Why I'm Firing My Doctor

DISCLAIMER: This post is not rated G. It is raw and could possibly contain a bad word. Or two. But it does contain my TRUE FEELINGS and sometimes it's just important to voice those.

As most of you know, I embarked upon the Paleo/Crossfit lifestyle almost 6 months ago.  At the 3 month mark, I had lost 7 pounds, 4 1/4 inches and went down to a small and size 4,  and most importantly, I have been feeling great.  Considering all of these things, I was actually looking forward to my 6 month check-up today.  I had been doing everything right for half a year.  That all changed the minute my doctor entered the exam room.

I'm not sure what was going on with his day but he breezed into the room and instead of sitting down as he usually does, he remained in a standing position, opened my folder and said, "Your cholesterol is terrible."  Shocked, I said, "Really?  Are you kidding me?"  I told him that I was shocked and he said, "Well, I'm not."  "Why?  Why aren't you shocked?"  And then I proceeded to tell him about all the good things that I had been doing for the past 6 months.  And then things got worse.  Much worse.

I attempted to tell him what I had been eating and what type of exercise program I was participating in when he suddenly became very aggressive with me.  Actually raising his voice when I questioned him on the medication (Crestor) that he wanted to prescribe for me.  I must admit I was a little taken aback by his arrogant behavior and quite frankly I wasn't ready to accept some of the things he was telling me.  I was just inquiring about the possible side effects of the drug and he went off on me:  "You need to get over the taking medicine thing!  There are not many 'common' side effects."  And then went on a rant about people who don't believe in their children getting immunizations.  OK...so, I was still in shock.  I had never seen this side of my doctor before.  Yes, I had heard from other people how he thought "His way was the only way" but truly, I had never experienced this with him before.  And I really didn't like it.  At all!

I, once again, attempted to tell him what I had been eating and what sort of training I was doing in the gym when he literally cut me off, telling me that I NEEDED to eat wheat and beans and that protein was bad for me (WHAT THE HECK?!) and I definitely didn't need to be lifting heavy weights and that was why weight lifters lived a shorter life (WHAT WAS HE TALKING ABOUT?!).  OK, so that's where you just have to say, "SHIT".  In your mind,  if not out loud at this point.  Not to be deterred, I asked him if he had heard of the Paleo diet or Cross Fit, to which he told me, "No."  I told him perhaps he should Google it.  And then things turned real bad, real quick when I told him that the facility I was going to was physician run and they had actually researched this nutrition plan and had given seminars on it.  That's when he said, "Well, they're stupid!".  And for me, that did it.  Did he just call other people in his profession "Stupid"?  Because someone didn't agree with his ideas?  Was he actually that arrogant to think that only HIS ideas on nutrition and fitness were the right ones?

The rest of my visit was spent with him lecturing me and me tuning him out with glazed over, uninterested eyes.  I stood up and as I got ready to exit the room, he looked at me and said,"You don't believe anything I'm saying, do you?"  I asked, "How can you tell?  By the look in my eyes?"

I got in my car, called my husband and broke down in tears.  Partly because of the fact that I was now going to have to take cholesterol medication daily for the rest of my life. ( Most of you remember how distraught I was over getting that hypothyroid diagnosis and realizing that I would have to take medication for that condition for the rest of my life.)  And partly because I could not believe how my doctor had spoken to me.  It was disrespectful, unnecessary and totally uncalled for.  I felt let down and frustrated.  And then I became pissed off.  I didn't have to take this.  I was paying this guy to be my doctor but if his lifestyle ideas didn't line up with mine, I didn't have to continue using him.  And that, friends, is why I am firing my doctor.

Will I continue eating Paleo?  Yes, I will.  I feel better when I eat this type of diet.  Will I continue to work out at my gym and lift weights?  Yes, I will.  I have gotten stronger and feel better than I have in years.  And no one can convince me that these things are not good for me because I can see the results.  Yes, I may have to now take cholesterol medication but genetics play a role in cholesterol levels.  Will I be looking for a new doctor?  Absolutely.  Because I need someone who is on my side.  Someone who has an open mind to new ideas.  Someone who is not too arrogant to believe there are more options out there.  I have a voice and I have a choice.  And I will choose what is best for me.