Consult A Doctor You Trust
The first step to empowering yourself as a patient is to find a doctor to partner with on your journey. Many people are able to do this with their primary-care physician. Some people work more closely with one or more specialists. In empowering yourself in this relationship, the most important consideration is to feel that you are being heard. But it's not necessary that your doctor always agree with you. You want a partner who gives you all the benefit of their experience, while being receptive to your own ideas and questions.
Sometimes, the issue is just a personality mismatch. If you don't feel that you are able to have this kind of partnering-relationship with your doctor, seek out the recommendations of friends and family. If you do an internet search on a doctor's name, you are frequently able to find reviews of that doctor written by patients. As with all internet reviews, one must be careful to "read between the lines", as some reviewers have their own agendas or don't reveal the full story of their experiences. A personal recommendation from someone you trust is usually the most reliable way to find a doctor who's right for you.
Sometimes, the issue is just a personality mismatch. If you don't feel that you are able to have this kind of partnering-relationship with your doctor, seek out the recommendations of friends and family. If you do an internet search on a doctor's name, you are frequently able to find reviews of that doctor written by patients. As with all internet reviews, one must be careful to "read between the lines", as some reviewers have their own agendas or don't reveal the full story of their experiences. A personal recommendation from someone you trust is usually the most reliable way to find a doctor who's right for you.
