When it comes to tick-borne illnesses, there is an ongoing stream of complaints about doctors, not just medical doctors, but healthcare providers across the spectrum into ‘alternative’ healthcare providers (OD’s, ND’s, DC’s, etc). There are also many praises sung for others in the same fields of care.
I do not propose that I have experienced it all and know it all, but this being my little soap box of a blog, I share here my thoughts on the ‘Doctors’.
I used to look to doctors for the answers, expecting them to have just the right information, to make no mistakes, and to be responsible for ‘fixing’ my body when it felt broken. This has changed over the last couple of years.
In earlier rounds of Lyme disease, I put the responsibility of my well being fully in the hands of my health care providers. Last year things shifted for me and I changed my stand. It felt more empowering to hold myself as the responsible party, to hold myself responsible for finding appropriate care, to hold myself responsible for getting educated about what was going on inside my body. From that place I experienced gratitude for what each of my healthcare providers offered in their field of expertise. After all this time I still do not feel like I am an expert in Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses and I’m far from considering myself a scientist with some great level of understanding for the brilliance and genius of the human body.
What I have learned though is to trust that my body is most likely the only thing that has the know-how to deal with the complicated process of healing itself, and my job is to do the best I can to support it in it’s job…and I rely on the knowledge and wisdom of those around me to support that. I have also learned to trust my gut instincts, although there are times I don’t honor them.
Life is short and it seems like a waste to spend time and energy lingering over the apparent inadequacies of some healthcare providers – those who brush Lyme patients off as being hypochondriacs, those who are too uncomfortable to stretch outside of their realms of expertise and listen to what their patients are saying to them, those who are simply overwhelmed because they feel they simply cannot make a difference, and still others who don’t have the staying power for the marathon it is to support a chronic Lyme patient back to wellness. It seems undeniably unfair that so many thousands have suffered for years, sometimes even decades dealing with these types of circumstances. It appears to impact people in different ways. Some remain angry and victimized, some become spokesman and public educators, and some become politically activated and are rattling the cages of the powers that be.
My experiences don’t come close to what I have heard others sharing about. Mostly I have been well supported in my learning and healing, and yet, I have also had times when I felt dismissed and where my commitment was not matched by the commitment of a healthcare provider. And when I take an honest look at those difficult times, I see that they offered an opportunity for me to learn something about myself…and so I work to make peace with them and consider that perhaps when I let go of my attachment to how people are ‘supposed’ to show up in my life, those experiences reveal an opportunity for a different type of healing. And at the end of the day, healing is healing, and it’s not always a comfortable journey.
What I find myself left with is gratitude for those doctors who give their all and stay the distance (Lyme literate or not), and compassion for those who aren’t ‘ready’ to step outside of their comfort zone to admit their humanity and learn newly, for overwhelm is not a pleasant experience for anyone. For those doctors who occur as negligent…I trust that in time they will have to face themselves for they are creating a future for themselves that will reflect who they are being in the present. The Universe provides that balance perfectly.
In the meantime, I wish for all patients to find the perfect blend of healthcare providers to support them along the path back to healing and wellness.
Paratisi
July 15, 2012 at 4:56 pmHere is another who has been going through a similar story to you.http://youtu.be/6lT4SrdBi7w
She runs Lymesucks.org with her mom Bev.
Pam Geczi Peters
August 27, 2012 at 10:57 pmI love your attitude and am glad to have found your blog. Since being diagnosed, the most important thing I have been doing is educating and supporting people who are in the process of looking into a Lyme diagnosis. It feeds me and how we can do anything else?
Lyme Thriving
August 28, 2012 at 1:33 pmYou are a generous person. I’m sure many benefit from your support. Hope you are getting better every day. xoxo
Duncan Jefferson (@DrDJsScript)
September 11, 2012 at 5:13 amHealth care is a partnership between patient and Health provider – the Doc – and for too long – ”The Doc” – has been in charge. Your article is a great example of how we can achieve Wisdom about an illness or Dis-Ease. Being a Doc, I am very excited about how Blogs such as your will enhance knowledge so that all of us – whatever our own disease may be – can live healthier, fuller lives. Keep up the great work.
Duncan Jefferson
http://duncanjefferson.blogspot.com.au/
Lyme Thriving
September 11, 2012 at 2:19 pmThank you so much. If all of us, patients and healthcare providers alike, all stand responsible and open-minded/hearted, we can transform the partnerships we create and make a difference all around. So happy to receive a response from a doctor. I see you are in Australia. There are many patients in Australia dealing with Lyme disease but not getting support from the medical community. Curious to know if you have come across any yourself?
Steve Baugh
October 1, 2012 at 2:09 pmI pretty much gave up on doctors; however, I do go to a lyme literate naturopath. I really have taken responsibility for my own health and treat myself with a Doug Coil Rife Machine. I have done so for 2 years and have made good progress. I’m glad to be followig you on twitter. @lymerunnerblues
lymethriving
October 1, 2012 at 7:31 pmNice to meet you Steve. My LLND has been instrumental in my healing too. Glad to have met on Twitter. Happy trails. 🙂
Kara Russell
May 4, 2015 at 9:42 amThank you for sharing this wonderful post! I recently experienced a similar shift in the pre-conditioning I had about doctors as the only ones that can “heal” me…when I trusted my body to tell/show me what it needed to heal from Lyme disease, that is when the transformation occurred :). It began with self-trust as a self-healer that transformed my life and eradicated the disease from my being. Looking forward to following your blog! Blessings ~ Kara
Jenny
May 4, 2015 at 10:49 amI am so happy to hear about your own shift as self-healer. What a gift! And extra happy to hear you are well.