures on a weekly basis.
if you prefer an intense vitamin c fix that’s not powdered & packaged try “acerola”. way more vit C than oranges & grapefruit & all natural. blueberries are another miracle fruit, a great source of flavanoids that reduce oxidation damage to body cells, helping to prevent cancer (& better than red wine).
eating well (high fiber, natural oils, organic if you can) & exercising (without stressing) is a great way to prevent much of the ill-health that is common in developed nations.
your post is so right, in that we so often are the cause of our health problems then we mask them with pills, it’s no wonder the last decade of life is filled with horrible chronic diseases.
here’s to treating our bodies (& souls) like they were lamborginhis in 2012.
pheel
Dec 29, 2011 @ 12:46:57
The best current advice is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, not smoke, take regular exercise and keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check, said Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The research looked at nutrients in blood, rather than relying on questionnaires to assess a person’s diet. US experts analyzed blood samples from 104 healthy people with an average age of 87 who had few known risk factors for Alzheimer’s. They found those who had more vitamin B, C, D and E in their blood performed better in tests of memory and thinking skills. People with high levels of omega 3 fatty acids – found mainly in fish – also had high scores. The poorest scores were found in people who had more trans fats in their blood.
Trans fats are common in processed foods, including cakes, biscuits and fried foods. The researchers, from Oregon Health and Science University, Portland; Portland VA Medical Center; and Oregon State University, Corvallis, then carried out brain scans on 42 of the participants. They found individuals with high levels of vitamins and omega 3 in their blood were more likely to have a large brain volume; while those with high levels of trans fat had a smaller total brain volume. Study author Gene Bowman of Oregon Health and Science University said: “These results need to be confirmed, but obviously it is very exciting to think that people could potentially stop their brains from shrinking and keep them sharp by adjusting their diet.”
IT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE GOOD COMMON SENSE, but for those who need a little science from the “experts”: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16344228
Happy, Healthy 2012 everybody
Sylvia
Dec 29, 2011 @ 16:38:07
The article printed in The Oregonian newspaper also included this:
“…the six tests of brain function after researchers took into account differences in blood pressure and depression, big risk factors for cognitive decline.”
http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2011/12/some_diets_protect_the_brain_o.html
I don’t know that we think of depression as being a big risk factor for cognitive decline.
Susan Bachus
Dec 29, 2011 @ 17:10:02
Actually, there is a reason for this. Researchers have found that for many neurological syndromes, e.g. Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Huntington’s Chorea, etc., in hindsight, onset of depression was a presenting symptom before other symptoms (e.g. motor) emerged. And many of these disorders are far more effectively treated if diagnosed early. So it can really pay off to look closely for signs of those diseases if a patient presents with depression.
Sandy
Dec 29, 2011 @ 18:42:40
As always so very well written. I couldn’t agree more with you. We have been treated as if our own bodies are foriegn to ourselves that we have no idea what we are talking about when we express our concerns to the medical professionals. I’m so so so tired of being prescribed another medicine for whatever the ailment might be instead of trying to figure out what is causing the ailment in the first place. Even if it means telling me you MUST change your diet and you MUST get some kind of excercise x number of days a week. However, by putting a band aid on an ailment instead of working on the root cause of the ailment the “professional” is keeping him/herself in business. I getted so ticked with this come back in three months thing too. If they took care of the problem, there would be no need for this continual coming back. Whatever happened to call me if you need to see me for anything? The medical profession has lost it somewhere down the road. Now I’m not saying this is how ALL medical professionals behave yet by and large, it does seem to be how the majority treats its patients. I try very hard to find out how my body is supposed to work and I pay attention to my body and when things change I do my research prior to going to the doctor. Again, very well written and I appreaciate all that you wrote. Thanks!
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:14:57
wow- i’ve never heard this, but it is certainly fascinating!!!
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:15:05
thank you!
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:15:47
i will check that out- i love when my readers provide cool stuff to learn! thanks!
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:16:11
hear, hear!
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:16:45
one more reason to move to new zealand 😉
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:17:02
good to know- thanks!
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:17:15
yes- quite true!
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:17:33
yeeks- me too!
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:18:10
ya, no joke- and then they walk around in a fog wondering why their face has turned green or their fingernails have fallen off…
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:18:27
well said!
thegardenrenegade
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:19:07
ug- one more story that gives me medical nightmares… glad it (hopefully) is all resolved!
Susan Bachus
Dec 30, 2011 @ 07:00:43
Thanks! Actually, I’ve had to take coumadin (warfarin) for 6 months, because of the clots, with frequent blood tests, but hopefully will be able to confirm by CT scan in January that things are back to normal and get off the coumadin (fingers crossed).
