The Dreadful Doctor Merry Go Round

Nowadays, there's a specific doctor for every organ system (and even part) of the body. There are dermatologists for skin, gastroenterologists for the digestive system, otolaryngologists (ear, nose & throat doctors), neurologists for the nervous system, gynecologists for the female reproductive system and list goes on and on.

You would think that that would provide you with more specialized, higher quality care and in the case of acute illness, such as heart attack or tonsillitis, it usually does. But when it comes to chronic illness, it really just translates into more office visits (and copays), more tests, more prescriptions and a longer diagnosis time. That's because the cause of chronic pain and illness, such as acne or diabetes, are usually multi-systemic.

The symptoms of diabetes, some of which are blurry vision, vaginal yeast infections, dry or itchy skin, and frequent urination could lead a person to visit up to four (4) different types of doctors (http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/b72.htm). Of course, none of these doctors communicate with each other and each doctor you visit is likely to skim your medical chart just seconds before your appointment--if not during! Thus, the diagnosis of many illnesses remains elusive until someone is able (or willing) to put all the symptoms together and find the cause that connects them.

Acne is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in our society, affecting "more than 90% of all adolescents, nearly 50% of all adult women and 25% of all adults" (acne.com). Many dermatologists and websites claim that diet has absolutely nothing to do with acne, but rather is caused by an mysterious imbalance in hormone levels and oil-based products. Such declarations are usually followed by an overpriced prescription or OTC (over-the-counter) topical of limited effectiveness. In extreme cases powerful drugs such as Accutane and birth control are prescribed to "control" the disease. No dermatologist or gastroenterologist will tell you about the 2002 study conducted by Dr. Cordain that directly links acne with a high-sugar diet (see http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/28193). As doctors refer patients from one specialist to another, it seems that even they have forgotten that they're treating a whole person not just an organ system.

So what is a person with chronic symptoms to do?

A healthy diet and regular aerobic exercise is some of the best medicine around, but definitely the hardest to take. It is your first line of defense. Generally, a healthy diet consists of a low glycemic index diet that contains lean protein (see www.the-gi-diet.org/lowgifoods/). Regular aerobic exercise is usually considered to be 30 minutes of heart pumping movement resulting in perspiration at least 3 times a week. It can help treat and prevent so many illnesses from acne and endometriosis to diabetes and arthritis. Few doctors will ever prescribe you this type of medicine because it's cheap and readily available to everyone. It just requires a lot of discipline but if you're fighting for your life, you'll give it all you've got! The field of dermatology and gastroenterology alone would lose so many patients to this kind of medicine.

Write your own medical chart. Keep a journal. For at least two to three months, keep track of daily activities, sexual partners, the weather, diet, weight, bowel movements, emotional health and if you're a woman, monitor your reproductive system using the fertility awareness method (see Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler). You're bound to discover more about yourself than you've ever known. Your journal could also help your doctor diagnose elusive conditions.

Stay optimistic. Multiple doctor visits and mystery diagnosis can cause you to want to give up, but don't! There are lots of resources out there in books, on the internet and through word-of-mouth. And, believe it or not, there are still some knowledgeable doctors who are able to connect the dots. So before you make that next appointment ask friends and colleagues for referrals or do your own research on a site like ratemd.com. It just might save your life, save you money and save you from a prescription-happy quack-doctor.

The Urge to Upgrade

I am an American consumer. I like to buy and buy often. Newly purchased merchandise and services seem to instantly brighten my mood and erase the stresses of the day. And, at times, I do overspend. That's what credit cards are for, right?

Even when I know I have enough of something, I'm always urged to buy more because of the "upgrade" mentality that pervades our society. Once you purchase something, be it a house, car or a pair of shoes, its value begins to depreciate. Suddenly, the car that you purchased for 20, 000 is worth $15,000 and even the house that you thought would appreciate in value is in need of repairs.

That's where human innovation comes to your rescue. New products and services are always being created. Functional and aesthetic "improvements" are always being made on past creations. New products now tout energy efficiency, sleeker silhouettes and richer hues. Clever marketing creates voids where there was once a product that satisfied both your needs and wants. The urge to upgrade takes you to your nearest retail shop and the next you know you're buying a toothbrush that removes 5% more plaque than conventional brushes in clinical trials.

But as energy and food prices continue to soar, I've begun counteract the urge to upgrade and remind myself of the things that I already I have. Two mantras of frugality have become particularly close to my heart in the past few months: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and "Quality not quantity." Billboards still remind me daily of my fashion inadequacy and for a few seconds I think, "Hmmm, those red velvet shoes are just what I need to spice up my shoe collection!" But then I erase the glow from my eyes with a recollection of the two aforementioned mantras and of the three out of twenty-something pairs of shoes that I wear regularly. I've even started to scale back on my already sizable collection of "things": the multitude of products to care for hair, face, body, nails, hands, feet and eyes and the various accoutrements that adorn them. I now consolidate products from facial moisturizers and toners to mp3 players and cell phones. I refuse to have two of anything where one will suffice. It has been difficult (not watching TV helps immensely) but I'm making progress and saving space and money. I make wish-lists of the new things I want and take a few weeks to really analyze the my reasons for wanting to make the purchase:

• Do I need it? What do I need it for? Do I have something very similar to it already?
• Why do I want it? To keep up with the Pitts? To make me feel better?
• Can I afford it or will this purchase keep me from doing/buying something more important?
• How will it improve my life or benefit me?
• Is it high quality? Will I be able to maintain it for a long period of time?

As I've written this post, the Beyonce song "Upgrade U" has been ringing in my ears and it still makes a lot of sense to me. Who wouldn't want to upgrade their polyester lined blazer for a silk (natural/non-carcinogenic) lined blazer or wear a high quality, shiny Cartier wristwatch? I know it sounds so anti-progress and so anti-American but "best" only lasts until someone creates (or you discover something) "better." At some point, you just have to control your insatiable appetite for bigger and better things. Furthermore, rampant consumerism isn't healthy for the environment, your savings or your psyche. Contrary to popular belief, millionaires aren't the happiest people, money doesn't buy happiness and sometimes older is better than new. I know that it may sound hokey, but ultimately creativity and self-esteem are key to locking up the urge to upgrade.