I had a very thought provoking conversation with the dental hygienist today. We were discussing our frustration at our dealings with the medical community and they way they treat their patients.
had brought up how my husband, Bob, had gone to the doctor and presented with elevated liver enzymes. She asked him how much he drank. Being a sporadic drinker, and being one who doesn't have the need to get drunk, he answered it depended. She demanded to know what that meant. He answered that he could go several months with out having a drink, then maybe go through a six pack in a week end or two. Or even that he could have a six pack take one out of it, then go another month before he had another.
Disgusted, she looked at me and asked how often he drank. I basically said the same thing he did. She said that the elevated liver enzymes showed up with alcohol abuse and again asked how much he drank. I told her we did not have enough money for him to buy alcohol on a regular basis, and that he had frequent surprise DOT drug tests done as part of his job. I also told her they checked for alcohol, and he was clean.
She refused to look for any other reason for the elevated enzymes. I realize there are alcoholics who deny they have a problem, but really, that many? For real? If she had gone on to the next step, and asked how much OTC pain killer he was taking, she would have found the real reason for the elevated liver enzymes. I have since found out that Tylenol causes more liver problems than alcohol. Bob was popping 1000mg of pain killer at least 4 times a day. Yeah. That will elevate your liver enzymes without a drop of booze.
Lest you think this is an isolated incident, my teetotalling aunt who only drank at communion, if you can call the thimble full of wine drinking, had a similar experience. The poor lady was sick and died shortly there after, but not before being humiliated by her medical staff, and being called a liar. Her whole family were called liars too.
Really? Is this modern medicine? Treating all of your patients like liars and stupid imbeciles? This is quality medical attention? My Sister-in-law is a nurse, so I asked her. She said, "Well you have to realize a lot of people do try to cover their drinking." OK. I get that A LOT do deny drinking. But isn't it also true that ALL those who don't drink will also deny drinking? How many non-drinkers will say, "Yeah! I do a fifth of scotch before noon! It is a great wake up drink before you down the hard stuff!"? See the problem with assuming anyone who denies drinking is lying? Or is it just me?
I was reading an article in The Readers' Digest a few years ago. It was based on a survey of medical doctors and their frustrations with patients. At least a third were complaining about patients lying. I have been accused of lying, and so a thyroid diagnoses was years too late in coming. They thought I was a gluttonous lazy slob. No! Just had a severely under active thyroid that was producing antibodies attacking the hormone I did produce.
Let me condensed this I had been misdiagnosed 4 different times because doctors have ignored and dismissed me. My son at least 3 times, my husband 2 times, my mother, grandmother (also more than once), cousin, two uncles, two aunts, mother-in-law, father, father-in-law .... I am running out of space. And my family is not a family that runs to the doctors often. How many things are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed with people who go often?
It is a clear problem. How about doctors assume their patients may be telling the truth? How about noting a bit of skepticism on accuracy, but actively pursuing the issue with the patients' information. How differently things would have gone for my husband and my aunt if the doctors had said, "I am going to go with what you are saying, however you need to know that alcoholism is the most common cause of this, and as your doctor I need to know if that is the real cause."
Thankfully, a friend of mine is a herbalist and asked the question the doctor should have. "Is he taking any OTC pain medication?" If she hadn't have asked that, he may have died. We corrected the situation immediately and found another doctor. How different could it have been for my aunt? Would she still be here? We just won't know.
So how about it doctors? Want to treat your patients with a little respect and believe they may be telling the truth? It just may save a life.
