I will never get annoyed at a patient’s “lack of compliance” again.
Health care is scary, even when you know what you’re doing. When it’s your own health, putting yourself in the hands of a professional is not easy.
Yesterday I had an initial consult for myself with a nutrition specialist. She’s well-known in her field, super-academic, in her 70s, and has published books and papers.
She knows her stuff. She’s also really helped a friend of mine and the referral came from him. I had every reason to trust her and feel good about putting myself in her hands.
However, I was nervous getting ready to see her. I filled out a diet diary… what would she think? What would she say about my blood work? Would she be nice? Would she be understanding? Would we get along?
Survival instincts kick in.
We talked about a few things in the first visit (which cost an arm and a leg, but will be worth it if I’m left feeling great) and she prescribed some supplements for me to take.
I left, kind of satisfied. Ready to get on with our journey, with a list of things to pick up, dosages to tweak, things to consider and instructions to book again in 3 to 4 weeks.
Ok.
I woke up this morning, in the early hours tossing and turning, thinking to myself, “I don’t want to take vitamin E!” And “Did she truly understand my concerns?” And “what are all these supplements treating?” and “did she really hear me out?” And, “is all this going to actually help?”
The impulse to not trust, to run and hide, to override her assessment and recommendations with my own were overwhelming. (And, of course, as someone who does what she does for a living, the struggle to overcome this is real, we’re “experts” on the body, but it’s nice to let someone else give direction for a change, especially someone with 30+ more years’ experience).
Still, trusting is hard.
Being aware of the impulse to run and avoid, while also resisting the impulse, is hard.
I have people who neglect booking a follow-up even when they know that we still have lots of work to do.
I have people who don’t fill out diet diaries for fear of actually taking a hard look at their food intake.
I have people who email me that “nothing is working” when in fact they haven’t started taking their nutrients and supplements yet.
And, guess what, as frustrating as that may be (because ultimately, I want people to have success! I want people to heal), I’m doing the same thing.
Jeez, being in the patient chair is mighty humbling.
I highly recommend it to all my health practitioner colleagues out there.
And, yes, now I’m taking vitamin E. I’ve decided to just trust. (But I’m still taking my own multi-vitamin… hey, doctors make the worst patients… amiright?)
I am the actual worst patient because I second guess and question everything in some cases. In other cases where it’s not my area of expertise I’m like totally game. But if it’s stuff I work on with clients, I’m the worst!!!! That said (and I was also literally just talking to you about how much client work I do) I make all
my New clients a 30 minute video explaining their entire action plan and why we’re doing it and what phase is coming next etc – because I had always wished doctors did this for me so I knew exactly why they were recommending what they were recommending, and I knew the overall long term direction we were going and guideposts to look for along the way. I feel this step is majorly missing in health care but it takes a lot of work on my part (but also I now have a crazy high compliance rate and return rate and thus a way higher results rate) all way different in comparison to my prior revolving-door practice. Meghan walker Nd is really promoting this and I love it.
But yeah what a humbling experience for sure!
I actually love that idea I think that we (myself DEFINITELY included) think we’re giving that info but in the visit things are overwhelming and we forget. The same thing happened with the practitioner I saw. She was telling me all these studies, these experiences, shrouding me in certainty, giving me her full attention, but literally a day later a lot of the emotions wore off and I’m left taking this things being like… “Why vitamin E of all things?” Haha… who knows, but I’m game to find out and I’m just going to go for it. Let’s see if I can make a breakthrough with my inner rebel.