1% Thursday: Is she ever thanked?
Is she, or he, ever thanked?
This may seem like an odd thing to do for 1% Thursday, but believe me it really can make a 1% or more difference in your treatment.
If you’ve never done it before, or even if you have – say thank you to your doctor.
Of course, you may have a few people to cover – doctors, chiropractors, nurses, neurologists – whatever it may be. But make a point of taking a few seconds of their precious time to thank them.
To show you really mean it, why not give them a little gift? Oh, I know, you feel like you’re paying them a fortune. Maybe you don’t even think they’re doing a very good job. It doesn’t matter – if you’re going to them for help, say thank you.
You see, saying thank you can actually improve a relationship that isn’t all that great. It shows you have respect for your doctor. Maybe they don’t seem to have a lot of respect for you – no matter, this may be the start of something better.
And what if they don’t appreciate your thank you? What if they refuse it, or say something nasty (worst case scenario here). No matter – you’ve reached out, tried to do something nice. Don’t let anyone spoil your day because they don’t appreciate it.
And you may find in the months to come that they appreciate it after all.
Fostering a relationship of respect, or mutual care, of appreciation, can go a long way. It makes you feel better about yourself, it gets you noticed, it helps us actually look at each other, and not just at symptoms, numbers, statistics and dollar signs.
This week (or at your next appointments) write a note, give a little gift, just say thank you – whatever is appropriate. Maybe a family member or friend wants to thank your doctor too. Trust me, it will make a difference.
What is 1% Thursday?
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Every Thursday at Headache and Migraine News (weather permitting) we’ll talk about one measurable, practical thing we can do to make our lives just 1% better. Usually it will be something very easy, sometimes it will be a challenge. Let us know if you try it, or share an idea of your own – and maybe a year from now we’ll see that things have really changed for the better!
27 January 2011 @ 12:55 pm
I try once a year to send a deli plate over for all the staff at my primary care doctor’s office. They do a ton of extras for me and my famiy just because they care. I will make an effort to think of other ways to spread good cheer! Thanks for the reminder/hint! As always I LOVE 1% THURSDAYS!
30 January 2011 @ 12:11 pm
I have been seeing my neurologist for over 15 years now and I give him a hug (its strictly about my appreciation) and a thank you after every visit. He is the only doctor in my world that hasn’t given up on me and gotten an ego trip because I still have my chronic Headaches and migraines. I’ve had them for over 24 years now. I believe that a simple thank you can go along way! Thank you for sharing!!!
6 February 2011 @ 11:20 pm
We appreciate a thank you here and there more than you would ever imagine… Some of us truly care and need to know it is appreciated
21 December 2013 @ 3:56 pm
I have been saying thank you to the nurses and my doctors on every visit. I have been dealing with migraines for almost 35 yrs. now. I had been taking 1600mcg. of Actiq (Fentanyl), however, do to FDA regulation changes (and interference), all doctor’s were required to complete a course to continue prescribing the medication. My doc told me he didn’t have the time and didn’t want another doctor in the practice to also have to go through the certification. I was switched to 15mg. of Oxycodone as a substitute. I was also taking Fiorinal, 30 per month, about a year ago my migraines started to worsen and I asked for an increase in the number of Fiorinal from 30 to 45 or 60 if possible. I’ve been asking the same request for over a year now and get the same response, “It’ll increase the chance of rebound headaches, it is a respiratory depressant, etc., etc.”; nothing I didn’t already know. I pointed out to my doctor that when I first came to him, I was taking almost twice as many medications as I do now and one of those was 180 Fiorinal. It seems like every time I bring up this question, I get some various reason why he can’t do it.
I don’t know what to do, I’m at wits end trying to just get enough medication to keep the pain in check. He’s pushing me to try Botox, but since I’ve had food poisoning twice and there is no real scientific data to explain how and why Botox works for people. Other doctors I’ve tried to get in with after reviewing my medical history, refuse to take me on as a patient and some places that claim to be pain specialty clinics, but refuse to use medications as part of their treatment philosophy.
I’ve had two great doctors in the past, they taught me a great deal about migraines and listened to my feedback/input on the medications I was taking. Now, I’m in worse pain and can’t get any help….. Any suggestions please?