'Doctor In The Mirror' author Tuckso offers tips for living longer, healthier lives
 

In a recent lecture, Dr. Reed Tuckson advised Villagers to look in the mirror: "You are seeing the best doctor you will ever meet."

Thank you, Dr. Tuckson, I always suspected as much.

But, seriously, can the same be said for everyone? No, certainly not. He later said that 80 percent of seniors have at least one chronic condition, 50 percent have two or more and 36 percent are battling four or more chronic illnesses.

It seems the opening statement was to make everyone feel good about themselves but it was certainly not true. It's more like those in the mirror are their own worst enemy.

Truism's
 

I totally agree with Dr. Tuckson.

You are your own best health advocate.

Some people don't ask their doctor the right questions.

Some people don't follow their doctor's advice.

Some people bury their head in the sand and hope if they ignore their condition, it will go away magically.

Don't complain if you are not doing what needs to be done, to help resolve your condition.

As my doctor said when I went for a meet and greet. "I don't care what the charts say, tell me what is going on with you". You know better than anyone else. I would be a fool not to listen, to this learned man, and follow his advice but the final judgement is on us. He can only advise.

Some people don't even consider what a doctor says when it comes to eating, losing weight, stop smoking, etc.

There are people who take their health seriously. I like to think I am one of those. :smiley:

Do you think you have any chronic conditions or illnesses, VPL?

Now that is one good doctor, 2B. One that I would consider for myself. As a retail pharmacist, I always tell my patients/customers that NO ONE knows your body like you do. Pay attention to what it is saying to you and if you think something is wrong keep pressing for answers despite what test results, etc, say. The problem with a lot of people is that they are afraid to speak up or question their doctor. I hope by encouraging my customers in this way that it gives them a voice to speak up. It goes without saying that this is beneficial to the doctor as well. The more information he has to work with the better he can analyze the situation and hopefully come up with the right diagnosis and/or plan of action. A doctor who listens and really gets to know their patients can often make a world of difference in the health of their patients.

All my mirror tells me is to get a second opinion.

Z

Now that's funny! :1rotfl:

Not that I am aware of and my doctor has been trying hard to find something with lots of different tests over the past few years.

At the end of my last visit he said, "Obviously you have been taking good care of yourself."

It seems you are not taking it the way he said it: He said, "You are seeing the best doctor you will ever meet."

One can't have it both ways. Either you are your best doctor or the PCP you go to is your best doctor.

Although I agree with a lot of what you said I think you might be reading something into his statement that he didn't say.

Perhaps he should have said: "Each person has the potential to be their own best doctor."

Since I didn't attend his seminar, I took the statement at face value, in that everyone should be their own advocate. Nothing more, nothing less. Not everyone pursues their health issues vigorously. Should people in general do all they can to better their health, and the answer is yes!!!

It is a combination of both. No one knows their body better then they do, but one has to allow the knowledge of a trained doctor for input and solutions.

It's funny how people sense, when they are about to expire. My old doctor told me that my mother was going to live a long time and she was 93.

She didn't agree and passed the next day. In this case, she knew better.

I agree with most of what you have said. But I would like to add something to it. Sometimes doctors don't allow enough time for questions and sometimes patients wouldn't know what questions to ask even if they had more time.

The part about paying attention to what your body is saying: Lots of people feel great after eating a meal consisting of pizza, hamburger and fries etc. and desserts like ice cream, pie or cake. That's what they are paying attention to. They often think, "If it makes me feel so good, how can it be bad for me?" I understood what you meant, I'm just saying that listening to one's body can also work in harmful ways.

I'd like to see you start a club in The Villages called, "Ask a pharmacist". :)

It's not at face value if you keep substituting the word "advocate" for doctor.

If not everyone is doing it why did he include everyone?

I agree, it's a combination of both. But that was not included in his opening statement. That leaves it open to people learning by reading books written by medical doctors, nutritionists etc.

Give up, Joe.

I would recommend a new physician, or are you self diagnosing? In either event a new physician is in order.

Or you start a club called: "let's ask someone who really knows!"

My mirror broke when I looked into it.