If you’re going to date me, you at least have to think my job is needed.
I was on a date with another guy from my online dating stint. The first date had gone quite well- met up for coffee and pie, good conversation happened, and then we agreed to a second date. I told amusing stories about my work, and he told funny stories about some of the things he dealt with (he had previously lived in a far more rural area before moving to the big city).
It was on the second date where things went wrong.
We met up at a bar for drinks and were at the point where we started talking about our families.
Date: So my dad works in alternative medicine…my family doesn’t believe in modern medicine.
I might have nearly choked on my beer at that statement.
Me: Nothing? Not one bit?
Date: Nope. No medications ever. We don’t see doctors. The dentist is fine, though. Gotta take care of your teeth.
Me (shocked): You do remember I’m a doctor, right? In particular an anesthesiologist? Where I use drugs all the time to put people to sleep for surgery?
Date: Oh, I thought that maybe you just didn’t use medications. Can’t you use alternative methods for all of that?
Now, don’t get me wrong- I use meditation and deep breathing with my patients all the time. I’m a big proponent But I also give them medications.
Shockingly, I did not see him again.
Alternative Strategies Pink Sangria
in case you want to go ahead and medicate yourself
Ingredients
-
1 bottle rose wine
- 1/2 c vodka
- 1/4 c raspberry liquour
- 2 lemons, sliced thin
- 1/2 raspberries or blackberries
- 2-3 c light pink or raspberry lemonade
- 1-2 c soda water
How-to
- In a large pitcher, pour in rose wine, vodka, liquour, and lemonade (start with 2 c).
- Add lemon slices and berries. Taste (you might need to add additional lemonade).
- Place in fridge and let sit overnight.
- Before serving, stir and add soda water to achieve however many bubbles you’d prefer. (I normally start with 1 c and go up from there.)
domestic diva, M.D. 
god gave some of the brilliant minds to become doctors!
🙂
Having had mondo surgery (double lung transplant), I do not want “alternative methods”. I. Want. DRUGS!!!!!!!!
I believe ENTIRELY in what you do!
I had to jump in on your comment – I had a lung removed & the surgeon pulled the iv w/the pain meds on day 3 because he “didn’t believe in them”. I’m totally with you!
Eek! I at least give my patients a quick dose of pain meds before I pull a chest tube!
WHAT?!?! He doesn’t believe in pain meds? Um, then I don’t believe I’ll be seeing that doctor, thanks.
I get that alternative strategies can help but sometimes you do need medications!!!
Oh dear yeah- you definitely deserve any drugs you want!
Oh, wow! I know there are people like that out there, but seriously? I don’t think I’d be wanting to use alternative measures before a doc decides to take out an appendix…just sayin’. And the last guy I knew that demanded his girlfriend use a natural “wholistic” alternative to her doctor prescribed birth control found himself very quickly the father of twins. (course that could also be because he refused to use condoms, too…and we all know how well the “pull out and pray” mood works)
yum. I am definitely trying this!
Maybe they like the old school method you see on cartoons – big ol’ wooden mallet on the top of the head.
This is exactly the mental image I had when I read this post! Great minds think alike.
I need to self-medicate after reading that craziness! I wonder how he has dental surgery without meds…… 🙂
I guess his dad would allow him to have 200mg motrin afterwards. (I asked.)
Ha…lol that’s so funny! and the drink recipe looks yummy.
I once dated a surgeon who believed in the Bible. Literally. As in Adam came from Eve’s side and Noah’s ark is real… Scary
Yeah I knew a few people like that…
These dating stories are hilarious! And your beverage looks fun as well! Wine is my favorite medication.
Depends on my mood, but it’s always a favorite 🙂
I can just imagine you nodding and smiling and thinking inside “how did this happen?”
That about sums it up
haha! Apparently he missed the “talking about our jobs” conversation? lol On a better note, totally trying the Sangria for my Christmas party! Thanks!
He even had asked me about my job- he should have know!
Wow, that is the funniest dating experience I ever heard, and I thought I had wierd ones, lol
Oh I have had plenty of priceless encounters…
so disappointing when you discover someone you like is, in fact, a moron. I do believe I’d pay money to watch that guy have an organ removed with “alternative” anesthesia…well, only if it was medically necessary of course! what a twit. thanks for the recipe…going to make it for my sister, the non-alternative M.D. 😉
While I do admit that many “alternative” techniques can help, you need medicine sometimes!!!
In my case I need medicine ALL the time. Pass that sangria over here… 🙂
I would definitely medicate myself with this! 🙂
Even he believed in alcohol as medicine…
I like your style!
Thanks!
I wanted to give birth naturally. The minute I was admitted to the hospital, I was anesthatized. Thank goodness, too! The over 24 hours of labor would not have been pleasant for anyone. I do not like medication, especially if I don’t need it. But there are things that alternative methods just can’t solve.
