I thought I’d never like to have a male gynecologist, because how could he possibly understand what I’m going through?
Then this last month I went to an OB/GYN office that was like a communal thing, and you just saw whichever doctor was on duty that day. My first doctor was a woman, who gave me absolutely no straightforward information, but cooed and patted my arm and said “Well we’ll see how this goes but we don’t know anything for sure…”
I don’t do well with coddling. Can’t stand it. Give me information and I’ll decide how to feel about it.
A few days later I went back and spoke to another doctor – a guy.
He was trying really hard to do the bedside manner thing, but he was clearly uncomfortable with it. I encouraged him to speak to me clinically, told him most of my family is involved in the medical field (they’re not, but whatever) and I would understand.
He was visibly more comfortable after that, and I got the real information I wanted and finally felt like I was talking to a competent physician and not a babysitter. That meant I could make a decision for myself on how to feel about my situation and had real information to convey to my husband.
I wish I could remember the dude’s name, just in case I need to go back there.