Treating a Whole Person vs. Treating a Disease

What makes for a good doctor-patient relationship?

Yes, we want a doctor who has excellent control of our disease. Someone who diagnoses us correctly and gets us to a point where we’re pain-free.

But for a patient living with a challenging condition like rheumatoid arthritis, it’s important to consider quality of life. To find out what matters most to them and develop a treatment plan accordingly.

Nora was an active, athletic, 35-year-old who’d just gotten married when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. And she had to see more than one rheumatologist before she found a partner who listened to her concerns and partnered with her to make decisions together.

On this episode of Tell Me More, Nora describes how her health journey began on a camping trip when she couldn’t get up on her own and discusses the very different conversations she had with two GPs about her joint pain.

Nora shares why bedside manner is just as important to her as a doctor’s technical skills and explains how she found a rheumatologist who understood that becoming a mom was important for her quality of life.

Listen in for insight into the strong doctor-patient relationship between Nora and her rheumatologist, Dr. Jaworski, and learn how to find a doctor you trust who serves as a partner in your healthcare journey.

Key Takeaways  How Nora’s journey began on a camping trip when she couldn’t get up on her own

Nora’s reaction to the GP who attributed her issues to being overweight and sore from packing for move

How the next GP Nora saw took extra time to ask questions and referred her to a rheumatologist

Why Nora’s first rheumatologist pushed for treatment with biologics despite Nora’s concerns about having a family

How Nora’s second rheumatologist, Dr. Jaworski, explored treatment options that were less dangerous for pregnancy

Why bedside manner is just as important to Nora as a doctor’s technical skills

Dr. Jaworski’s initial approach to treating Nora’s rheumatoid arthritis and how it evolved after she had her sons

Nora’s recent season of struggle and what Dr. Jaworski did to help her get through an important work trip to Germany

How Dr. Jaworski’s consideration of Nora’s quality of life strengthens their doctor-patient relationship

Nora’s advice on standing up for yourself in the search for the right rheumatologist 

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Resources Dr. Michael Jaworski