~Part 2~ A ToolKit to Communicate with Your Doctor and Take Charge of Your Health!!

Today, for Medical System Tuesday (well it actually is a Wednesday this week because I didn't have time to complete the post earlier!) we continue to focus on outpatient topics to optimize your health BEFORE you become acutely ill.  As I mentioned last post, I completed my inpatient series of "Insider Tips" and now we've moved out the outpatient series.  


Before we get started, I wanted to ask you that after you read this post, could you please share in the comments below if you have ever had problems communicating with your doctor and/or understanding why various tests or medications were ordered?  What do you do to make sure you are getting high quality care? Any tips to share with your fellow readers?


My goal by the end of this outpatient series is for you to be able to:

• get the BEST out of your doctor--in other words, to do your part to empower your doctor to optimally use their expertise to your benefit
• understand what is going on with your own health--knowledge is power
• learn how to organize your health information to improve the quality & efficiency of your medical care
• know how to advocate for appropriate preventive care according to your age, gender & medical history
• learn how to prevent medical errors (check out the last two of my reader Christy's comments on one of my older posts--she followed the communication tips from my previous post and actually was able to help prevent her doctor from making an error with her medications!!!-note--there are a lot of comments on that page, scroll down to the end to see what I'm referring to!)
• be an active teammate in your wellness journey as opposed to a passive participant

Part 1 outlined the the first steps to seize control of your own health. How many folks followed through on the assignments?  Don't worry if you didn't--even if all you do is read these posts to become aware of ways to improve your ability to receive excellent quality healthcare, that is an important beginning!!!  


Oh!  And for all of you who haven't been to a doctor in years--please go.  As you can see by Part 1, you may be due for some important preventive screens that can actually save your life!!

Ok moving on.


Today, in Part 2, we'll get specific about what data your doctor need to really get a comprehensive view of your health.  Why does this matter? Lets look at an example:


You come into your doctor's office for a check-up and says the following:  "I'm feeling good doc--a few headaches over the last few weeks, but other than that, I'm ok."  The doctor has 15 mins to see you.  The doctor checks the chart--your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, etc) look good, your "finger stick" to check your blood glucose is mildly elevated.  So the majority of the visit you and the doctor talk about your headaches--what do they feel like, how long do they last, how severe are they, what makes them worse, what makes them better?  And then you get a quick physical exam, a prescription for some migraine medications and are sent to the lab to get your blood drawn.


Sounds ok right--well there is just one problem.  You forgot to mention that you've been urinating a lot more than usual, you feel thirsty all the time, and you actually came in this morning after not eating dinner last night or breakfast this morning because of your headache.  So when your doctor looked at your blood glucose "finger stick" they didn't become alarmed because they assumed you'd eaten breakfast that day and the elevation was due to that.  Instead, you may have diabetes.  It might show up on your labs but maybe not.  Next thing you know, three weeks later you are being admitted to the hospital with severe hyperglycemia and require IV insulin & an ICU stay.... 


Ok this is an extreme example, I know, but it could be really be anything--a black mole on your leg that is getting bigger but you forget to mention, some weight loss that wasn't intentional but didn't seem important to bring up, some increased shortness of breath with activity that you downplay to the doc....etc.  It is VERY hard to hit on all the points needed to make a good clinical diagnosis in a short interview.  That is where you come in!!  Docs need data from the patient to get the right diagnosis!!!!!!  It is 100% a team effort!!! And you can help them ask the right questions based on how organized you are before you come to the visit & how well you understand what is important to share with your doctor!


So to get you organized and keyed into the important parts of your history to share with the doctor, here are your assignments for Part 2. These are all key tasks to complete in the two weeks prior to your appointment. Your goal is to enter your doctor's appointment organized (see Part 1 as well) AND make sure you leave the appointment with a clear understanding of what your doctor recommended and most importantly, WHY!

