Quote:
Originally Posted by heidi 1973  Just wanted to share a lesson that I learned in all my 12 years of trying to have a baby...
I have discovered that you really can’t always just assume your doctor is right about everything…
I think that our doctors get too complacent at times, and that we need to be our own advocates.
I just want to encourage us all to continue to do our own research and sharing information with each other. |
I absolutely agree!!!!!!!!
You really need to ask the doc a lot of questions, and make sure that what he is doing is doing to Dx or Tx you will have the most effective results.
I lost twins at 9 weeks gestation, but didn't even know it until 14.5 weeks gestation, and started bleeding. They never did hear a heartbeat, they probably assumed that I had too much fat tissue that was making it difficult to find the heartbeat. At 10 (or maybe 12) weeks, they did a little ultrasound in the midwives office, and she told me that she located the baby, she still wasn't able to get the heartbeat, but said that she saw the baby move. I should have insisted that they did further testing to confirm that my baby had a heartbeat. When they did the ultrasound after I started bleeding, I found out that they were twins. No, it would not have saved the babies if they would have done further testing, but I could have found out sooner, had the D&C sooner, and started trying again sooner.
After the next BFP, I requested that the OB Rx Met, and progesterone, just to make sure that I didn't have another m/c.
Another time, I went to an oral surgen to check out a sore in my mouth. He said that it was probably Lichen Planus. He cut out a slice for a biopsy, "Just to be sure of the Dx." Then he tells me that the lab couldn't make a definitive Dx for Lichen Planus unless they do some expensive test, so they were just going to Dx the Lichen Planus since that is what it looks like. Well, if the biopsy coudnd't tell me for sure what it was, then why did he cut a slice out of my lip? Next time I will be sure to ask, "Ok, if you do this test, will it give me a definite Dx, or are we just putting me through pain for nothing?"
Another time, I had pain in my tailbone. The doc told me to take pain meds, and sit on a donut pillow. Didn't solve the problem. Went back, saw a different doc in the practice. He took an X-ray. WOW! he found the problem. My tailbone was dislocated. I should have insisted that the first doc investigate to find out the cause of the problem, and not just do symptom management.
We really do need to educate ourselves about the problems that we are dealing with, and then advocate for ourselves to get the tests or Rx that we feel would be the best for us. Part of being educated is asking the docs to explain everything to you, or give you info.
This board is also a good source of information.
So it is good to say to you doc:
These are my symptoms, what things are associated with these symptoms?
What tests need to be done to get a definitive Dx.
What does that test involve, and what is it going to tell us?
Are you sure that this is the right Dx? How sure are are you?
What are my Tx options, pros and cons of each, etc.?
Is there anything else that I can do to get better results?
What needs to be done to decrease risk of complications?
Is there anything else that can help?
With PCOS, once you have the Dx, you are several Tx options to chose from. If you are TTC, you also have several options. Some docs just put you on a certain drug, or treatment plan, without consulting you. But you should be a part of the decision making process. If your doc doesn't allow you to be a part of making your own treatment plan, then you should switch docs.
I have learned so much about how to manage my own health concerns in the past few years (stuff they never taught me in nursing school) that I am actively managing my own health concerns, and only go to a doc for things I need testing, or things I need an Rx for.
I am also VERY willing to share the things that I have learned with others.
You must always be your own advocate... 
