(00:00:01): All right, we’re live. (00:00:03): So welcome. (00:00:05): Hey, Bruce, it’s good to see you. (00:00:07): Good to see you, Debbie. (00:00:09): So you and I have been talking and I have so many questions for you because you’re a physician. (00:00:17): You’re a physician scientist. (00:00:19): You are the go-to for so many people about questions about medicine and questions (00:00:26): about what to do when people Google all the questions that they have about all (00:00:31): kinds of medical issues that they’re experiencing. (00:00:34): So I hope that you don’t mind if I ask you a few questions today. (00:00:39): Sure, because everything on the internet is completely accurate and correct. (00:00:44): Yes, (00:00:44): you know, (00:00:45): that’s my first question for you is, (00:00:47): why is it so hard to navigate medical diagnoses? (00:00:50): Because, (00:00:50): like you said, (00:00:51): we have AI, (00:00:52): we have Google, (00:00:53): and we have so much information at our fingertips. (00:00:56): So why is it so hard? (00:00:59): Well, the problem is you have to look at where the information is coming from. (00:01:03): I mean, the internet is like one big... (00:01:06): Uh, it’s like a, uh, gigantic public restroom. (00:01:10): You know, (00:01:10): you really can basically, (00:01:12): uh, (00:01:12): I say like, (00:01:13): if you see something on the internet or anywhere in internet, (00:01:16): it could be the equivalent of following what you see written on a bathroom store (00:01:21): stall in a public restroom. (00:01:22): You don’t know who wrote it. (00:01:24): You don’t know where it’s coming from. (00:01:25): It may not be. (00:01:26): verified uh there’s lots of people talking about lots of different things uh you (00:01:31): know nowadays i i watched the other day there was a video about someone talking (00:01:36): about um uh like geopolitics and that person was like a fitness person so you know (00:01:45): you you (00:01:46): Just don’t know. (00:01:47): Everyone has their fingers out there. (00:01:49): So you’ve got to be careful. (00:01:51): And then when you’re dealing with your health, there may not be do-overs, right? (00:01:56): So once you do something with your health, you may not be able to... Again, it’s not like... (00:02:03): getting uh information on i don’t know your sports team or getting information on a (00:02:12): tv show or movie you know okay if it’s wrong it’s wrong uh or fashion okay uh it (00:02:17): could be disastrous if it’s fashion but you can recover you can recover from i’m (00:02:22): living proof that you can recover from fashion disasters (00:02:26): So, (00:02:27): but, (00:02:28): but yeah, (00:02:28): health, (00:02:29): health mistakes can be very costly and costly also in terms of suffering and even (00:02:34): in your life. (00:02:36): Absolutely. (00:02:37): So, so we have all of these things at our fingertips. (00:02:41): It feels like we should be using these all the time because we use them for so many things. (00:02:46): So, (00:02:50): So it’s still hard for us, though. (00:02:51): So what is one thing that you look for when you’re navigating a new diagnosis? (00:02:57): Say you’re diagnosed with something. (00:02:59): What do you do? (00:03:00): Because I know I go to Google, or nowadays I go to AI, and I type in everything I know about it. (00:03:06): So what do you do, and what do you say we should do? (00:03:08): Well, (00:03:08): it’s interesting because we have to remember, (00:03:10): you know, (00:03:11): information is not necessarily—more information is not necessarily— (00:03:15): good right so more information is just more information and if it’s misleading (00:03:21): information it actually makes things worse uh so there is still you know a (00:03:27): significant role for people with expertise in an area that can help you digest the (00:03:32): information that’s out there um (00:03:35): One thing you have to be careful about if you do get some type of medical diagnosis. (00:03:40): Well, first of all, like where are you getting the medical diagnosis? (00:03:43): Right. (00:03:44): So there’s a difference between you are convinced that you have a problem. (00:03:51): I’ve seen this many times. (00:03:52): Right. (00:03:53): People will be like, oh, my goodness, I have such and such symptom. (00:03:58): Therefore, I must have. (00:04:01): Leprosy or something like that. (00:04:05): Well, okay, you’re self-diagnosing yourself, so you’ve got to be careful about that. (00:04:10): There can be many subtleties in diagnosis. (00:04:12): If you do have a symptom, (00:04:14): it’s better to get it checked out by a professional, (00:04:17): someone who can actually determine how best to diagnose it, (00:04:23): what kind of tests to take and those things like that, (00:04:26): or tests to get. (00:04:27): Let’s say I go. (00:04:28): Say I... (00:04:30): I Google