When to fire your Doctor

[navydad]

We will never find the perfect doctor, as they are all human and none of them are perfect. It comes as no surprise to most of us that they call their profession ?the practice of medicine.? One of the leading causes of death and injury in the United States is medical mistakes.

The Institute of Medicine calculates that, due to medical mistakes, anywhere from 44,000 to 98,000 people actually die in hospitals in the U.S. each year. This is more than from motor vehicle accidents or breast cancer.

Regardless of whether you are generally healthy, or live with a chronic illness, you still need a physician you can trust. Though an occasional small mistake may occur, it is especially important that you have a doctor who is eager to be part of your medical team for both short-term and long-term treatment.

Are there some sure signs you shouldn?t listen to your doctor and you should seek a second opinion, or maybe even shop around for a new physician? Definitely!

1. Your doctor does not listen to all of your symptoms or ask questions about them. He is quick to write down his interpretation when you have not fully been able to explain yourself.

2. Your doctor is determined to prescribe medications that have just been approved by the F.D.A., even though you are hesitant about trying something new. He doesn?t explain what the medication will treat, and why it?s important for your condition. He doesn?t explain short or long term side effects or any plan to get you off of it. Promotional items for these medications are visible around the office, from notepads to clocks.

3. Your doctor seems to know a lesser amount of information about your condition that you do. You often feel like your appointments are just times when you show up and inform him of your well-being and what is new about your condition, and he takes notes.

4. Your doctor appears to lack confidence about his ability to care for you effectively, seldom giving you medical advice or directions. Instead, he seems to tell you to do whatever you believe is best or asks, ?Well, what do you think we should do in this case??

5. Your doctor is quick to order tests or procedures that could impact your current health or your chronic illness in a negative way. He forgets that intrusive procedures that may be minor for some people could cause set backs in your illness. The best physician always keeps your whole body and condition in mind, not just the part he specializes in.

6. Your doctor seems to give you that look like he is humoring you. When you describe something you read, or ask a question about a new treatment you have heard about, he looks at you with skepticism and a smile and then writes some notes. It feels condescending.

7. Your doctor isn?t open with you about the medical records he has kept about you. When you request copies of your records, he may be willing to fax them to another physician but seems to try to avoid you getting them into your hands. One reason it?s vital to be aware of what is in your medical records is in case you submit an application for disability aid at some time and social security disability review doctors wish to examine your records.

8. Your doctor is never available when you need him. When you have an emergency he cannot get you in for an appointment immediately. Your prescriptions aren?t refilled on time. He doesn?t call you back when you have an urgent situation and must page him.

9. Your doctor is doubtful that you are having the severity of pain that you describe to him. He is hesitant about prescribing you pain medication, even though your pain level justifies it and you have proven to be a responsible patient with your medications.

10. Your doctor is never open to consulting other medical professionals or faxing his notes over to your other physicians. He thinks he can solve all of your medical needs and feels threatened when you want to consult with another source, specialist, or someone else on your medical team.

A good doctor will listen to you as much as possible, take good notes, explain medications, and make you feel like you are part of your medical team

[Sha]

Lol love# 9!!

How many docs have ya fired?

Where did Kurt Cobain go, navydad?

Happy new year....

Sha~ who wants a doc who wont break any of the rules!!

[Carolina]

MMMMMM

I've fired two, but only one to her face, outraged!

Well, I've also vowed never to return to one more.

Sigh, we just want things to be good.

NOT too happy with my new neurologist, but I don't have to see him again.

And until things get worse (and they may not) I'm all set.

Happy New Year to one and all.

Kisses.

Elaine

[Patze]

Okay, I think I'm going to set a record of sorts (not one that I wanted too by any means)....  So far, I've fired one GP (to her face), three neuros, four endos, one opthamologist, and sing it pretty folks - "and a partridge in a pear treeeeeeee" (I knew that you could!  And y'all aren't too bad either )!

I've had doctors do number five now and then, but it's mainly been one and six.


Patze

[anita]

I've fired a neuro (years ago) and a GP...both in writing with detailed explanations.

[Patty]

That is a good list! I am on my 3rd GP and still not happy with her. Left the 1st rheum - should have fired my 2nd rheum but was lucky to move and be referred to a really great (3rd) one who listened to me for 1 -3/4 hours during my last appt and prescribed treatment based on what I told her was going on, rather than more non-productive tests ( I am on so many drugs, everything is always normal or inconclusive, but some drs insist on testing anyway). It has not always been smooth with her, but we are working on building a good paitent - dr relationship, which does take some time. My neurologist is also very good. I would like to move back to my home state, but at this point, would hate to leave my drs and start over.
Patty

[irish]

Patze, you are a scream. I love the fact that you aren't aggressive. A little assertiveness is always a good thing isn't it.

I have to add that although I didn't fire this doc (I only saw him a couple of times) I did get in his face.

I have to post this cause I was going through my notes on doctors visits looking for some info and came across something I had forgotten about.

Early on in my qwest for cure-- I know, cure isn't the right word is it. Well, I was very green when I started on this qwest. Anyway, I went with hubby to this oral surgeon and when I sat down in his office the receptionist gave me my chart to take in with me. I have NEVER seen that happen before or since!!! Naturally, I sort of scanned down through some of the stuff he had written and I came across the sentence "she is obsessive about her teeth" and it went on a little more.

Now, I knew then as I know now that doctors can be very judgemental but I was so angry when I saw that. I started to cry while sitting in the waiting room with other patients. I am not much of a crier, but I was so mad. I told my hubby to read it and told him I can't believe he would say that. I carried on and on and continued to cry and people were starting to look at me.

