Process Over Protocol
In our healthcare system, there is something called standard protocol. This protocol leads professionals to ask general questions, often leading them to a conclusion founded on a mere portion of your story. Many experts with whom I’ve interacted failed to listen to me attentively; standard protocol has sharpened the skill of selective listening, which a medical professional should never employ. The implications and outcomes are tragic: Even if you try to articulate your whole story, the relevant parts may be ignored and dismissed. You may not even be believed. The outcomes are even more tragic when professionals are so resolute in their conclusions that the patient could be at risk if they lack knowledge about their own situation or fail to fully express themselves. It baffles me that THE PATIENT must ensure that they are being listened to and fully understood. And of this craft, I’ve become a master.
****
My gastrointestinal situation sent me on a rocky journey. Obviously the physical pain set me back, but the obstacles obscuring my prospect of healing made my situation far worse than it needed to be. The paradox is that those who are supposed to unlock the doors of treatment may become another impediment; this impediment should be eradicated and become a well of partnership between you and the expert.
There is no question that within the same area of expertise, there are numerous ways to approach similar situations. But because we are all individuals with unique biomes, that same approach can yield identical or different results. This is why you must be your own examiner to know which treatment plan best fits your situation so risks or further adverse reactions are minimized.
Within the past year, I can estimate that I’ve seen about ten specialists. They each tried to help me understand my symptoms with good intent, employing their standard protocol to devise a treatment plan. Standard protocol, unfortunately, usually feeds into the medicative approach: it’s an outcome of their training. Wouldn’t proper protocol start with individual assessments involving simple, conservative treatment plans?
Medical exams may point to a root cause, but drug after drug, the root cause is buried underground. What happens if your symptoms return? What if your symptoms lead to another complication? Then the root cause becomes harder to find, and as for the cure, even harder to obtain.
****
This post serves as an introduction to pieces that will be stationed on my newest page, My Biome is My Home. Each story will provide an insight to my personal experiences– particularly surrounding the advice of medical professionals–and the direction I followed or did not. With each article, I aim to demonstrate the mistakes I’ve made through my quest for healing, and the obstacles along that have transformed me into my own examiner, advocate, and in the near future, healer. Each piece will provide examples as to HOW I was forced to transform and become a stronger version of myself in the face of authority. My goal is to serve as a resource and support to those in similar battles, in any arena, where they feel diminished, dismissed, or hopeless. The chronic challenge that is IBS just happens to be MY battle, and has become something I have to embrace, voice, and soon, come to cure.
