By CAROLE ORLIN
I had been having a problem with my neck for about a year and a half. The “problem” turned out to be a golf-ball-sized benign tumor in my parotid (salivary) gland. Although I had been dealing with it in a homeopathic way — acupuncture, nutrition, herbs, chiropractic — the lump kept getting bigger.
Despite these treatments and the suggestion of my chiropractor to see an ear, nose, throat (ENT) doctor, I had resisted seeing anyone “Western” oriented. I thought my reasoning was sound. First, my father died on the operating table during heart surgery. Secondly, my mother went in for surgery as a healthy woman, only to contract the all-too-common nosocomial staph (I think of it as “staff” infection) in the hospital. She died as a result. She was one of the classic cases of “the operation was a success, but the patient died.” Thirdly, I had worked for many years as a nurse in a hospital and saw and heard so much that I promised myself that neither I, nor anyone I loved, would ever go near a hospital if we had any other possible alternative.
However, after my husband put his foot down, and after a huge fight, I agreed to go to see an ENT. Although Western medicine is more impersonal and intimidating, I decided that I must still take charge of my health care as much as possible. I went to see an ENT, and then I decided to get a second opinion. I requested and received all my medical records and read them carefully, so I was sure of what I was confronting. I tend to get overwhelmed in the doctor’s office and usually don’t remember half of what was said at the time, so the medical records were helpful. Also, I kept reminding myself that the doctor works for me. I found a doctor that was highly recommended. When we met, he was not in a hurry and carefully explained what the surgery entailed, the dangers and everything I should expect. He answered all my questions and did not treat any question, even the dumb ones, as dumb. I could tell he saw me as a person, not as a parotid gland. After the surgery he called me several times and made time to see me when I was worried about something. Needless to say, if I had gone to see him a year and a half ago, the surgery would not have been so complicated, and I would not be sitting here today looking like Shrek on steroids. But Dr. Michel Babajanian, being the übersurgeon he is, did as he promised: He removed the tumor without doing any damage to me. Thank you so much Dr. Babajanian!
The one thing that has not changed, unfortunately, is hospitals. Although a lot of people balk about having to leave the hospital so quickly after surgery, usually because of insurance, they should be glad. In my opinion, hospitals are places to exit as quickly as it is safe to do so. The infection rates are scary, and the nursing shortage does not help matters. Being a nurse myself, I could not help but notice that the only people who washed their hands before entering my room were the doctors and my husband. My husband washed his hands because he liked playing with the soap dispenser at the door. Thank heavens for him. He was there the whole time and helped me immeasurably. I wondered about other patients who did not have someone to help or advocate for him or her. Even the strongest among us is not up to par after having general anesthesia, surgery and being forced to wear a gown with one’s backside showing.
The problems in hospitals are not new. They are some of the reasons I left nursing and Western medicine. It is important to not let anything other than a client centered, professional atmosphere exist in a hospital, because there is just too much at stake. Too often an “us vs. them” atmosphere is present and accepted. The patient has the dilemma of complaining and being branded a “bad patient,” who may then be ignored, or being a “good patient” and passively hoping for the best. The doctors only know this if they are told, but we usually do not want to be complainers, so we say nothing. There are many excellent nurses and hospital workers who are dedicated to delivering excellent patient care. Unfortunately many of the best and brightest have left after years of frustration over the inability to do their jobs adequately because of overwhelming patient-to-staff ratios, chronic staffing shortages, wage issues, increased litigation, safety concerns, etc. It is a complicated problem that I am only barely touching upon in this column.
All of these factors have left many people disillusioned with Western medicine, and they are increasingly seeking alternative care. “Eastern” healing practices are much more client centered. The care providers are in no hurry, and they do not see the patient as a kidney or a liver but as a whole person. However, my recent experience has led me to disagree with Rudyard Kipling when he said, “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” A blending of the approaches now seems to be the only logical conclusion. Each has something to offer, and it is up to me to decide when one modality is primary and another is complementary. For example, I am going to see my acupuncturist and chiropractor soon to help put my body back in balance after the necessary but traumatic assault on it by anesthesia and surgery. At the same time, I am also taking my post-op instructions from Dr. Babajanian seriously. I plan to see my internist (who is always frustrated with me for being noncompliant) more regularly. It seems that some practitioners of “Western” medicine have done some soul searching, either by necessity or by an experience that has broadened their horizons. Many are making attempts to encompass some holistic modalities in their plan of care. For example, some oncology centers now offer acupuncture to help with the nausea that too often follows chemotherapy. Further, many insurers now cover acupuncture and chiropractic visits.
I have learned a great deal from this experience. Perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned is that no matter which treatment I choose, I need to be and can be in charge of my care, open-backed gown or not. (Carole)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 27, 2006. Read the original PDF.