Frank Roy said:Hi Alan:
Quoted message said:X-posted to alt.support.diabetes and misc.health.diabetes
the British Medical Journal has coined a new term:
"The first generation of e-patients."
See: bmj.bmjjournals.com744Open ↗
9/1148?etoc
For those of us who have had problems with doctors
accepting our knowlege of our disease, it makes very
interesting reading.
I have that problem with my primary physician, but I have
one physician who thinks I know more than I do. Sometimes
we just sort of read in between the lines on technical
articles and after a while we pickup more and more of the
significance of the information included.
The e-patient is an interesting phenomena. I have tried to
encourage more diabetics to become e-patients. It does not
happen overnight, but I see it happening frequently in the
few years that I have been exposed. I believe that many
patients put limits on themselves because they are not
willing to stretch the envelope. I'd like to think that
people are never to old to learn.
Unfortunately, during the time frame of my research on the
internet some journals have become more restrictive about
their access even on articles over a year old.
On the other hand, some threads in newsgroups go on and on
ad infinitum to the point where I personally can not spend
the time wading through them. Some people seem to have to
post to every thread and they become no more than bull
jiving sessions.
Frank
Hi Frank
I try to encourage other diabetics to learn, whether it's
from a support group or the net. I've mellowed a little,
because the "I've been saved - you need to hear my message"
born-again evangelism has diminished.
Not because I don't think others would not benefit but
because I found it had the oposite effect to that desired.
And bored them to death. So I try to be a little more subtle
now:-) But, to be honest, the advice I got as an e-patient
for both of my afflictions had a far greater effect on my
life and my health than that that I received from
traditional sources. Not the least being the lifting of my
depression as I began to understand that there were things I
could do to help myself.
I don't mean I didn't need the qualifed medical
practitioners; it's the things they either didn't tell me,
or couldn't help with, such as empathy and support or
knowledge of what was happening with other patients and
treatments around the world.
The interesting thing is that my doc is honest enough to say
that he is learning a little from me. My haemotologist is
less enthusiastic.
On posting, I must dig up and re-post those definitions of
ng posters I found a while back. The ones where we recognise
ourselves and squirm a little. As I just did.
Cheers, Alan, T2 d&e, Australia. Remove weight and
carbs to email.
--
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
