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efflorie · 3 years

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A reflection of...

a short discussion on alternative medicine

What an interesting topic. The power of substances not chemically synthesized. While I was reading my article, I asked myself if medical professionals are consciously aware of the privilege that they have on determining whether a person lives or dies. When you're young, dreams of becoming a doctor to save lives is a charming and dignified trait. As you grow older, money becomes a greater factor in your life. You realize that the more money you have, the better off you are in multiple aspects of your life. Will you continue to do it solely for the lives you are trying to rescue? After years of training and education, having that as the root of motivation can get old. Of course, not everyone in the medical field is not exactly like this. Recently, a personal (and expensive) nurse has been helping my cousin recover from his illnesses. She uses the conventional treatments for his conditions, but his parents and siblings use more of a holistic approach. The way he feels after taking his medications is completely different than what he feels when he receives his massage therapies and other treatments that I can't exactly remember at this moment. I would like for alternative medicine to take part in more suggestive treatments. I understand that more research is necessary in order for that to be done, but if these methods have been around for hundreds of years, then why do they lack data? Perhaps it's the variability from person to person. But if the US were to start including alternative medicine I think that they would jack the prices immensely which completely takes away the current perks of alternative medicine. Including these methods will only start unless reliable and repeatable research is found. The media can spark interest and could motivate researchers to perform studies.

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efflorie · 3 years

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A reflection of...

Social relationships

The frustration of adequate healthcare in low-income countries and communities is hitting me harder than ever today. My grandpa's situation seems to be getting worse. Finally, after weeks of tests, he came back with a positive COVID test. He has several other conditions which make him more vulnerable. I am completely heartbroken and I wish I could just alleviate his pain. Alleviate anyone's pain. Instead of touching on the joke that is the healthcare system for those that don't make enough or who lack insurance coverage, I wanted to talk about social relationships. They are incredibly important. They could help you rise from the swamps of despair or take you down to the depths of your own hell. Without someone around to express yourself, you risk losing your mind and even being alone during an emergency. Oh how much harder it all is now during the pandemic. I can't even imagine how my grandpa feels. He says he feels like a burden. Unable to perform daily tasks on his own, so he has to depend on the people around him. He has people who love him taking care of him, but his motivation is currently at an all-time low. I am sure that is the case for many elders at the moment. How can we address this? I think asking them why they are feeling this way and what they think is the best way for others to help them is a start. Telling them that what they are feeling is completely valid and we are here to support you through anything. Some caretakers do this, others don't. This should be the basis of any caretaker training.

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efflorie · 3 years

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A reflection of...

Doctor-patient relationships

The reading I did for this discussion was probably one of my favorites of the semester. Empathy is a needed trait in a doctor-patient relationship. Listening to the concerns of a patient and addressing them in an appropriate manner and avoiding any condescending tones is very important in this role. That reminds me of the time that I went out of my way to look for a new gynecologist to address my personal issues but to also look into new methods of birth control. I had done extensive research on this one method in particular right before the appointment and I was excited to see what was going to come out of it. I waited for nearly 45 minutes to finally see my new doctor to only speak to her for 10 minutes. I had no problem waiting, but I know that others do have busier schedules, and waiting that long could really affect your day. The doctor walked in and her tone sounded rushed and impatient, dreading her current position. That was really off-putting. Initially, I was set to tell her all of my ideas and concerns with a great attitude, but that all changed. I told her my interest in this one form of birth control and she immediately dismissed my idea because I wasn't old enough yet. However, based on my research, many people my age and even younger would recommend this method. Now that I am more educated on the topic of these relationships, I know that it was wrong to be treated that way. I felt like I had no control or involvement in the way I wanted my treatment to go. Because of the way she made me feel I never returned and I stopped using the treatment regimen prescribed after 2 weeks of seeing her. It is so important for doctors to make the patients feel more than welcome with their ideas and concerns. Now, I know that I have to address those sorts of situations with them in order to change the foundation of the relationship, or simply move on to another doctor.

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efflorie · 3 years

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A reflection of...

4/15/2021

There was a brief discussion on the creation of hospitals and what they were used for back in the day. I was completely unaware of the history of medical institutions and I found it so fascinating! When money became a huge factor in daily life, that was the moment things took a turn. Money began dictating who gets access to healthcare and the quality of healthcare they receive. Recently, my grandfather has been having a lot of medical issues, but one of the most alarming issues is whether or not he has COVID-19. Back in my home country, access to healthcare is very limited. The money is the biggest factor, and we lack enough to grant proper treatment and care for my grandpa. We get what we pay for. He has had doctors run several tests on him to see if the virus has infected his body, but each test result comes back differently. He is constantly being sent from doctor to doctor. He is drained, annoyed, and not motivated at all to continue to see medical professionals. He no longer has the motivation to continue his treatments for other conditions, and it is very heartbreaking. He has yet to show any symptoms, but doctors seem comfortable enough to diagnose him with COVID even when the results come back negative. This can really take a toll on anyone. The uncertainty and lack of access you have to proper care, outdated medical technology, and doctors who truly care about your health and well-being can change your outlook on life and ask if it is truly worth living a life where you are unable to get back to your healthy self. I don't think hospitals should be acting as if they were a business firm. Ideally, hospitals should solely serve to treat and care for those that are ill, that's how it all started right? Having personal relationships with patients can significantly improve their attitudes towards their condition. Of course, I am aware that professionals can't get too close, but at least trying to feel for your patients is a step in the right direction.

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efflorie · 3 years

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A reflection of...

Experiencing illness 3/25/2021

An initial diagnosis of a chronic illness is a challenging thing to accept. However, attitudes change as time progresses and the person has had more time to analyze their condition. Personally, my family has had a multitude of illnesses, and their attitudes are usually on the sour side of the situation. I completely understand why they would feel this way, but I am also aware that constant negativity is toxic to the mind and body. Yes, it could feel like a part of you has been taken away, unjustly. It can be difficult to accept it, but that takes time alone with yourself and your health. An acceptance of an illness forms another part of your identity. A part that you can freely say that you truly struggled to accept because it was seen as a disturbance in so many ways, but you no longer see it that way anymore. The surrounding stigmas can be so harsh that acceptance seems like a far-fetched option. Ever since I was young, my parents would tell me that I have to live my life to the fullest, no matter what happens to me. I was only given one life and I need to make the most of it. Simply saying that accepting all of my problems is not right. Saying that I have control over my life and what happens to me and my body is not right. But I do have control over how I handle different situations and how I want them to affect me. I think that medical professionals could aid in this process by lending their ear and providing empathy to the patient. Perhaps providing insight on what other patients with similar conditions have done in the past years could help as well.

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efflorie · 3 years

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