Yeah if I ever have kids, I’m going to request that they knock me out. Otherwise I might be like some of my birthing mammas from my blog…
If I was giving birth and someone just gave me a stick to bite down on, I would be really angry.
Yeah I don’t know how people do natural childbirth.
Love the story and the drink – anything with vodka is good for me! 🙂
I think it helps in sangria!
Unfortunately my mother has to use a lot of medicines for her advanced rheumatism. But I’m happy there are strong meds for people like her, it would be unbearable. Where do you find these guys? 😛
Blame online dating…
Don’t worry I love anesthesiologist especially if they have some propofol. 🙂
Sadly that’s on a national shortage- can only be used in the OR right now!
I love the no medicine hippies! Good on ya for brooming him. Isn’t there a natural way to do that? Yeah… [Doc hits hippie over the head with 24 lb purse] BAM!!!… Dope sees stars… Everyone chuckles.
Tempting, very tempting…
first off, that sangria looks amazing.
secondly, modern medicine? i wonder if they’ll use leeches when things go wrong then….
Well they still do use leeches in the hospital as a last resort on certain things…and maggots!
seriously? ewww….. i canNOT stand either of those.
Oh boy… dating can be so darn awkward! At least all of that came out on the second date and not much later!!
You think it would have come out on the first date though…he did know from the beginning that I was a doctor…
Oh, without a doubt! It’s just a shame people don’t fully disclose who they are on a date right away… it’s hard to know when you can really trust that you know a person. Or have a general idea of the important parts, at least! :o)
What a story! I am all for healthy eating and living. But there is a real need for medicines and when you are having surgery you are not looking for an alt solution. 🙂
Still really digging your blog and your stories. You make me laugh. By the way, you are one of the best lede-writers I know. It’s a skill.
Why thank you- that’s a huge compliment!
And I thought *I* had some dating doozies. Thank you, for both the sangria recipe (looking forward to trying it out) and reminding me that some people have even worse luck than I do! Good luck out there.
Haha I do have pretty bad luck, don’t I?
I don’t understand why you stop seeing him. Was it more than the alternative medicine thing or was he bad mouthing doctors? Or is it you could never date someone who did not believe in seeing a medical doctor. Please don’t take my comment the wrong way. I’m just trying to understand. Often we meet people who have some different ideas than we do. 🙂
He told me that my job wasn’t worth doing because modern medicine doesn’t work…I get having alternative ideas, but you at least need to believe that my job exists for a reason!
OK, now I understand. Yeah you did the right thing. That dirty dog. 🙂
The Sangria looks yummy.
I have the greatest respect for doctors, both modern and holistic. Hearing a doctor of either sort tell me he or she doesn’t believe in the other causes a verry quick egress. Treatment for a great many illnesses, disorders, and diseases would be far more effective with more shared knowledge.
That was my big problem…I’m a bit proponent of using all types of medicine to heal someone- you can’t just write off an entire field of medicine!
Stick with the drugs. Alternative anaesthetics should involve too much drink and recreational narcotics and should never be used in surgery:)
Yeah…I can see alcohol having adverse effects during surgery 😉
Wow a lot of liquor in that Sangria
Sorry about your bad 2nd date 😦 unfortunate odd AM guy
You can feel free to admit the vodka and liquor if desired, or to increase the lemonade or the soda water.
Haha, we don’t see a doctor regularly either (funny how anti-doctor types are usually ok with dentists..?), but I am set to have a c section due to complete placenta previa and you bet I am glad for modern technology/medicine and I want a good anesthesiologist to make sure I don’t feel my stomach being cut open!
I don’t have any issue with not seeing a doctor regularly, but at least you acknowledged that my job is needed!
Oh my golly, your dating posts crack me up. Sometimes I think these things in my head about situations like this, and so glad to know someone else does too:)
Glad to know it’s not just me 😉
LOL. Good thing you found out on date 2 not 20!
That would have been really unfortunate!
OMG I love your blog!!! I’m cracking up at the juxtaposition of a date gone sour with what might literally be the best and simplest sangria recipe I’ve ever seen. Looking forward to reading more! 🙂
Glad you liked it!
Not a match made in heaven I guess…
Unfortunately “does not believe in medicine” is not a checkbox one can click on Match.com
🙂 Yeah… I understand. But hey, comical relief nonetheless. Those are the dates you never forget 🙂
Hilarious! But all funniness aside, I really don’t understand people like this as all.
I can get not wanting to see a doctor and taking medicine, but not believing in any of it seems a bit weird to me!
