What to Do When You Disagree with Your Doctor
Doctors play a significant role in how we navigate our chronic illnesses. They provide medical advice, prescribe medications, and refer us to other healthcare providers. Chronic illness patients can have specialists with different responsibilities for their health care.
While we know our doctors want the best for our health, sometimes they can give us medical advice that we disagree with. It can be intimidating to go against your doctor's advice, but it’s essential to advocate for health.
Why you might disagree with your doctor
You may have a situation at your medical appointment where you disagree with your doctor's advice.
Some reasons you may disagree with your doctor include the following:
Your doctor is downplaying your symptoms and saying that it’s something else (i.e., gaslighting).
Your lab tests are normal, but you know something isn’t right.
You’re concerned about a certain treatment they’re recommending.
You believe another treatment would be better for your condition.
You’re worried about the potential complications of treatment.
These are all valid reasons to have concerns about what your doctor is advising you to do. Once you’ve realized that you’re not satisfied with their advice, it’s time to have a deeper conversation.
How to communicate with your doctor when you disagree with them
If you disagree with your doctor’s recommendations, consider the five tips.
Be assertive but polite
As frustrating as it can be to have trouble with your doctor, it’s essential to stay polite. Your doctor has the medical background to advise you about your chronic illness.
While it’s essential to respect their medical advice, continue to advocate for your health. If your doctor recommends something that you don't agree with, don’t be afraid to share your concerns.
Request more tests
If you’re unsure about your results, ask your doctor if they can run more tests. Because chronic illnesses can be invisible, we depend on our experiences and test results. Sometimes your symptoms may not match your test results. Tell your doctor that more testing is necessary to get a better diagnosis.
Have an advocate at your appointments
You likely have someone in your life that you often discuss your health journey. These individuals likely are someone you’ve vented to about your health struggles.
If you don’t feel comfortable discussing concerns about your medical care, bring your trusted friend or family member with you. They can advocate for you by providing extra support to address any concerns you may have during your medical appointments.
Bring supporting evidence
Many chronic illness patients have found it helpful to bring health information to their appointments. If you’ve researched specific treatments that have been effective for your condition, share them with your doctor. Always ensure that your research comes from sources like research studies or clinical guidelines. Avoid websites like Healthline, WebMD, or Health because your doctor may not consider them reliable resources.
Get a second opinion
If all else fails, see if your doctor can refer you to another doctor or specialist to address your concerns. There’s nothing wrong with switching doctors to get a second opinion about your health. You may go through several doctors before you find the right one.
It’s important to remember that it can be dangerous to disagree or ignore your doctor’s advice. Living with a chronic illness can be frustrating. But, if your doctor believes that a certain treatment could improve your symptoms, you should consider their advice.
How Chronius Can Help
If living with chronic illness feels like a full time job, you aren’t alone.
That’s why at Chronius, we make it easy to navigate the healthcare system as a patient. Our online care management platform brings together all of your health records and offers a 1-click appointment prep tool that easily synthesizes your health story for your care team. You also can track all of your symptoms, identify trends, learn from vetted medical information, and follow a custom patient journey map. Plus, if you needs hands on support, our Care Advocates are available to help you with any issues you may hit up against. Personalized support as you navigate your care journey is what we are all about.
Interested in learning more and signing up for our waitlist? Claim your spot today.
