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Thursday, May 28. 2009Mortified with Anti Vegan Doctor
I've tried to let it go, however I'm still upset at my doctor. So I've decided to rant about my experience.
I wanted to get a thorough work up on my health, so I visited my doctor and had a crap load of tests done. Vials of blood, samples of pee and other random things. Needless to say, she checked everything, which I was grateful. I went back in today (or rather yesterday afternoon) for my results and heard the worst news. Before I begin to worry anyone, let me clearly state that she told me that all my tests came back normal and very healthy. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to be concerned about. So I was relieved. Then came the bomb. She told me, I should eat a steak. OK folks. I'm vegan. She knows this, I know she knows this, hence the additional B12 test she included in the bloodwork. So....steak? Are you kidding? All my levels are normal and healthy and she decided that since I am vegan, that I'm not getting enough protein. GO FIGURE! I heard the choir sing, "how do you get enough protein?" I instantly gave her a disapproving look which she noticed and asked why I looked upset. I had to remind her that I was A VEGAN!. Which is fine. She's a busy doctor, I don't expect her to remember all my details. So she made additional recommendations to increase my protein...Ensure drinks (which I told her had milk - but she didn't believe), Whey Protein (which I said is "MILK" - she didn't believe that either), or protein bars. Great, I'm trusting my health to a person that knows nothing about what she's saying in terms of my diet. Before I continue my ranting let me preface with the fact that she is Indian and her mother is a vegetarian, so I thought I was safe in regards to her experience and knowledge about my lifestyle. WRONG! She admittedly confessed that she can't imagine a meal without some sort of animal carved up in it or on it. Ok folks, I may not have been so upset about her suggestions if she knew what she was suggesting. Also, she just told me my 'levels' were all normal and healthy. Why am I lacking in protein now?? I, for one know I eat plenty of foods to offer my body enough protein. It may not be an animal product, but I eat so much...theres no possible way I'm lacking. I eat nuts, beans, veggies, brown rice, quinoa, natto, miso, nutritional yeast, and generally speaking, only close to natural forms of soy products (soy milk, tofu or edamame). Then, she said "don't eat nuts because they're not good for you." OMG. Are you kidding me? I told her I only eat a small handful of walnuts and almonds....she claims these are the worst possible nuts I could be eating because they're raising my cholesterol level (which by the way, is still in healthy ranges). She said they don't provide any nutritional value and that I should stop eating them. ~this is where I looked at her again with disgust and disbelief. I told her that I eat them because they are healthy fats, in addition to a daily dose of freshly grounded flaxseed, and wheat germ(for folate) with my morning shakes with the addition of a vegan multivitamin, B12 and Calcium. Yeah, she wasn't having any of that either. Folate and B12 apparently can't be absorbed properly in a veggie diet. In addition to telling me not to eat nuts, she also told me to cut back on my shelled fish. HMMMM. Are we all there doc? I'm VEGAN! ARGGH! I'm so irritated. I'd be less irritated if my health was deteriorating and the lab work proved it, however...prescribing foods only because I eat a vegan diet is just stupid. Oh, and while I'm ranting - the former vegan I met today because he couldn't figure out how to eat other than processed food and ended up looking sickly and emaciated, and my friend that said he went on a vegetarian diet which includes chicken and fish...you guys are retarded too. (Letting out a deep breath)...much better now. Trackbacks
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That sounds SOOOO annoying. I'd be changing doctors right away! I'm thankful my doctor seems very different than yours when it comes to my veganism.
I've received several referrals for doctors from other vegans around the bay area, I'll be checking them out and making a change for sure.
wow i just read this and your doctor obviously is a fake or something. how does she not know anything? nuts are BAD for you? that's BS!!!
Here is my take on this:
I think the moment the doctor mentioned 'protein' (from meat/milk) after you said you were vegan, you should have realized that this doc just doesn't 'get it'. She is just regurgitating information which she memorized in med school. [imo] The issue here seems to be one of trusting this doctor too much and hoping that she says that what you are doing is right? Sorry I can't but help analyzing this. You are doing things right, the results show that (the actual quantification of things in your body) and you probably look and feel great. However as humans sometimes we want a positive feedback from another person and in this case the doctor you chose turned out to be a bad choice. You will be fine, thanks for sharing the episode and hey I am proud you are vegan. ps: I have no professional psychological analysis qualifications. This comment got too long, feel free to edit it or not publish, but I just wanted to share my opinion.
Hmm
Doctor might have been busy or depressed or should I call deviated by other factors. Her household problem etc.... You should have provided her with a chance to check you later? |
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