1)  If you have any of the following chronic diseases, prepare CLEARLY PRINTED OR TYPED logs for your doctor on ONE PAGE:

• If you are a diabetic or have hypertension (high blood pressure) and you don't keep a log of your blood sugars or blood pressure, in the 2 weeks before you go to the doctor record daily at least 2 "finger-stick" values (at least one before breakfast) and get your blood pressure measured each day (use a home blood pressure cuff or grocery stories sometimes have them).
• If you have angina record the number of times you have been symptomatic in the two weeks prior to your visit and what you were doing at the time.
• If you have an inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome, write down your daily bowel symptoms for two weeks prior to the appointment as well.
• If you have depression or anxiety try to keep a "mood diary" for the two weeks prior to the appointment
• If you have a pain disorder, try to keep a "pain diary" of your pain levels at four different points throughout the day, when you needed to take your "as needed" medications and what effect the medication had on your pain level.  

2)  For EVERYONE:  Sit down before the doctors appointment & review your health in every body system you have so you will able to answer your doctor's questions quickly & clearly.  


Here is a link to good old Wikipedia's "Review of Symptoms". (currently down due to the Jan 18th protest--check it out tomorrow!)  There are also twenty million "review of symptoms" forms that pop up on a google search.  Don't get overwhelmed.  Just quickly go through each category and not any abnomalities.  For example:  Eyes: blurry vision, Heart: nothing, Lungs: cough, etc.

6) Read through everything you have organized (including the medical info sheet & history from Part 1) and make a list of questions to ask your doctor.  


Try to limit the list to less than 5 questions in order of priority.  Make at least two questions the following:

"Doc if you could pick two things for me to work on healthwise this year what would you choose?"

 And 

"Are there any medications I could potentially get off of if I changed my eating habits or exercise level?"

You can also use this Free Online "Question Building Tool" that the AHRQ put together to help patients prepare for doctor's appointments!

7) Once you have finished your question sheet, clearly PRINT/TYPE it and make 3 copies:  


1) Give 1 to the receptionist at check-in and ask her to give it to your doctor's nurse so your doc can look over the questions (if they have time) before entering your room. 



2) Give 1 to the doc when he/she walks in the room--just say: "I made this brief list because I want to make sure that I ask you the questions I have but also help you stay on schedule because I know you are very busy" (the doc will LOVE this statement).


3) Keep one in your lap with something hard to write on. leave enough room after each question on your copy so you can write down AS THE DOC IS TALKING so before they leave the room you can *quickly* repeat what they said so you make sure you understand.  Just say:  "Doc, I want to quickly repeat what you said to make sure I understand so I can follow through on what we discussed."  Don't be intimidated if you doctor appears to be in a hurry--keep it short but make SURE you repeat everything back to them--you'd be surprised how many errors can be prevented this way!!!


Ok!  Well that concludes this series!  I am hopeful that with this information you will be able to overcome the extremely frustrating & dangerous constraints on the patient-doctor relationship due to insufficient time to do a proper clinical interview!!!    


If you do end up using any of these techniques, please report back and let me know how it goes!!  I hope that this information is helpful to all of you! 


The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.  Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. The Happy Rehab Doc expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site.  By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions.

A Toolkit to Communicate With Your Doctor & Take Charge of Your Health! ~Part 1~

Its Medical System Tuesday, a New Year and time for a new way of operating with regard to your health!  After spending the last part of 2011 sharing my "insider tips" on how to get the best medical care in the hospital, with the New Year upon us I'm going to shift to talk about outpatient topics to optimize your health BEFORE you become acutely ill.  I'll also throw in a few posts over the coming months specific to my medical specialty--like how to use rehab techniques to prepare for a joint replacement surgery or how to use multi-disciplinary interventions to treat chronic pain. 

Today I'm going to talk about how to take the first step to seize control of your own health.  This step begins with your primary care doctor.  


Outpatient clinics are hectic--you have a very short period of time to communicate your health concerns & give your doctor the opportunity to use their professional training & clinical judgment to assist you.  The result is often leaving appointments feeling confused about the treatment plan and having forgotten to ask about a key medical symptom that has been worrying you!  


But this doesn't have to be the case!  There are a few simple things that you can do to get the professional best out of your doctor and leave appointments feeling empowered to take charge of your own health!


