Want A Doctor To Take You Seriously? Then Speak to a Nurse
Nurses are awesome
I’ve had severe back pain for the past five years due to having fibroids and a hysterectomy. It’s massively affected my quality of life, and I am in constant pain. And as anyone with chronic pain knows, you either learn to live with it or you crumble into dust.
And as any woman knows, if you go to the doctor, they will let you know one of three things.
- You need to lose weight
- It’s hormones
- You’re exaggerating
Doctor Number One
When I had my fibroids, I was in agony. Even a walk up a slight incline would bring me to tears. I told my doctor about this, and his exact words were “It can’t be that bad.” I got up, walked out of his office and made a complaint against him.
Doctor Number Two
He told me I needed to lose Some weight, which was fair. I was heavy at the time. So I lost about three stone/forty-two pounds. That made my back worse than ever. I could barely move and was once again having suicidal thoughts. I told him this, and he said, “That’s weird. I don’t know what to suggest then.” Helpful.
Doctor Number Three
After being fobbed off by doctors one and two, I was fed up. And I told the doctor this so he sent me to a specialist. There was a twelve-week wait, but I got there in the end. I’ve used the word specialist, but I use it very loosely. Because I think that was just some bloke in an office who bought a white coat from Amazon. Because do you know what he diagnosed me with? Lower back pain.
The Nurse
Every medical condition I’ve had was sorted out by a nurse, not a doctor. My asthma, my angioedema, and now my back pain. Well, it’s not sorted, but it’s on the way. She was the first person who listened. She asked me all about my hysterectomy and how the aftercare was. When I told her it was non-existent she was pretty shocked. The hospital told me I had dissolvable stitches, I didn’t! The only reason I found out was because I developed an infection.
She was keen to discuss my mental health because she knew my history and understood the immediate risk.
We had a long discussion, and she came up with a medical treatment plan for me. She also advised that I do as much GENTLE walking as I possibly can. She emphasised the word gentle a lot. Nothing more than a stroll were her exact words.
She’s also put me on a high-potassium diet which is already starting to make life less painful.
So the next time you want a doctor to take you seriously. Try asking a nurse.