I know the rest of us have taken over with voicing our frustrations (justifiably) with the general state of healthcare we have encountered while struggling for understanding, non-judgmental, individualized care or even just a diagnosis, but I’d like to lighten the mood by asking if anyone here did have someone who turned their journey around for them, a practitioner that took time to listen, or to investigate, or who just actually listened rather than pre-judge you which resulted in something that helped you to feel physically better or even just mentally and emotionally better because you were finally believed, seen and heard.
I know we can’t give entire names or other clinic information, but for example, after struggling to be believed about losing my thyroid function quite young, with all of the weight gain, bodywide dysfunction and depression that accompanies untreated hypothyroidism for 14 years, Dr. Anne Was the fist one to not treat me like it was all in my mind. At long last, she was the first one to order the simple lab test that confirmed I was, indeed, very hypothyroid, and then she set about trying to discover, correct, or help all the ills being untreated for so long had caused (anemia, hair loss, other hormonal imbalances, etc.). She could have just given me antidepressants and other symptom fixes, but instead she corrected what we could, and I was finally able to apply myself toward becoming healthier. Instead of feeling as if I were mostly dead, I felt empowered and “miracled” (the Princess Bride reference). I lost 40 lbs in the course of one summer, then went on to participate in 5k’s, even a 10k, and walk-jogged a half marathon.
So, while this ended years later when new health concerns lead to a cascade of decline, I am still so very grateful for the conscientious care provided by Dr. Anne which gave me just over a decade of decent health, loving life, being happy in my body, and having self esteem, and feeling like my true self with a positive mood again.