It will require some work on your part but the benefits are tremendous!  Are you ready to get started?  In the comments section of this post let me know if you are COMMITTED to taking these steps and then lets check in next week to see if you were able to follow through!!:-)

Your first goal is to organize yourself as a patient to enable your doctor to get all the data they need to fully focus on and address your key medical problems.

As you can probably tell, I like writing lists so guess what?  Its time for another list!  This time its YOUR list of assignments for the months of January and February 2012. :-)  

Here are the first three tasks (lets take it step by step and don't get overwhelmed!)

By next Sunday, January 15th:

1) Make an appointment with your primary care doctor to be seen in one month from today.  When you make the appointment ask for either the first appointment of the day or the first appointment after lunch.  This will make it more likely that you will be seen close to on time.

2) Make time to sit down and organize all your health information before you go into the doctor (make a medical info sheet, put all your health-related paperwork in one binder, call ahead and make sure the doctor's office has all your updated information in their files.)

3) Research what recommended health screens you should have based on your age and exposure.  Make a written list of any tests that haven't been done that are appropriate for your age range. 

MEN:  print this PDF file out: http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.pdf or visit the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) website at: http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.htm 

WOMEN: print this PDF file out:  http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthywom.pdf or visit the website: http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthywom.htm

Ok now lets get to it!  Tune in next week for the key tasks to complete in the two weeks prior to your appointment and the techniques you can use to make sure you leave the appointment with a clear understanding of what your doctor recommended and most importantly, WHY!

Coming Up:

• Build a Healthy Immune System with Food: Part 2 of SuperImmunity for Kids!
• The Clear Skin Diet and My New Soy-Free Life!
• Treating Pain with Food--more thoughts
• Foods That Make You Feel Good (A New Series Featuring Individual Foods & Their Nutrient Power)

Coming Up on Medical System Tuesdays:

• Part 2: A Toolkit to Communicate With Your Doctor & Take Charge of Your Health

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.  Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. The Happy Rehab Doc expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site.  By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions.

A Doctor is Grateful for Making a Difference on an Average Day at a Rural Clinic! The Holiday Marathon Continues!!

The HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Continues!!!!! 

Welcome All My Guest Bloggers--Doctors, Nurses & Patients whose stories warm our hearts....Here is Another Story From a Doctor!

In the hustle of day-to-day operations, I have found it easy to forget why I became a doctor. It becomes more a routine and that’s not what I set out to do. 

I work in a clinic that serves a large rural area and the goal is: go, go, go... see as many patients as fast as you can.   One patient needed a little more of my time. She had been to several docs before with the same problem and each time dismissed with the same diagnosis. I sat with her asking questions and explaining to her what I was thinking.  

Turns out she was sicker than either of us initially thought and I sent her to the hospital for more workup. She returned several weeks later wearing oxygen. She then reached and hugged me and said, “You saved my life.” It reminded me that the little things I do on an average day at work makes a big difference to that person.

Dr. S

Physician

Little Rock, AK

Thank you Dr. S for sharing your story with us!! Readers, lets send a little love to our doc who is willing to work in a rural area to give much needed service!  Comment away! :-))

Previous HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Posts:

• A Pediatric Anesthesiologist Loves Being a Doctor & Is Grateful for Patients' Parent's Trust!!
• After Having Brain Tumor Surgery, A Patient is Grateful for "The Best Nurse I've Ever Had!"
• She lost 60lbs, Got Her Health Back and Is Grateful for Her Doctor for Saving Her & Her Husband's Life by Recommending a Plant-Based Diet!!
• A Psychiatrist is Grateful She Helped a Patient Get His Life Back After Alcoholism & Liver Disease
• A Plastic Surgeon Goes the Extra Mile & is Grateful for Learning An Important Lesson From the Patient!
• Her Husband Had Six Skull Fractures & The Surgeon Took The Time To Make Them Feel Like They Were His Only Patients That Day!! The Holiday Happiness Marathon Continues!!

Her Husband Had Six Skull Fractures & The Surgeon Took The Time To Make Them Feel Like They Were His Only Patients That Day!! The Holiday Happiness Marathon Continues!!

The HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Continues!!!!! 

Welcome All My Guest Bloggers--Doctors, Nurses & Patients whose stories warm our hearts....Here is Another Story From a Patient!

My good experience with a doctor was when my husband had surgery on his face 2 yrs ago. He had a maxillofacial doctor who was amazing!  There was something unique about him from the very beginning; even his entrance to the hospital room was slow and relaxed. He really did make us feel like we were his only patients that day.  He never seemed to be in a hurry and he answered all of our questions.  I remember him explaining every detail of the surgery - so much to the point that I didn't even have many questions when he was done.  


He explained what the face was like to begin with - comparing it to a puzzle, then explained what the problems were, how he planned to correct it, how the material would affect him, and details after he healed...  


When you have a loved one you are worried about in the hospital bed, you're sleep deprived, and stressed.... you don't respond well to fast descriptions of tomorrows surgery.  I don't think he spent a huge amount of time with us..  It actually saved time because his first detailed run down saved all those questions and him having to repeat himself.  I think some patients/families will unknowingly ask repetitive questions simply because they just don't get it the first time around- and they are trying to figure it out.. 


Before the surgery the doctor seemed confident and patient.  He was reassuring and positive.  I remember not even feeling nervous in the waiting room.  Once we were home and went to his office for the follow up - again he was gave us everything we needed to know about the healing process.  I have to say he really made us all feel at ease.  


And of course, I can't leave out this part -his work was amazing - you would never know he had 6 skull fractures by looking at him.


Allison in Columbia, S.C.

Thank you Allison for sharing your story with us!! We love doctors who take the time to explain things to us!  Does anyone else have a similar experience with a kind doc?:-))

Previous HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Posts:

• A Pediatric Anesthesiologist Loves Being a Doctor & Is Grateful for Patients' Parent's Trust!!
• After Having Brain Tumor Surgery, A Patient is Grateful for "The Best Nurse I've Ever Had!"
• She lost 60lbs, Got Her Health Back and Is Grateful for Her Doctor for Saving Her & Her Husband's Life by Recommending a Plant-Based Diet!!
• A Psychiatrist is Grateful She Helped a Patient Get His Life Back After Alcoholism & Liver Disease

A Plastic Surgeon Goes the Extra Mile & is Grateful for Learning An Important Lesson From the Patient

The HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Continues!!!!! 

Welcome All My Guest Bloggers--Doctors, Nurses & Patients whose stories warm our hearts....Here is Another Story From a Doc!

As the hierarchy goes, being a junior fellow is not a glamorous job even when the field is cosmetic surgery. 

One particular patient had undergone a very large surgery and was experiencing lots of anxiety over things that were normal. I tried to reassure her over the phone to no avail. I then left my home, at 10pm and drove 15 mins to her hotel room to convince her that things were ok.   I received several text messages and phone call over the next week from her and her loved one and each time I had to keep from sounding irritated at such trivial stuff. 

When I saw her in the office she exclaimed that she was so thankful for my patience. She stated that my explanations helped her prepare for what was to come.   It illustrated that what I expect as normal is totally foreign to the average patient. I learned from my patient to continue to use my ability to make things plain to help them through a stressful time in their life.

~Dr. S,  Plastic Surgeon
Little Rock, Arkansas

Thank you Doc for sharing your story with us!!  Readers--lets send a little love back to Dr. O in the comments!!  Write away!! :-))

Previous HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Posts:

• A Pediatric Anesthesiologist Loves Being a Doctor & Is Grateful for Patients' Parent's Trust!!
• After Having Brain Tumor Surgery, A Patient is Grateful for "The Best Nurse I've Ever Had!"
• She lost 60lbs, Got Her Health Back and Is Grateful for Her Doctor for Saving Her & Her Husband's Life by Recommending a Plant-Based Diet!!
• A Psychiatrist is Grateful She Helped a Patient Get His Life Back After Alcoholism & Liver Disease

She lost 60lbs, Got Her Health Back and Is Grateful for Her Doctor for Saving Her & Her Husband's Life by Recommending a Plant-Based Diet!! The Holiday Happiness Marathon Continues!

The HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Continues!!!!! 

Welcome All My Guest Bloggers--Doctors, Nurses & Patients whose stories warm our hearts....Here is Another Wonderful Patient Story!

I've been thin most of my life but about 10 years ago, I started putting on weight due to a bad knee.  I couldn't exercise enough to keep the weight down.  About 5 years ago, I underwent a total knee replacement which didn't go as well as I had hoped.  Again, I couldn't do any extensive exercise other than work on my range of motion.


About a year ago, I was in such shape that I became hysterical if I saw myself in a mirror and I certainly didn't go shopping for clothes - it was too traumatic. 


I finally visited my doctor who told me that my only hope was to go on a plant-based diet for the rest of my life.  He explained what it was and even loaned me a book about it (The China Study).  I purchased Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's book, "How To Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" and off I went. 


I tossed out everything that wasn't part of my new Vegan lifestyle because if it was there, I knew I'd weaken.  After about 4 months, I noted that my clothes were loose so I weighed myself - I had lost 60 lbs.  I felt great with renewed energy and was able to look in the mirror again without going into a depression.  I will always thank my doctor, Dr. Don Wagner, for saving my life.


Now, fast forward to July of this year.... my husband was involved in a terrible motorcycle accident that should have killed him, both by statistics and by actual injuries. He was rushed to the Head Trauma and Burn Center in Las Vegas and was in the hospital from the Saturday morning it happened until Thursday when he came home with home nursing teaching me to change his dressings.  


We attribute his ability to heal so fast to our plant-based diet (& prayer) - there is no other answer.  It just reinforced our determination to adhere to our plant-based diet and, again, we thank Dr. Wagner for his insistence on getting us started on the right path.


~Sylvia in Laughlin, Nevada ~

Thank you Sylvia for sharing your inspiring story on the power of a plant-based diet!!  Readers--lets send a little love back to Sylvia and her doc for her amazing transformation!!  Write in the comments :-)!! :-))

Previous HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Posts:

• A Pediatric Anesthesiologist Loves Being a Doctor & Is Grateful for Patients' Parent's Trust!!
• After Having Brain Tumor Surgery, A Patient is Grateful for "The Best Nurse I've Ever Had!"
• "You Heard Me and I Left the Appointment with HOPE"~A Primary Care Doc Shares A Story of Grace

"You Heard Me and I Left the Appointment with HOPE"~A Primary Care Doc Shares A Story of Grace~The Holiday Happiness Marathon Continues!!

The HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Continues!!!!! 

Welcome & Thank You To All My Guest Bloggers--Doctors, Nurses & Patients whose stories warm our hearts....Here is Another Story From A Doc!

A Reminder That What I Do As A Doctor Is By Grace and Not of My Own Power.

~Dr. O, Family Medicine & Psychiatry~

Pittsburgh, PA

I have many stories of special experiences I shared with patients, but the most recent was a lady who came to the clinic that had not been seen by a doctor in about 6 months. She had significant substance abuse and mental health history and felt no one believed her when she described her physical health symptoms so she had stopped seeing her previous doctor. 


She was anxious, tearful, and certain she was going to die. I listened to her concerns and her daughter who accompanied her to the visit. When they left the office I had written her 3 new prescriptions and ordered lab work to treat the most concerning issues she described. 


 Two weeks later she returned, unaccompanied, for her follow-up visit to review her labs and to see how she was tolerating the new medications. When I walked into the room she hugged me and began to cry. She then said, "If I would not have come to see you that day I would not be sitting here right now. You heard me and I left the appointment with hope." 


 All of the aches and pains from the previous visit had improved to the point she was demonstrating stretches she could now do. She also had her voice back (literally) and sang a verse of a song which she had not been able to do "in forever". 


On the busy clinic days, little moments like these remind me what it's really all about and that what I do is by grace and not of my own power.

Thank you Doc for sharing your story with us!!  Readers--lets send a little love back to Dr. O in the comments!!  Who else LOVES their PCP?  Write away!! :-))

Previous HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Posts:

• A Pediatric Anesthesiologist Loves Being a Doctor & Is Grateful for Patients' Parent's Trust!!
• After Having Brain Tumor Surgery, A Patient is Grateful for "The Best Nurse I've Ever Had!"