Ellen Wijsman
Dec 30, 2011 @ 16:53:47
In the US, it isn’t the medical profession that is broken when it comes to staying healthy. It is ourselves. As a society, we are not willing to tax ourselves to subsidize the kind of convenient public transportation that gets people out of their cars (and therefore getting more exercise), or to provide the basic health care for everyone that sets children on a healthy path from pre-natal care through their childhoods. Many countries that do subsidize these public services have lower medical costs and higher life expectancies that we do in the US. Lifestyle has a huge effect on health, but requires a lifetime of personal and societal commitment. Just ask any primary care doctor how effective it is to tell people to stop smoking, eat right and lose weight, etc. These sorts of lifestyle changes are extremely difficult to change. So instead, we develop drugs or pay the price with later, urgent and expensive intervention, and skyrocketing health care costs.
But also, it is so very easy, when practically everyone that you know is pretty healthy, to assume that we can keep ourselves healthy without medical care or public health practices. Life expectancy tables do not support this. In 1850, the life expectancy of a female born that year in the US was only about 40 years! Life expectancy was only a little higher by 1900 (about 51 yrs), but started climbing rapidly by the mid-1900s, to 67 yrs by ~1940, to ~75 yrs by ~1975, and to ~80 yrs by ~2000. If we are so good at treating ourselves, how does one explain a doubling in life expectancy in the past 150 years, as we have incorporated nutritional, medical, and public health advances over the same period?
That being said, it is true that some people run to the doctor if they so much as sneeze, which is silly. And in other situations, mistakes are made in medical treatment, since doctors are people, and people make mistakes. And nobody should *ever* assume that their doctor knows the answers to everything!
Brittany Fleming
Dec 31, 2011 @ 12:58:43
I haven’t read all the comments yet, but if no one has suggested it yet…find a good naturopath. Seriously. I’m in the Spokane, WA area and have an AMAZING naturopathic doctor – and the best part is, she is covered by my insurance like a regular doctor. She is WONDERFUL – always very knowledgeable in natural options, but not afraid to say “hold on a second, let me check something” and she will research while I am there to ensure I am getting the best, most correct info she can give.
I’m sure in the Seattle area, you would have no trouble finding a good naturopath. I suggest contacting some of the natural foods places and asking if they know of a good naturopath they would recommend. References are important. I found out about my doctor by going to a local meeting of the Holistic Mom’s Network (which is no longer in Spokane, I guess). In any case, if there is a chapter in your area, they could be a good resource too.
Also, she recommended a couple of books that I think are great. One is the Genotype Diet by Dr Peter D’Amo (basing our diet on some genetic markers like what our fingerprints look like, what our teeth are shaped like, etc…for instance, I am a “Hunter” type that should eat primarily meat and veggies, avoid gluten, etc etc). That, and The Edge Effect by Dr Eric Braverman. This one refers to our brains and neurochemistry, and what happens (with examples) when we are overloaded or deficient in one or more of the main neurotransmitters. This one was particularly interesting to me because since returning to the northern states, I’ve fought with seasonal winter depression. I’ve since resolved it with supplements and a better diet.
In any case – highly recommend finding a good naturopath in your area. Mine is fabulous, and I would highly recommend her – but I’d imagine you don’t want to drive 4 hours to visit my naturopath 😉
thegardenrenegade
Dec 31, 2011 @ 20:29:26
great idea- thanks!
thegardenrenegade
Dec 31, 2011 @ 20:29:56
lots of good points- thanks for posting!
Ellen Wijsman
Jan 01, 2012 @ 02:04:50
That is correct: depression is more common in some of these disorders. But unfortunately many of the diseases for which depression seems to be one of the early symptoms are not really treatable (Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s being two of such disorders). The depression that seems to be a part of these diseases also does not respond to treatment the way other forms of depression do. But depression is sometimes itself treatable, and untreated depression can lead to other preventable problems.
Susan Bachus
Jan 01, 2012 @ 03:59:25
Sadly, it’s true, that we do not yet have real cures for these disorders. Still, there are treatments which can slow the progression &/or provide some symptomatic relief, and the earlier, the better. Researchers are still struggling to come up with better treatments. Here’s to real progress being made in 2012!
Jennifer in MamaLand
Aug 26, 2012 @ 09:39:20
Another post I love (as a fellow homeschooling “expert”!)… and again, I posted something similar about dying at home, beyond the tentacles of modern medicine, last year. I had two medical births and two homebirths, so I’ve seen both sides, recognize the need for the medical establishment, but believe we give them waaaay too much power. And question too little. The thing about the medication side effects is HUGE; people have been sold on the bill of goods that “medication is less invasive than surgery,” and I’m not saying it never is, but in many cases, it changes your life more, in worse ways, than an operation would. People take pills for years – often for “just in case” type conditions – that leave them impotent, exhausted, depressed and in grave danger of acquiring other, more serious medical conditions… and they have no idea.
thegardenrenegade
Aug 26, 2012 @ 14:38:57
yep!