Day 4 The most disheartening thing a doctor has said to me

"You'll need to stay on medication for the rest of your life." (GERD)
"This is irreversible." (venous reflux)
"Soft tissue damage can take years to resolve, if ever." (ankle)
"You must feel very depressed that your symptoms keep you from hiking. I'm going to write you a prescription for an antidepressant." (legs - this from a sports medicine doctor)
"There is no cure." (same guy)
Doctors have great authority. Even when I'm certain they're not on the right track or they're just plain wrong, their statements linger in the back of my mind like a Greek chorus.

 

Isn't that the truth? What wonderful knowledge you're learning to use to combat the mistaken words of doctors that don't know a better way. You're not stuck in those statements, because they aren't true! Except that you could very well be depressed from them! Good luck

Lizzy

 

That's absolutely true - the authority of a doctor definitely makes even obviously ridiculous advice linger in your mind. Unfortunately it never seems to work the other way - when I've been given very good advice, like the doctor who spent a good hour with me trying to explain how physical symptoms could start in my mind - it just doesn't seem to 'stick' in the same way!!