Ever since I was a child, I didn’t like going to the doctor. No, that was an understatement. I hated going to the doctor. The disdain I had for it continued well into my adult years. I didn’t know why I dreaded going. I just did. And, when I became an adult, I began making the conscious choice to avoid going to the doctor altogether.
I didn’t know why I hated going to the doctor until recently.
My avoidance of the doctor was for multiple reasons. First, there was the loss of control. I felt herded like a farm animal as they poked and prodded my body with very little input from me other than to answer the questions they had on my profile.
Second, if I didn’t have a specific complaint, the doctor would pass through quicker than a fast-food restaurant drive-through.
Finally, and most importantly, I didn’t like my bad decisions being recalled by me or by my lab work. I knew I hadn’t been exercising enough and my diet was full of sugar, fried food, and carbs. Going to the doctor forced me to face the truth that my health wasn’t always a priority. And that made me feel bad.
Going to the doctor forces us to face the health decisions we made throughout the year. Many of us aren’t ready to hear it. Additionally, many of us don’t know what the stream of lab numbers they generate on our behalf actually means.
I knew about high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes (“the sugar”), and prostate cancer from my father – but that was it. Going to the doctor not only forced me to face the consequences of my health decisions, it made me feel inadequate while doing it.
So, how did I get over it? I made a few changes in my attitude and behavior that had a profound effect on my experience at the doctor’s office. Here are the five ways I got over going to the doctor.
1. I learned what I needed to know to improve my visit quality. I provided them details of my medical history. I also learned my family’s medical history. This was important so my medical provider could keep a watchful eye on conditions that may be a problem in the future, even if they weren’t today.
2. I took notes of when I had pain or other ailments, including when (date), and how long they happened. I wrote down questions I had so I wouldn’t forget them during the appointment. I also kept track of my vitals on my own so I could compare them to when I last visited the doctor. My goal wasn’t “stable” vitals. I wanted them to improve. Their job is to track. It was up to me to ensure they were getting better.
3. I learned what each number (blood pressure, PSA, cholesterol, etc.) meant and its importance to my wellness profile. For example, high blood pressure can lead to strokesUnderstanding how conditions interplay helped me put my personal wellness puzzle together.
4. I chose to find ways to improve my eating habits that I could maintain. Too often we make dramatic changes that we cannot keep up. I started by drinking water instead of sodas and decreasing my portion sizes at meals. I made a point of cooking more often and purchasing more fresh fruits and vegetables for snacking. Each change was subtle as I focused on making one healthy eating decision each day until it became a habit.
5. Finally, I changed the word “exercise” into “activity”. I wanted to engage in a health related activity as much as possible. Exercise meant I had to plan, or go to a gym, or take a class. Activity meant I could take my dog for a walk, ride a bike to the corner store, or do some stretching to get myself going in the morning.
In all, these changes improved my experience with the doctor. I still don’t like needles, getting shots, or getting blood drawn. I still feel like the staff are just “doing their job” and don’t have a stake in my health. But, why should they? It is my health and wellness so it should be more important to me.
My experience with the doctor improved and my adherence to follow-up and treatment plans improved when I decided to take charge of my health and wellness, instead of others.
And that has made all the difference in my health outcomes.
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