Doctors

[CoriSeas]

We just got home from the doctor. My 2-1/2 year old has had diarrehea for the past month. We have been vegan for a month.

The diarrehea started with a stomach flu and I've had public health come by and take a stool sample, we are still awaiting the results. Both kids had vomiting, diarrehea and fever which lasted two days. My older son who is almost 4 recovered with no problems. So we are trying to figure out why our little guy still has diarrehea.

I told my doctor that we were newly vegan but that I had not introduced anything new into their diets (we've been on soy products for 3 months now), we have just eliminated things.

He said "You don't drink milk!" I said no, he went on to say that we are omnivores and we are meant to eat meat and that he could prove it to me scientifically. I said, "We could debate that if you like". He said nothing.

We weighed my youngest and despite the diarrehea and the diet change he has not lost one pound, anyway he wants us back in a month just to keep an eye on things. He also said that he may still be adjusting to the change in diet.

I just wanted to post this as he made me doubt myself today, I'm fairly certain we are doing the right thing, but I'm still not 100% sure. When I read the data and the research I feel confident that we are doing what is best for our health, but when doctors and friends tell me otherwise I start to feel doubtful.

~Sigh. Has anyone else had a doctor tell them that they should not be vegan?

[Just_Kris]

No flaming please!

I am a physician (neurologist) and a vegetarian.... "Hi, my name is Kris...."

Anyway, the stereotype about milk and protein is alive and well in the medical field. In my exam room, you will not find the typical copies of People, Time or Newsweek. What you will find is Fast Food Nation, The China Study , Food Revolution, and Sugar Shock. There are also a couple of issues of Vegetarian Times (once I get finished reading them, of course). I don't beat people over the head with veg*nism but am certainly open to discussing the topic. I admitted a patient recently who had decided to go vegan after reading some of the books mentioned above. We got a nutrition consult for him in the hospital, and the dietitian tried to convince him to add back chicken and fish.

If you like your doctor, I would suggest agreeing to disagree on this topic provided your children are healthy in other respects. If you do not like your doc, keep looking! There are veg*n friendly docs out there like me! :hi:

[CoriSeas]

Kris,

Thank you for your response. I'm a little confused over the "No Flaming" comment. I hope that my post was not in anyway disrespectful, perhaps you could clairify?

I read the China Study in January and have not eaten dairy or meat since. Honestly I had no idea about any of this until I read that book. I would however never impose my thoughts on anyone about their own personal choices.

We moved a year ago and I currently have 3 family doctors, one in our former city and two in our current city. I am very fortunate to be in this position as we have a doctor shortage in this country. I have been going to one doctor but he messed up my referrals so I am now onto the second, which is the one I saw today. I don't love this guy but we have few options where we live. So I will do as you suggested "agree to disagree". If he brings it up again, I'll also bring in a copy of the The China Study and ask him to review before we go any further in the disucssion.

My neighbour is a registered dietician and I was afraid of negative comments from her, but so far so good. It's very difficult to debate people in their own fields of study and I just don't feel like I could carry my weight with either of these two.

Anyway, my ND is supporting us in the dietary change and I am considering following up with her regarding the diarrehea but you know the old saying "too many cooks ..."

So I'll see how the next few weeks go.

Again thank you for your encouraging response.

[Just_Kris]

"I'm a little confused over the "No Flaming" comment. I hope that my post was not in anyway disrespectful, perhaps you could clairify?

I didn't take your inquiry as disrespectful at all, and I'm very sorry if I seemed that way! Some people around this forum are very anti-doctor/Western medicine, making me very hesitant to "out" myself as a doc. Sometimes I get very defensive because we are not all like that! In fact, two of my closest friends in medical school are vegetarian....they saw the light long before I did! I guess I was just being a little defensive as a preface to my own comments.

I think you are doing the right thing for your children. Teaching them to appreciate life and be healthy are gifts that will last them a long, happy lifetime!

[zoebird]

well, i'm not anti-doctor or western medicine; i am anti-power play that some doctor's utilize (like the one mentioned in the OP), and i'm wary of the overuse of western medicine when unnecessary.

there is certainly need for western medicine, and doctors of all kinds, but i don't think that they're the end-all and be-all of health knowledge.

obviously, the OP's doctor doesn't have a clue about how or whether vegetarianism can be healthy for children, so i question his ability to truly serve the family's needs as a physician without always bringing int he diet as a reason for a diagnosis or treatment.

just a thought though. :D

[denise1021]

Kris, is there a way to find a doctor who is vegetarian or vegan? (Not for me; my omni doctor was very supportive of my veganism.) I've just noticed this question on a couple of boards recently and was wondering if there is a central place to find one.

[Just_Kris]

Kris, is there a way to find a doctor who is vegetarian or vegan? (Not for me; my omni doctor was very supportive of my veganism.) I've just noticed this question on a couple of boards recently and was wondering if there is a central place to find one.

Not that I'm aware of. I am seriously considering joining Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine though. I haven't been through their site thoroughly but it might be a place to start.

[rabid_child]

You could always cite for the doctor that Dr. Spock promoted a veg*n diet for all children.

Definitely not flaming here, as I support Western medicine, but I don't think the problem with doctors is exclusive to dietary criticisms. Perhaps it's a reflection of being overworked or being put on some sort of a pedestal as "the expert," but I know that I personally have had a horrible time finding a doctor who will treat me with respect and actually discuss with me my concerns etc.. about my health/medical treatments. The last doctor I went to, I was very stressed/upset in the office as I've been sick since September and am having difficulty functioning and the visit ended up with him telling me that I needed mental health treatment for my "nervous condition" because I "shouldn't be" stressed out about all this. Perhaps instead of your doctors instant jump to "you're wrong!" about your dietary choices for your family, he could ask some informed questions about your diet and make suggestions to ensure that it's balanced for your children. More doctors need to learn that their patients will do better if they work WITH them.

I hope the stool sample gives you some answers and your son recovers soon!

[CoriSeas]

Thanks rabid_child, the doctor suggested yogurt to load up on good bacteria, which actually I thought was a very good suggestion and felt like a dummy for not thinking of it myself. I've been loading him up on good bacteria and mixing it into his soy yogurt and have actually noticed an improvement. The doctor said that smelly stools can actually be a sign of not enough flora in the digestive tract. Not sure if those were his exact words but you get the idea.

[rabid_child]

Thanks rabid_child, the doctor suggested yogurt to load up on good bacteria, which actually I thought was a very good suggestion and felt like a dummy for not thinking of it myself. I've been loading him up on good bacteria and mixing it into his soy yogurt and have actually noticed an improvement. The doctor said that smelly stools can actually be a sign of not enough flora in the digestive tract. Not sure if those were his exact words but you get the idea.

Has he been on antibiotics at any point recently?? I got so sick, in part, from c-diff, which is SEVERE diarrhea that is extremely smelly that is caused from a bacterial superinfection in the intestinal track (generally the result of a broad spectrum antibiotic). I guess you'll find out when you get the stool cultures back. I hope that's not it because that was complete hell.

I'm glad the probiotics are helping. They do make "kid friendly" probiotics too in chewable fruit flavor tablets. They're actually pretty yummy! I don't know if they're vegan though...