After Having Brain Tumor Surgery, A Patient is Grateful for "The Best Nurse I've Ever Had!": The HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON continues!

The HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Begins!!!!! 

Welcome All My Guest Bloggers--Doctors, Nurses & Patients whose stories warm our hearts....Here is Our FIRST Patient Story!

After having brain tumor surgery, I was in the ICU at the hospital for 2 weeks.  There, I had a nurse named Liz.  Her family was originally from the Bahamas, so she had the remnants of an islander accent.  I was never as happy as when I heard that voice on the other side of the curtain.

She was the best nurse I’ve ever had! And it wasn’t because she was the sweetest, kindest nurse I have had.  In fact, she was mostly matter of fact, firm, and business-like.  But …. She listened.  She didn’t ignore me when the pain in my head was overwhelming, and I rocked back and forth on my hospital bed in pain.  She matter-of-factly told me that I needed to calm down and stop crying because it would only make my head hurt worse, if I did that.  But… she got me the pain medication that I needed.  Notice I didn’t say that I wanted…. It was what I needed.

She had to tell me the hard things and show me the not so pleasant things.  But….She listened.  She answered my questions, even though they were most likely quite obvious to her.  She didn’t get annoyed when I asked her the same questions for the fifteenth time.

She was the one who listened to my husband as he expressed his frustration over my overly emotional behavior after surgery, and she was the only one who explained that this was normal after brain surgery, and it would go away.

Liz was the consummate nurse:  a professional who did her job well, and made sure that I was doing what I needed to get better.  At the same time, she was personable:  Listening to her patient, showing care and concern, being willing to carry on a conversation instead of just walking in and out of my room.

To all the nurses out there who are like Liz – I thank you and your work does not go unnoticed!

~Joanna Shumaker in Tennessee

Thank you Joanna for sharing your story with us!!  Readers--have you ever had a wonderful experience with a nurse?  Share with us in the comments! :-))

Previous HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Posts:

• A Pediatric Anesthesiologist Loves Being a Doctor & Is Grateful for Patients' Parent's Trust!!

The Holiday Happiness Marathon Begins!: A Pediatric Anesthesiologist Loves Being a Doctor & Is Grateful for Patients' Parent's Trust!!

The HOLIDAY HAPPINESS MARATHON Begins!!!!! 

Welcome All My Guest Bloggers--Doctors, Nurses & Patients whose stories warm our hearts....Here is Our FIRST Story!

Why I Am Honored To Be A Doctor:
~Dr. I, Pediatric Anesthesiologist , Dallas, TX~



HRD's goddaughter
(with the permission of her mom)



I love being a physician.  As I finish my training to become a pediatric anesthesiologist, I am honored that parents entrust their children’s safety to me every day.

Each time I walk into a new patient’s room, I try to earn first the child’s and then the parents’ trust.  As a parent to two little boys, I don’t even want to imagine how hard it must be to separate from your baby before their heart surgery, or their brain surgery, or even just before they have tubes placed in their ears for chronic ear infections.  

For me, my favorite part of being a doctor is playing with the kids and distracting them from what could be a terrifying situation.  If I can keep a child calm and happy as they breathe my anesthetic gases until they fall asleep, they usually wake up calm and happy.  I am not perfect, and every child doesn’t wake up calmly, but the challenge of accomplishing that goal and giving my patients a positive experience keeps me going. 

There are a lot of frustrations in medicine, but doctors became physicians because we love what we do.

Thank you Doc for sharing your story with us!!  Readers--lets send a little love back to Dr. I in the comments!!  Write away!! :-))

Fantastic news! Ms. Lindsay Nixon's NEW Cookbook is out!!! The EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!! Special RECIPE preview!!!

I literally just left a patient's hospital room where I was counselling him on the health potentials of a plant-based diet and came back to my office, only to hear the best news! 