Well, I didn't care a hoot. Pretty soon the receptionist came and took the chart from me and took me into the doctors office. We talked a little and before I left I told him "how dare you chart that I am obsessive". I went on and on and I told him that if I ever heard of him charting on me like that again he would have to answer for it.

Now that I think back on that I wish I would have cried in a few other doctors waiting room with my husband there to complain to about the doc. Retribution can be sweet. I should send him a picture of me with all my teeth pulled. Irish

[Patze]

Hi Irish, yeah, I'm not happy with having to be a bit "aggressive", but that GP taught me the hard way what not to accept, and I no longer do.  And I'm also on my third ENT, egads!

And I'm sorry to hear that the dentist was a bit "obsessive" about his notes, that must have been awful.

Hi Anita, in writing and with detailed explanations?  Now that must have raised an eyebrow or two in their offices.

Hi Patty, 1 3/4 hours with the rheumy?  Lucky you!  Wow, can you tell that I'm a bit jealous!  

Y'all have a great day!

Patze

[Autoimmunity]

Good article.  I had to fire my first endo even though I really liked her because she told me it would be illegal for her to treat me with thyroid medication because my labwork appeared normal (autoimmune thyroid).  Hello...not asking for vicodin and her attitude towards treating my condition was very old school.  Not sure how sick she wanted me to get before actually treating my symptoms.
With my new endo, #3 totally applies.  Charges me $35 so I can wait 2-3 hours to see him every 4 weeks and tell him how much sicker I am getting and he can think about if he wants to treat my new problem and decides let's wait another 4 weeks.  Meanwhile, I become unable to move my arms or legs etc. and my gp tells me she knows my endo and he is a nut and she refers me to a rheumatologist who actually treats me.  Unfortunately I cannot fire him because he is the only doctor I can get to prescribe me armour thyroid and nuvigil.  He is going to be pretty upset when I go back next and he finds out another doctor prescribed the medications he was withholding.
Is it normal to be afraid of your own doctor or how he is going to react    Yipes.

[susan]

Hi & Happy New Year!

I am new to this site. Enjoyed the discussion regarding letting physicians "go".
I have done this twice:
1. Years ago, my ob-gyn fell soundly asleep as I was explaining an issue I felt was important. I woke him, started to explain again, & he nodded off a second time. I said good-bye & walked out. This is very funny to me now!
2. Recently, my internist failed to return my call for 3 days. I had been a patient for 15 years, but the trust was gone as he did not explain why he didn't call. Have since found a good "doctor's doctor".

[CAT1962]

OMG, Susan!   Your GYN?? What if he fell asleep while doing an EXAM! Must have been a LONG, busy baby night! (The visual of walking out and saying goodbye DID make me smile!) 

[Patze]

Hi Autoimmunity,

One doctor won't treat you because your TSH is "within" normal limits?  Okay, and then you pay $35 per visit to have another doctor debate whether he will prescribe a med at every visit, and then doesn't after all?  Oh my, I have no words for this...and I thought I had some dozy doctors over the years.

If the endo is giving you the run around, will your GP prescribe the Armour and Nuvigil instead of waiting for the endo?  I know that I have another doctor prescribing Armour while I find an endo that I can work with. 

I don't know what to say about your endo, he sure has my head hurting.   Do you happen to know what scale is he is judging your TSH results against?

Hang in there and I sure hope that you can get help soon!

Take care of yourself -

Patze

[Autoimmunity]

Hi Autoimmunity,

One doctor won't treat you because your TSH is "within" normal limits?  Okay, and then you pay $35 per visit to have another doctor debate whether he will prescribe a med at every visit, and then doesn't after all?  Oh my, I have no words for this...and I thought I had some dozy doctors over the years.

If the endo is giving you the run around, will your GP prescribe the Armour and Nuvigil instead of waiting for the endo?  I know that I have another doctor prescribing Armour while I find an endo that I can work with. 

I don't know what to say about your endo, he sure has my head hurting.   Do you happen to know what scale is he is judging your TSH results against?

Hang in there and I sure hope that you can get help soon!

Take care of yourself -

Patze

Haha...made me laugh.  The first endo refused tyroid meds, the second gives me thyroid meds based on symptoms, not lab tests (which is actually a good thing), however, kept putting off putting me on plaquenil even though I couldn't walk or move my arms etc. because I would have monthly flares where my joints would swell and cause incredible pain.  And he knew it and made me keep coming back monthly for at least 4 -5 months, each time again deciding not to treat me   The thing that got me the last time I saw him (I haven't been back for two months) is he told ME what MY pain felt like.  He has never asked, he simply told me  
I have been debating with myself about my gp prescribing the thyroid and nuvigil, however, that office is highly anti armour thyroid.  Every time I have gone there they try to switch me to synthroid when I have been doing just fine on the armour.  And I know they will be very strict about lab levels which doesn't make sense with hashi's, you need to treat the symptoms.  So, I think I am stuck going back to my endo who I think will be mad that another doctor prescribed the plaquenil. 

[puccini914]

Guys, I don't know if that was really Navydad.  It says "guest".  I hope it is, those are all very good points.  I've fired 3 doctors.   All set me back in treatment and pain and suffering.  Waste of precious time.  Things are getting better, I hope.

Peace be with you.
Jennifer

[Rhonda]

I recently fired my neurologist who told me "I think you expect too much from doctors."  I only expected him to help with the neuropathy and the medication he offered did not help.    I see my GP on Monday and plan to tell her about the doctor she routinely uses for referrals - and ask for a new one. 

Great posts everyone.