|
|
|
|
|
|
Seeking Care When Necessary SJ Dodgson MJoTA 2020 vol15 p0106 I was born to two UK-trained physicians, who told me to "stay away from
doctors unless absolutely necessary". Which is great advice for anyone
who knows what "absolutely necessary" means. In 1992 I had my first
mammagram in NJ at 40, and lumps were found, which explained the occasional pain that appeared when I was 36 and pregnant with my third son. My general physician told me "if
she were me" she would get a biopsy, and so should I. Looking statistically at my chances of getting breast cancer and deciding they were around zero, I said no, I will
come back for another mammagram in 6 months, and again in another 6
months. I did. At the same time I went to a dentist in Germany who told me I needed
three teeth pulled out because of infection. I went to another dentist
in Germany who drilled into my gum and removed the infection, saving my three
teeth. The third mammagram showed no change, so on my 42nd birthday, in the high Black Forest, I
conceived my daughter, with all of my and her body parts intact. My daughter is a magnificent
American-German-British adult, who would not be here if I had not been able to resist nonsense from trained professionals who were recommending treatments that would increase their own wealth, and benefit me in no way at all. So the question is: how do you know what is absolutely necessary? When I fell in a ditch in Zambia and heard a loud crack, I knew immediately that I needed medical care immediately. Wonderful Zambians came from everywhere, lifted me out of the ditch and away from the road, young women fetched water and washed my feet while I waited for members of GWRAZ to come and take me to hospital. Thanks to expert care by health professionals in Zambia, and in the US, I was x-rayed, plastered, filled with titanium, and now generally walk five to ten miles a day. So that did not take a lot of thought about needing help. And, I cannot thank the Affordable Care Act enough. Knowledge is power, the more you understand your body and how it works and reacts, the better you are able to make decisions about your own care. Get yourself vaccinated against everything; if blood is coming out of any part of you when it should not, seek medical help. If you have trouble breathing, or eliminating waste, seek medical care. If you are suddenly in massive pain, seek emergency care. Some things are obvious, and greatly depend on whether you can get the care when you need it. |
|
All
content and pictures (c) MJoTA.org 2007-2021, may only be used with
written permission from the publisher and named owner of the image. All
maps and flags from Wikipedia unless otherwise stated. Do not copy and
repost pictures or articles unless Dr Susanna and the author has given
you permission. You may print and frame pictures or articles for your
personal use. Communicate with Dr Susanna on YouTube Dr SJ Dodgson; Twitter @SusannaDodgson email publisher@mjota.org; mail PO Box 381 Haddonfield NJ 08033; text 01-609-792-1571. |