My Healthcare Philosophy

I've been thinking about this topic a lot lately (if you can't tell!).  Another thing I think about a lot is my baby and future children.  So, I am going to try to explain my healthcare philosophy as a parallel to raising children.  Here goes nothing!

Now that I have a child it seems like everyone has an opinion on how I need to raise my child.  Some are kind, others are not.  Some advice is good, some is not.  My baby had a goopy eye a few weeks ago and when I people what to do I hear everything from, "Rush him to the emergency room" to "squirt breastmilk in his eyes".  What I ultimately did was take all the information and study it out.  I did research and then made my mind up on what to do.  Then I sat there for a minute of two and thought over it and once I felt right that it was the best thing to do for MY CHILD, I went ahead with what I'd made up my mind to do.  I'm happy to say he recovered fully and now I know what works for him.

People tell me I should spank my children or I shouldn't spank them.  When a lot of people give me advice they seem to think it is the blanket cure and nothing else will work!  Most schools all teach the same curriculum to the children based on age.  Medications are given to people based on their symptoms as if it is a blanket cure and that most things fall under a certain umbrella.  That may be the case in a lot of circumstances, but what if I don't want "the blanket cure", what if I want my child to have a mix of my parents discipline techniques and my husband's parents techniques or want my own!  Well, my child is my child.  I know him better than my parents and his teachers, his doctors and any behavior specialist, or internet site out there!  I appreciate their advice even the bad advice.  I will take all of it into account when trying to decide what to do in any given circumstance, but ultimately it is my child with his own individual personality and set of circumstances.  He and I will be the one's reaping the consequences of what decisions I make.  Therefore I will attempt to do my best and not stick my kids under the blanket of what is/was right for other kids.  They are not other kids, they are their own individual!

This being said, our healthcare is a lot the same.  There are a lot of specialists out there for every part of our body and mind.  They have the breadth of their experience and education, but they don't have the depth of every individual need ov every person that walks into their office.  We pay them to tell us what they know and recommend based on their experience and education and that is it.  They we can take their recommendations or we can leave them.  Most take the recommendations without any thought.  They do have a lot more experience after all!  Well, that may be true, but they are not us!  They do not know how we feel when we are on a certain Rx and how it is affecting our life!  I want to have many children.  The doctors told me the only way that was possible is Rx's the rest of my life or surgery.  The best option being surgery (quick fix).  Well, I had a knot in my gut when they told me this.  I decided to go to a naturopath.  He had never heard of my condition but said he would look into it.  He cracked my back and I left.  I went back a couple weeks later.  He apoligized for not doing much homework on it.  He cracked my back and I left.  That was the last time I went to him.  I have lots of friends that have different ideas on natural healing.  I listened to them, started gathering information on EVERYTHING I know about it and I connect with other people w/ my condition.  I learn all I can from them continually.   I think of my future and how I want to LIVE!  I want to be there for my children and grandchildren!  I want to have lots of children and I want to be ENGAGED with them.  I want to be AWARE of them and their INDIVIDUAL NEEDS and DESIRES.  I want to be PROACTIVE.  I want to be a good wife and be able to LOVE and SUPPORT my husband in the way he needs.

The options the doctors gave me could endanger my life.  The side effects of that specific surgery could be devastating to me and my future dreams and desires.  It could and probably would shorten my life span.  I would probably have to have it several times as it is not a cure.  The side effects of medications make me groggy, nauseous, stuffy and disoriented and my body doesn't like them.  I'm afraid it would affect my ability to be the mother I want to be.  It would affect my marriage and my wonderful relationship with my companion. I am the only person that knows what is best for ME!  I take everyone's advice and recommendations.  I weigh them carefully, I study them out and I decide what is best for ME!  I listen to my body.  Do I have more energy today than I did yesterday?  Why does this headache feel different than the one yesterday?  Is it better?  Worse?  Ultimately we know and our bodies know what we want.  I go by what I feel, desire and need.

This is my take :)  Everyone probably has their own idea/perspective and that is AWESOME!  The more the merrier.  My advice is to decide what your philosophy is and stick w/ it.  That is my personal recommendation, take it or leave it!