I've kind of been avoiding writing this post; it just brings up the feelings of frustration that engulfed me Thursday morning. I'm not quite sure where to start.
I was received promptly, and she knows of course from the referral I'm there for managing my IBS via dietary means; weight, we discussed, will be a secondary focus. One of the *first* things I tell her is that I have a nutrition background, so she doesn't have to "spell things out" for me, per se, like she would for most people. I'm not sure that was well received. She gives me a handout on foods and groups of foods to avoid for people with IBS. I'm thinking in the back of my head, "Why are you giving this to me? I KNOW all of this." But maybe she has to, so I keep my mouth shut and play along. She asked what my food triggers were (she almost seemed surprised that I knew these), medications I'm on and other secondary health issues. Naturally, being a Canadian-certified Dietitian, she was a firm believer in Canada's Food Guide, which she also promptly put in front of me (I'm trying to count how many copies I have of this now). I also have, what I can best presume to be an activity guide (how to get more exercise), but I refuse to look at it seeing as I told her I was active in some form or another 5-7 days a week. Also, expending large amounts of energy is difficult for me per my sugar.
Anyways... she also gave me a handout on foods in different categories and their serving size. I was also given sheets to record, for the next 4 weeks, food intake and subsequent reactions. Basically it's an elimination diet (which I've also done in a light, varying form). Then I was just told to go with said information, follow up in 4 weeks and that's it.
Really?
.... Really?
She asked me at the end if all this was "okay" and I spoke up. "No, it's not. I need more guidance than that." Well, at that point it was the end of the appointment. As it was, we went 10 min over. I asked her if she would create an example of a one-week meal plan. She said she usually doesn't do that as people don't often like all the foods on it (really? I think we could work together on that) and people get "stuck". Listen, I can't apply a change of diet without some assistance of application.
I'm frustrated because there was no inquiry or discussion of my lifestyle (which greatly affects how one eats), how often I work, eating habits (telling me to eat a 'balanced dinner' every night is a moot point; I'm not going to eat a full meal at 8pm when I have to be in bed for 9), how to incorporate eating to fit my other health concerns (other than eating "every 2 hours". Yeah, I know that, thanks). Just.. it was a complete fail.
I'm not saying I don't have things to learn from her, but I think she went in with an agenda (a poor one at that, but who am I to judge), I went in with high expectations (an after having witnessed some great dietitians at the hospital) and came out on a low. I'm trying to think of how to best approach her to be more productive. I know dietitians are capable of so much more, so, I don't know.
Anyways, I've gone on enough. That's it.
5 comments:
You sound disappointed... Well, we don't always connect with the provider. At least you know your food triggers and what foods to avoid, what foods to eat more of, when to eat. You're ahead of the game there. Another thing you have going for you is that you're the cook, you don't have to depend on anyone. Perhaps a positive outcome is that she reinforced your thinking.
I was thinking...
Since you already have a blog, a market for readers if you will, maybe you could create a page for IBS sufferers. You know trigger foods, you have nutrition education, and you have personal experience. Maybe it could be a help.
Yeah, you could say disappointed.
I really was hoping to have her help me tailor a diet to my health needs. I think I'll have to put everything on paper and have her arrange a week meal plan that way. I don't know.
Sure, that's an idea. But what kind of example would I be if I can't put something in place for myself? Not setting a good example. And there's IBS forums for that (to which I don't belong). But you know me, I blog about it when I can :)
Well, you don't have to be an example, just a fellow IBS-er. A solidarity thing.
Would you see a separate blog for that, or incorporated in this one?
Well, a separate place than here, maybe a new blog. I don't know enough about these things to say if you can have separate sections. I just think you have a lot to offer.
Here in the US, we have to pay to see a doc, possibly more to see a dietitian because they may not be covered. So, lots of people suffer in silence. You could share what you glean from your interactions with healthcare professionals. Even your disappointment.
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