something, right? (00:04:31): And I find out that I say, oh my gosh, all my symptoms, whatever. (00:04:35): And I go to the doctor and I decide I’m going to get an actual real diagnosis. (00:04:41): Now I get a diagnosis. (00:04:43): What do I do next? (00:04:45): Because it’s overwhelming. (00:04:47): When you get a diagnosis, then the next thing I want to do is run out and look it all up again. (00:04:53): What do you do next? (00:04:55): Well, (00:04:55): so, (00:04:56): uh, (00:04:56): so one of the first things that you want to make sure is when, (00:04:59): if you do get some type of medical diagnosis, (00:05:03): um, (00:05:03): that the person who’s giving you the diagnosis, (00:05:05): like a doctor, (00:05:07): uh, (00:05:07): for instance, (00:05:08): um, (00:05:09): Doesn’t just give you the diagnosis and say, (00:05:13): oh, (00:05:13): you’ve got, (00:05:13): you know, (00:05:15): gigantic, (00:05:17): superior, (00:05:17): such and such, (00:05:19): such and such. (00:05:20): And then just say, have a good day. (00:05:22): Walks out the door and you’re done, right? (00:05:24): I mean, that can be, first of all, you’re like, okay, what does that mean? (00:05:29): Is that bad? (00:05:30): Is that good? (00:05:30): Or et cetera. (00:05:31): So you need to get the lowdown on what this actually means. (00:05:36): So how do you do that? (00:05:39): Let me ask this. (00:05:41): I know when I go in, I’m stunned if I get something. (00:05:46): I’m going to be stunned. (00:05:47): What do I do? (00:05:49): And who carries a pad and paper around with them? (00:05:51): And I don’t write notes in my phone. (00:05:54): So what do I do when I first get a diagnosis from a doctor and I’m in there and I’m stunned? (00:06:00): What do I do? (00:06:01): What do I say? (00:06:02): Yeah, so... (00:06:05): Of course, (00:06:05): the most experienced doctors and the best doctors will understand that you won’t be (00:06:10): able to digest all the information, (00:06:12): especially if it’s a significant diagnosis, (00:06:14): unexpected or significant diagnosis. (00:06:16): So you’ll see they’ll say things like, (00:06:18): okay, (00:06:19): I understand this might be a little surprising or stunning, (00:06:23): etc., (00:06:24): and they’ll tell you the information, (00:06:25): but they say, (00:06:26): I understand that if you have additional information, (00:06:28): you can always contact me, (00:06:30): or these are the resources. (00:06:31): They’ll give you the next possible steps. (00:06:34): Now, of course, the problem is not all health professionals, not all doctors are created equal. (00:06:40): It’s just like anything. (00:06:41): There is any profession, any role, there’s a range of people. (00:06:50): There are (00:06:51): Yeah. (00:06:52): Fabulous, very gifted athletes. (00:06:55): And then there are average athletes and then there are people who are not so great. (00:06:58): Same thing with musicians. (00:07:00): Same thing with teachers. (00:07:01): Same thing with every profession. (00:07:03): So, yes, that’s one thing. (00:07:05): You want to look for a doctor who will understand where you’re at and help you (00:07:13): understand your diagnosis. (00:07:15): Okay. (00:07:16): That being said, if in that situation... (00:07:20): the doctor doesn’t do that, (00:07:22): then you should tell the doctor, (00:07:24): you should say, (00:07:24): look, (00:07:26): all right, (00:07:26): I am just be honest. (00:07:27): I am a little surprised. (00:07:29): I’m not sure what this means. (00:07:30): I’m a little stunned, et cetera. (00:07:33): I do have some questions now or, or I’m not sure what to ask. (00:07:38): You, you be honest and also say, if more questions come up, what do I do? (00:07:43): Who do I contact? (00:07:45): Put the (00:07:46): the health professional on the spot. (00:07:48): They shouldn’t be able to kind of just leave and leave you with no, (00:07:51): no, (00:07:52): no resources with no recourse. (00:07:54): Yeah. (00:07:56): So, (00:07:56): and then if you, (00:07:58): and I’ve seen this before too, (00:07:59): like if you leave the actual office, (00:08:02): the actual room, (00:08:03): because that can be, (00:08:04): you know, (00:08:05): sometimes those rooms are confining and you’re like finally out in like a little (00:08:08): more fresh air in the waiting room, (00:08:10): you can ask the office, (00:08:12): say, (00:08:12): hey, (00:08:12): I have more questions. (00:08:13): Or if I have more questions, whom do I talk to? (00:08:17): How do I get in touch with the doctor or health professional? (00:08:20): If there’s no way of getting in touch with them, then you may have the wrong doctor. (00:08:24): You may have the wrong health professional. (00:08:26): You may have the wrong clinic setup because that’s (00:08:29): Not, (00:08:29): you know, (00:08:31): anyone who is experienced and understands this si
