AVOIDING THE SHADY DOCTORS
As I’ve only recently started blogging on fatigue, I’ve been doing a lot of online research. One thing I’ve been overwhelmed about is the amount of blogs and articles out there that are all spam.
Many articles are blatantly copied from other sources and put along side ads to make money. Even more alarming has been seeing so many proclaimed cures and treatments that “get you back to 99% energy”. If you ask me, that sounds like a miracle cure, and doctors haven’t come up with one yet.
Amongst all the shady doctors and duplicate articles, this one came up in my feed reader today:
…chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease that no known cause. This tends to bring out alot of the shadier side of the medical community.Doctors or even people without medical degrees can make a decent living by treating people who are desperate, with alternative treatments.
I have three rules I measure doctors and treatments by:
- How did I hear about them? If it was through a friend, or genuine testimony, then I’m more convinced that their treatment may help. If it was 10 online testimonies on one page, I’m pretty sure the person who wrote that page is in it for the money.
- How much do they charge for their information? If they charge for life-changing information they can’t be ethical and I wouldn’t trust them.
- If there is a really a cure that is applicable to everyone, we will all hear about it very quickly!
It may sound a little cynical, but I would prefer to focus on treatments, while I keep my eye on cures. I know different treatments help people in different ways, so I’d really weigh up what sounds applicable to I before you buy into anything.
What are your experiences with the many treatments and doctors? Share any advice in the comments below!
Filed under: tips
Oh wow, over the past 12 years, I’ve come across some good docs, some crazy docs, and some really mean docs.
The first “CFS” doc I went to charged over $500 for the visit, another $500 for “medications and supplements” (which of course insurance wouldn’t cover) and a bunch of tests which–surprise!–showed nothing. He tried to sell me his “special herbal supplement” that tasted like dirt.
I didn’t go back.
Fortunately I’m now with a good doc who helps manage my worst symptoms.