I'll help him sue you (warning: medical)

[Racket_Man]

sounds like the old guy Dr. that told my now Exwife to put down the milkshakes and chips so she would not be so fat. hmmmmm ignored the fact that HE HIMSELF had performed 2 of the 6 MAJOR surgeries she had had in the previous 3 years. surgeries that required ex sitting around the house no house work or shopping or anything else near strenious, wound bandage changes 2 or 3 times perday for 6 months at a time and this guy has the audasity to tell her to put down the milkshakes

[myswtghst]

Me, too! This is probably why I don't visit the doctor too often, and now I have another reason not to go, unless this particular doctor is in the neighborhood.

I've actually told my mom that one of the reasons I'd hesitate to move very far away from here is that I could never ever ever replace my OB/GYN, who is amazing. And I'd hate to try.

Back on topic, that doctor rocks. The others, not so much. I understand that employees forget things or have bad days, but being in a position to affect someones life and wellbeing kind of means you have to make yourself remember.

[Sylvia727]

I went to my OB/GYN when I was 13 for some horrible menstrual issues. Not to get too graphic, but I was literally incapacitated for a day or two each month, and in serious pain for the rest of the week. So the RN runs her tests on me, including several invasive ones (I was only 13!), and then sends me into the doctor's office to go over the results. The first words out of his mouth were, "It's probably not cancer."

I was highly distracted for the next week, until the cancer test results came in: benign cyst.

[Seshat]

How about the specialist I was referred to because there were some strange test results concerning my liver?

If it's fatty infiltration and elevated liver enzymes, many toxin exposures can cause it. It's very common in alcoholics, also in people with heavy metal exposure, but also in people whose ability to handle toxins is compromised. (Like - sigh - me. I know, I seem to respond to a lot of medical issues with 'hey, I have that'.)

Anyway, I cleared mine up by being very careful what I ate, wore, did, and was exposed to. Presuming you're otherwise basically healthy, you shouldn't need to go to the extremes I did.

But you can definitely try checking your food sources, cleaning with the least harsh chemicals you can find (bonus: good for the environment), using the most natural soaps and shampoos and stuff you can, avoiding chemical pesticides and herbicides (glysophate is usually okay, though) and generally doing the eco-hippie thing in your own home. When out and about, cross the road when you walk past construction or painting, if you smell something 'chemical' go elsewhere, and try never to stand behind a moving car or truck. And don't smoke.

If you want other tips, start a thread in off-topic and I'll happily blather on about the tricks I use.

I cleaned up the fatty infiltration and got my liver function enzymes from 'oh shit' to 'solidly normal' within a couple of years.

[Kogarashi]

I have a minor heart issue - just needs to be checked every so often.

Sounds like me, minus the "Woah, crazy!" aspect of potential big problems. I just need to remember to take my penicillin/amoxycillin before dental appointments and childbirth. And that reminds me, I need to find a new heart specialist now that I'm no longer living in NY.