Comments on All Ears: Relationships and Medical Practice - Making a Conn...

OK, so how does a person find a doc like you??I ha...

2007-04-13T13:13:00.000-04:00

OK, so how does a person find a doc like you??
I have to admit that I loved this story but I am also a bit envious of your patients...lol
I have been to 3 PCP's in 5 years and as a matter of fact just went in for a check-up for my 50th birthday..
I have RA but other than that I don't really get sick very often..
I walked into the docs office and the nurse weighed me, took my blood pressure, pulse and temp..I waited for the doc and when he came in he looked at me, listened to my chest and got up to leave..
I stopped him and asked if he would be taking blood tests and he turned around and said "Doesn't your rheumatologist do that??"
I answered by telling him that he only takes tests related to my RA..So he sat down and wrote out a script for bloodwork then immediately got back up to leave..
I had to stop him again to tell him that my hip had been bothering me and that I had been having heart palpitations..
He came back and ordered an echo and an x-ray..
He was in such a hurry to leave he didn't even ask me any questions and didn't order any tests that I have been told should be ordered (ie: colonoscopy etc)
Turned out my x-ray showed my hip has problems and my echo showed mitral valve prolapse..
I felt as though I was bothering him and he just didn't have time for me even though I had made an appt..
I am one of those people that never looks sick even when I am sick and I have been brushed off like that alot..
The last time I was brushed off and told I "looked fine" I had medicine induced lupus and MGUS..
I feel like I have to convince the docs that I don't feel good when I go..
I am just frustrated with PCP's and wish I could figure out a way to find a doc that cares..
A Very frustrated patient

I had a couple of Doctors who were very nice and c...

2007-04-11T12:43:00.000-04:00

I had a couple of Doctors who were very nice and caring but soon left for other places. Since then I have seen two who didn't seem to care if if I were well or almost dead. They had their own agendas, never answered any questions, were rushed and abrupt and my problem went untreated. My husband has a wonderful Doctor and suggested someone for me to see next time.
I sure hope for a better experience.

This is the best article I have read in ages. We ...

2007-04-02T09:40:00.000-04:00

This is the best article I have read in ages. We have a doctor like this even though we live in a suburb of Chicago. He is great. He has gotten my family through tragedies and shared our joy over miracles.

I AM GLAD TO SEE AN ARTICLE LIKE THIS. I HAVE BEEN...

2007-04-01T18:12:00.000-04:00

I AM GLAD TO SEE AN ARTICLE LIKE THIS. I HAVE BEEN IN THE HEALTH CARE BUSINESS FOR OVER 30 YEARS; WORKING DIRECTLY WITH PATIENTS AND/OR CLIENTS IN A THERAPUTIC SETTING. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED TO TREAT OTHERS LIKE I WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED...AND BEING "HUMAN" IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO INSURE POSITIVE RESULTS FROM ANY OF MY INTERVENTIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE MANY IN MY PROFESSION WHO DO NOT BELIEVE THAT....PREFER ROBOT THERAPY (SIC).

I live in a town in North Eastern Iowa of about 35...

2007-04-01T14:43:00.000-04:00

I live in a town in North Eastern Iowa of about 3500 people. We have a clinic with about 3 doctors, 2 P.A.'s and one surgeon. Then we have another clinic in another town about 15 miles away that I go to. There is one doctor there with 2 P.A.'s. I go to one of the PA's. She lives in the town I live in. She knows everyone in my family and I know everyone in her family. Her husband grew up in the small town by where my step-father grew up in and her children were around the age of my son. I had problems with my son (drugs and alcohol) and she was there through it all with me and now she is there with my daughter. The doctor delivered both my children and knows all my health problems and his wife teaches art in the high school where my daughter goes to school, in fact my daughter has her for a teacher. Sometimes we go to some of the other doctors here in town when the weather is bad and we get the same treatment. The one doctor knows my husband real well and my daughter has gone to him several times. One of the other doctors treated me in the emergency room for a migraine headache and also treated my daughter once and the other doctor came from a neighboring town where his youngest daughter was friends with my sisters daughter. So, the only doctor I don't know is the surgeon and that's because I've had most of my surgeries done in the Twin Cities. I love being able to know my doctors and I love knowing they know me and my family. It makes going to them easier. Linda

Re: the 1st post: We did "get out of the city and ...

2007-03-31T22:18:00.000-04:00

Re: the 1st post: We did "get out of the city and into a nice little town", but to many of the locals upon first meeting, I'm a Yankee and therefore an outsider, also since we have no family nearby. Fortunately, I'm a people lover who tries to understand that small towners had plenty of friends before I arrived, so even though I want to get to know them, they sometimes don't feel that way about me. Now after 7 years, we're starting to have some credibility. If you have any relatives at all in a small town, I recommend to go to that town; not one where you'll be total strangers.

You can't connect with every doc, but the doc who ...

2007-03-31T11:56:00.000-04:00

You can't connect with every doc, but the doc who helped me through infertility then delivered my son became such a good friend that her son is named after my son.

Another doc and I play music together, and she found my melanoma when we were in the church kitchen cooking dinner for the youth group. Docs need non-medical friends that they can relax with and be human with. Too many medical people have to appear "perfect" and appreciate friends outside the medical profession. We should have a "Befriend a doc month: it's good for their health".

I liked this post. It was very touching. When yo...

2007-03-23T21:13:00.000-04:00

I liked this post. It was very touching. When you said, "You don't treat an "ear infection in room one," you treat a PERSON who just happens to have an ear infection in room one." This reminds me of the town my great-aunt and uncles live and other relatives. Everyone knows everyone and you get to know them. I recently got back from Southern, Illinois where they live. I was attending a funeral and you would not belive how many people showed up. I think everyone in the town was at the wake and half of the town was at the funeral. I think I need to get out of the city and find a nice little town where you know eveyrone and get to know them. Thanks for a GREAT post.