Went to the "Doctor" yesterday page

[aprilleigh1974]

I read the Primal Blueprint around Aug/Sept of 09. The catalyst that spurred me and hubby into actually taking the primal leap was chronic sinus infections, allergies, asthma and bronchitis. So we've been primal for only three weeks (last Sunday) now, and here we are with another sinus infection. Hoping they'll be gone this time next year.

Either way, we've been feeling better, he's lost 10 lbs and I've lost 6. So we went to the doctor after my fever spiked at 101.1 and I had technically been on a fast for almost three days for just not feeling like eating and my head was pounding so hard I could hardly hear or see. It's an awful one. Anyway, we knew, obviously that my hubby is overweight. I knew he was obese, but HE wasn't aware of that. First thing the doc says when she came in the room was "Do you snore? Do you have sleep apnea?" So that started the conversation that he snores and has apnea because he's obese. The word obese just depressed him. I was surprised he didn't know. He just thought he's fat. Anyway, she asked what he eats. We told her. No grains, no sugar, we haven't had sodas OR alcohol in two years now. We eat fish, chicken, some beef, lots of vegetables, spinach salads, nuts, berries, and some fruit. Not much dairy.

THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID: "well then you need to work on your portions, because even though you've lost 10 lbs, you should be losing a lot faster if that's what you're eating." Then she asked what his typical breakfast is. We told her, when we actually are hungry and eat breakfast, he normally eats three eggs cooked some way, and some kind of meat. She said "what do you eat for carbs? You should have toast or a muffin or something in the morning." I just squinted my eyes and said "so, vegetables and fruit are carbs, are they not?" She said "well, yeah, but those are complex carbs, I'm looking for something more simple, like some kind of fiberous grain or something." She just got my "you're insane" stare, and I said, "but they just turn to sugar, and are stored as fat." All she could reply with was "Well, if you're doing the south beach diet, that's fine."

We will NOT be going back to her. We've been going there for years, not really liking them anyway because of their lack of manners and treatment of patients, and just plain rudeness, but THIS is the last straw. She just got through telling my husband he's obese and needs to lose at least 30 more lbs, and in the same breath tells him that he needs to eat muffins!! WTF?? Lol!

So my next step is to look for doctors, somehow who are more on board with reality than pushing drugs in my area!

[hannahc]

Hahaha, she says "eat simple carbs," but then decides that South Beach is okay? WTF indeed. And who advocates for simple over complex carbs anywhere? Even in CW speak that doesn't make any sense.

Life isn't like The Biggest Loser, I'd say 10 pounds lost in 3 weeks is great for your hubby, keep at it! At that rate he'll lose those 30 pounds in just a few months, and will probably keep going down from there. Welcome aboard

[Minxxa]

I'm a big believer in interviewing doctors to find one that is amenable to your lifestyle. After all, they do work FOR YOU. :-)

And any doctor that can't have an actual intellectual discussion is not going to stay on my payroll.

I'm not a big believer in giving respect just cuz... it needs to be earned, and unfortunately too many doctors think that just because they went to school forever you should listen mindlessly to what they say. (Same goes for teachers sometimes, too... so my lack of automatic respect got me into trouble in school, somtimes! Not from the good teachers, though...)

When I changed doctors I googled every doctor on my list from the insurance company. I crossed out quite a few that had HORRENDOUS reviews from patients about not listening, rushing them in and out, etc. My current doctor had two glowing reviews about being smart, listened to what you said and being open and amenable to holistic medicines as well as western. I went into the first visit (with the PA, not the doc because the wait was a month or two longer to see him) with all my info and spent 45 minutes with her discussing my past issues, treatments and possibilities. It was so different from any other doctor visit I've had... totally rocked! I've been there for a year and a half and in that time have almost fixed 85% of all of the stuff oging on with me (including my ridiculously low vitamin D levels which my past doc never even checked!) I feel 200% better.