First of all, the sangria looks amazing. I hope you had a pitcher after that date. And I hope he paid. How did you not run screaming from the room? Or not laugh at him? Idiot…
OMG. Alternatives to anesthetics? Really has no clue, does he? Surgery RN here. Some people are better tolerated with meds on board. There are days when the Versed can’t kick in soon enough 🙂
There are patients that I have to see outside the OR where I wish I could dose them before needing to walk in their room…
The sad part is that the older these “funny” guys get, they become purely psychotic. Had a few dates like that with guys in their 40s where I seriously regretted not bringing some Zyprexa from the hospital, they clearly needed some drugs, not alternative medicine. 🙂
On the flip side though, having worked in palliatve care for many years, had to educate too many doctors who were afraid to prescribe some pain killers to terminally ill so they “wouldn’t get addicted”. Seriously?? Let it be their worst problem! If I were in their shoes, bring on the drugs, marijuana and lots of this Sangria!
I used to work for hospice, so I know what you mean. At least I feel like some of the culture here is changing to where we are no longer as afraid to write for pain meds- they help! And really…I feel like saying sometimes that “hospice means less than 6 months to live, remember?” to people worried about addiction! Though we did have a patient that improve so much that he actually “survived hospice” (as he joked) and is still alive now more than 8 years later!
yes, I’ve witnessed a few miracles like that myself, those are the best!
Ok…that is just good stuff right there! Love what you are doing here! I didn’t see the “sangria as an alternative to some anesthesia” bit coming and laughed out loud. Awesome. And…by the way, thank you for what you do and are doing! I believe that there’s a place for someholistic and natural alternatives, and then you need some actual medicine. I am SO thankful for experts like you.
Aww thank you! I appreciate it 🙂
I’m pretty sure that deep breathing is NOT gonna get anyone through surgery. Just sayin. Also— you were freshly pressed? Congrats!!! That is super cool!
Also… if you don’t read this blog/follow her on Twitter you should:
http://advinbabysittingmen.wordpress.com/
Soooo funny.
Yeah it happened a week or so ago- I was super excited!!
No I hadn’t found that one yet- hilarious!! I feel like she and I would be friends (especially after my recent stint with online dating).
HAHA!! Priceless! I had a guy ask me what my major was in college, and I told him I was a Baking & Pastry major (at the time). And he goes “Oh..so you go to school to learn how to bake cookies? Well, atleast you know you belong in the kitchen.” I was speechless!! Needless to say that didn’t work out so well!! LOL
PS: I nominated you for the Inspirational Blogger Award! TA-DA!!
http://jessiehomemaker.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/inspiring-blogger-award/
Oh…wow…I’m practically speechless.
Thank you as well!
I vote in favor of the jug of Pink Alternative Medicine =) …. I really would have liked to hear what he said to “So what do you think about my job? Do you think it’s necessary or would the patients be better off if they smoked weed while get cut up?”
Oh he wasn’t down with recreational drugs either besides alcohol…
Thanks! Feel free to adjust the liquor/lemonade to taste- I know each person is different!
Well thank you for the ‘follow’ I’m glad you liked my Blog and I have to say yours is keeping me thoroughly entertained. I sounds like you are better shot of this guy, he sounds an idiot.
How do you put someone to sleep with alternative medicine? Is that even possible?
I’ve heard of people using hypnosis…
Hey! Just wanted to say, I’m a student of naturopathic medicine and we don’t all think the way your date does. In fact, as a profession we believe in a need for ALL healthcare practitioners, hopefully in a model where we can all work together. A naturopathic doctor’s place is in primary care, prevention and lifestyle changes with natural therapies. We try to intervene BEFORE patients need surgery. However, if a patient of ours requires surgery, as per our (and modern medical) guidelines then we REFER to you and your team. And we hope that our patient will receive anesthetic when undergoing a surgical procedure! Just a comment from a fan of your blog.
I know! He’s literally the only person I ever met that was so against modern medicine (and he of all things was a stockbroker, so I guess the rest of technology was okay????)! I don’t walk into a room without assuming that my patients are doing at least one form of complementary therapy- I only hope they let me know what it is so I know how to better tailor their modern medicine!
That’s great! I love to hear that more integration is happening in the wonderful field of health!
As someone who has a HUGE tolerance to normal pain drugs (they’ve had to cut back on my meds because my heart rate and blood pressure were dropping), let me tell you I LOVE what you do! Thank you, thank you, thank you! My last surgery, the Dr. listened to my concerns, checked my records, and gave me an epidural before I awoke. Heaven! It was the difference between being in pain for weeks and having no pain when I left the hospital two days later. Most of the time, I’m crunchy-green…but when it comes to surgery – do your magic!
Even if you’re crunchy green you still need medication (insulin) for type I diabetes- I’m not sure if that would have been okay with his family!
Thanks for following my blog. Hope some quips fit your interests and/or concerns. And Happy New Year!
Hilarious! How did he think he was going to impress you? I don’t think he was very bright.