I'm VERY excited to share that my FAVORITE chef, Lindsay Nixon, has just put out her NEW COOKBOOK:  THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!  I had already given the patient the information on her first cookbook (The Happy Herbivore Cookbook), but it looks like after I finish this post--I'm going to head back in there and give him the information on how to get THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE! as well! Not only is her food super healthy, but it also is delicious--this is why I share about her to my patients! If they cook her meals, I know they'll stick to the lifestyle changes I recommend!

Now you all know how I raved about Ms. Nixon's culinary and nutritional talents in my previous posts: here and here so I of course can't wait to get the new cookbook.  She has been kind enough to share one of the recipes from THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE! with me to provide all of you with a "taste" (so to speak) of what we can look forward to in this new effort!  Check the end of this post for the recipe for a fantastic looking Sweet Potato Dal!!  YUMMMMMMMM!!  And you can BUY her new cookbook, The Everyday Happy Herbivore, on Amazon by clicking HERE

A little background on Ms. Nixon from her impressive press kit:
"Lindsay S. Nixon is a rising star in the culinary world, praised for her ability to use everyday ingredients to create healthy, low fat recipes that taste just as delicious as they are nutritious. Lindsay's recipes have been featured in Vegetarian Times, Women's Health Magazine and on The Huffington Post. Lindsay is also a consulting chef at La Samanna, a luxury resort and four-star restaurant in the French West Indies. You can learn more about Lindsay and sample some of her recipes at happyherbivore.com

After vegan chef Lindsay S. Nixon wrapped up her popular cookbook The Happy Herbivore Cookbook last year, she went back to her kitchen in her new home of St. Maarten. Island living encouraged Nixon to come up with simpler fare, which led to a follow-up cookbook focusing on recipes that bring tasty back to quick-and-easy.

Now, in Nixon's much-anticipated follow-up cookbook, THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!  , readers will see, once again, that just because plant-based eating is optimal for health, it doesn't have to also be expensive or time-consuming.

THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!  includes more than 175 doable recipes--recipes that are so quick and easy, you could cook three healthy meals from scratch every day like Nixon does.

Each of Nixon's recipes are made with wholesome, easy-to-find, fresh ingredients and include no added fats. With additional notes indicating recipes that are ideal for preparing ahead of time and those you can whip up with just a few dollars, THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!   will be the must-have cookbook for anyone desiring a healthier, happier menu!"

A FREE RECIPE FROM HER NEW COOKBOOK THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!  

Sweet Potato Dal |
serves 2

This soup is Dal-icious! It’s so flavorful you’ll want seconds. and thirds!

1 small sweet potato, skinned
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp garam masala, plus extra
1 cup vegetable broth, plus extra
1/2 cup red lentils
4 cups spinach, or more
salt

Dice sweet potato into small ½-inch cubes, and set aside. Line a medium pot with a thin layer of water and saute onions and garlic for a minute. Add a pinch or two red pepper flakes and continue to cook until all the water has cooked off. Add turmeric, ¼ tsp garam masala and stir to coat. Add 1 cup broth, uncooked lentils, and bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce to low, cover, and simmer for a few minutes, about 5. Add sweet potatoes, bring to a boil again and reduce to low and simmer, until lentils are fully cooked (they expand and the sauce thickens), about 5 minutes more. Check periodically to see if you need additional broth (I tend to add an extra ½ cup but it can vary). Once lentils are cooked and sweet potatoes are fork tender, taste, adding more garam masala as desired (I like to add another ¼ tsp but some blends are stronger than others). Add spinach, continuing to stir until spinach cooks down and softens. Add salt to taste and serve.
Per Serving: 232 Calories, 0.9g Fat, 42.2g Carbohydrates, 17.7g Fiber, 4.7g Sugar, 15.4g Protein

Coming Up This Week:

• BOOK REVIEW:  "29 Gifts!"
• SuperImmunity for Kids ~Part 2~!
• Practical Stuff:  Kitchen Tools That Help & Products I Like!

Coming Up Next Time on Medical System Tuesday: 

• Tip #9 For The Best Hospital Care:  Pay Attention ~ Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~

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