And the most interesting part of all.. when my appointment is at 3:00, I go in at 3:00! I think I've never been kept waiting more than maybe 5 minutes once. You don't feel rushed, and can ask anything you want, and you don't spend tons of time waiting on the table for the doctor to see you. Plus they're super nice (I think because it's such a nice working environment that everybody likes being there.)

I just like to tell my story sometimes so that people know that doctors like this do exist! You just have to seriously weed through the other ones...

[Beef Cake]

I love it! Eat more muffins to lose weight!!! I didn't realize muffins were part of the South Beach Diet.

[DianeThePurple]

Good luck finding a good doctor! And I hope you feel all better soon hon.

[aprilleigh1974]

yeah, I was laughing, in a pretty pissed off kind of way! lol...

Thanks, y'all. I will be sure to look at reviews. See, the thing is, I've always hated doctors, and prescriptions. HIGHLY against them, but these darned chronic sinus infections, that eventually turn into pneumonia for me, is just way out of hand.

I'll tell hubby that y'all say he's doing great, and that'll make him feel better. He was just downright pouty yesterday after getting that news. He knew he was fat, but didn't really know the criteria for obese. He's always made fun of "fat americans" because he is one and fat just makes him sick although he didn't know how to successfully lose it. He's 6'3" and now 294 down from around 305. But at least we already did away with so much bad stuff, this "news" isn't completely shocking and won't be an utter shock to his system to do without the things we're already rid of.

[Minxxa]

April,

have you tried using a neti pot? (Google for a picture!) Basically you use warm saltwater and you "wash" out your sinuses with it. It takes a few tries to figure out how to do it and feels wierd at first, but it works really really well. I know peeps that had severe allergies and they do that every day during allergy season and don't have to take allergy meds anymore.

they're cheap, too... mine was $12 at the whole paycheck and it's ceramic, but you can find them online as well. I sent hubby one when he was deployed in Iraq cuz all the dirt/dust everywhere... it was a plastic one.

I know there's something else you can add to the water for sinus infections too.. I think someone on here posted it, so I'm going to see if I can find that for you, but apparently they made their sinus infection go away in a couple of days... it may be worth a shot, especially if you hate the medications and stuff...

Here's the link to the sinus info:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forum...neti+pot+sinus

[LessofMimi]

Can you get hold of tea tree oil? Do steam baths with several drops of it, several times a day when you are getting a sinus infection, and once a day otherwise to help prevent? Do you take D3? I have been trending towards lung stuff (just got over bronchitis a few weeks ago, too) and I take extra when I feel it coming on. It really helps! I take 12,000 (6k AM/PM) per day on a normal day, and up that if needed.
Good luck finding a good doc. This post reminded me that I needed to make several appointments for me and the kids. I used online reviews to choose a couple. Need a new primary doc, too. I hate spending an hour+ each appt in the room waiting for the doc. Last straw was doing that naked for a pap. Everything else is awesome about this practice, but not the doc promptness.

[synntropy]

10 lbs in 3 weeks is by no means "too slow".

[kmacphee]

I agree that 10lbs in 3 weeks is not too slow. Keep up the great work.

I have also used a netti pot, but had some bad luck when I used it in conjunction with a sinus infection...it got worse and prolonged. Otherwise, the pot works really well, but does take some getting used to. That could be why people have trouble with them in the first place because if it is not used properly, a bunch of the water doesn't get filtered through and stays in the sinus.

I have a great doctor. I was lucky because she took me as a patient when I was engaged, and she had been my wife's doctor for years. She listens, always waits until we are done and admits when she doesn't know something. She also had great ratings on the internet.

I also agree with the interview process. I have promoted this with fitness coaches as well because too many people take a Personal Fitness Trainer's certificate as the holy grail when most people get them in a 2 day course! Ask your doctors what they think about nutrition, exercise, alternative therapies, and mention a few books that you have read to get their reaction/comments.

Keep up the great work, and remember it is a journey. Better is a never ending destination.