Being educated and knowledgable about your disease is the only way to ensure that you will receive the best care available. It will also allow you peace of mind knowing that you are making the best health care decisions. The moment that you leave everything up to the physician is the moment that you will be disappointed.
Yesterday I ran across the story of a guy with newly diagnosed pvns that was causing him great discomfort and was interfering with his ability to work. He was told by his doctor that nothing could be done and to go home and learn to live with the pain. Being distraught his parents parents posted a request for information about pvns, which I provided them with resources.
It angers me that a physician could be so lazy as to not even run a basic informational search on a disease that he/she is unfamiliar with (prior to telling the patient that nothing can be done). That is not only negligent but criminal. A doctor swears an oath to do no harm above all else.
It does remind me that many people have absolute faith in doctors and it doesn't even cross their minds to seek out independent information. I'm fortunate to have a doc that will tell me when he doesn't know something. Peoples, docs don't have the time to keep up on the latest of every disease and it is very helpful to them when you bring in articles and links to specific information that may help them to further their education of your specific disease. You can present the information like this "I was reading the most interesting article about "---" and thought you may also enjoy reading it...as you hand it to them. The two key words are "interesting and enjoy."
I am not a physician and the above is in no way to be taken as medical advise. This is my interpretation of what I have been told by my physicians and from what I have read. Always consult with a professional for case specific accurate information.
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