What dose? Which doctor?

What DOSE? Which DOCTOR?

Dose Determination and Doctor Searching
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For decades I have been asked two questions above all others:

"How much of this vitamin should I take?"

and

"Can you help me find a naturally-minded doctor near where I live?"

Just substituting one doctor for another does not make you self-reliant. It does the opposite: it makes you dependent. If you believe that someone has to tell you how much of a nutrient to take, you are making yourself powerless.

Power is given, control is taken.

Whenever you consult a physician, whether naturally or pharmaceutically inclined, remember that your doctor works for you and not the other way around. This is still true with insurance coverage. It is your body. Take charge of your own healthcare. You run the case; your doctor is a subcontractor.

In order for this to work, you need to be on an equal footing with your physician. This is where a lot of people balk and are more than willing to sit down, shut up, and behave. To be on a level playing field with your doctor, two things are essential:

First, you need to read. Knowledge is power. Reading gets it. Read like mad about your condition and about the alternatives available for it. Search the library and search the internet, and do not rest until you have the references to back you up.

Next, you need to have a workable physician. If your doctor is not providing you with the care you want, there are basically two possibilities:

One: You have a miscommunication, meaning you have not made it sufficiently clear to your doctor what you do in fact want.

Two: You have a disagreement, meaning you have made it clear all right, and the physician is not cooperating with you.

Both of these problems are common, though it is far easier to clear up a miscommunication than a disagreement. I am not saying that you should jettison every doctor that does not knuckle under 100% of the time. But you simply must have a baseline agreement, or any attempts to share information will be futile.

Even polite, personable doctors can still be very paternalistic (or maternalistic), sweetly telling you to leave the complicated stuff to them. Hogwash. I would not accept that phrase from a mechanic, plumber, or politician. Neither should you, and in this case, your life depends on it. Pleasant office or bedside manner is no substitute for thoroughness.

Do not accept vagueness. Nail down a deal, and get your doctor to clearly and unequivocally state his or her acceptance of your wishes. There is no excuse for not trying alternatives with a doctor as your copilot. Herbs and vitamins are not perfect, but they are literally a million times safer than drugs.

Show your common sense by agreeing to regular physician monitoring, physicals, and testing. Show your smarts by first doing your homework. Show your strength by sticking up for yourself.

Copyright C 2019, 2005 and prior years Andrew W. Saul. Andrew Saul is the author of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be Independently Healthy (reader reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html ) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html )

Andrew W. Saul

AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This page is not in any way offered as prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical condition. Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program necessarily must involve an individual's acceptance of some risk, and no one should assume otherwise. Persons needing medical care should obtain it from a physician. Consult your doctor before making any health decision.

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