It Takes a Village. Really.

When I was in my 30s,  I had only two doctors: a general internist & a gynecologist. I typically visited them once a year- maybe. A decade later, I began seeing a chiropractor for regular adjustments. I read a lot of books on stretching and training. I subscribed to the Nutrition Action and Berkeley Wellness Newsletters and I joined a gym. Now in my 50s, I’ve added a nutritionist, naturopathic doctor and occasionally an acupuncturist and trainer to my “posse.” I’ve tried meditation, Pilates, Yoga and I’ve been reading a lot of books on menopause with titles such as “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Menopause,” “Sex, Lies & Menopause,” and “Screaming to be Heard.”  Without realizing it, I’ve increasingly been taking responsibility for my own well being and relying on a team of experts rather than just one doctor.

Apparently I’m not unique in this “do-it-yourself” approach to wellness.  Mark Penn, in his book, “MicroTrends,” devotes an entire chapter on the growing trend of the “Do-It-Yourself Doctor.” He defines DIYDs as those who “research their own symptoms, diagnose their own illnesses and administer their own cures.” Another indication of this trend, he writes, is that Americans are flocking to complementary and alternative medicine.  That’s certainly true for me. While I have confidence in the gynecologist that I see, I find that my appointments are too brief for a discussion on alternatives to synthetic hormones, which is what she recommends. (They work for her, after all).   I’ve learned in my own research that taking hormones would be detrimental to my health, so I’ve turned to other people as well as books and online resources to find an alternative.  How many “experts” are on your team?