New Endo Appointment

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I saw an Endo today at my PCP's request.It was such a waste of time.

She didn't bother to find out why I was there or what the situation was.

She assumed I was a new diabetic and started rattling off the basic

stuff.I couldn't get a word in edgewise she started writing scripts for

me for a diabetes educator,Have One,2 differant drugs I've already

tried,and a couple of drugs that my PCP tried to prescribe last week

that the insurance wouldn't pay for.At one point she told me to get

dressed,walked out of the room a few minutes later walked back in and

said " where's your gown? " I said " we've already done that part. "

The only news was she told me to stop eating any fruit.Never heard that

one before.

What do you all think?

Cat

[Guest guest]

I think that's just nuts. I have been so disappointed in doctors lately.

The best care I've gotten so far was from my diabetic nurse practitioner at

a diabetes clinic I went to. But I have other issues so I can't just go to

her. And then you or your insurance company has to the pay the high cost

for this doctor who basically did nothing to help you. Blah!

New Endo Appointment

Hi All,

I saw an Endo today at my PCP's request.It was such a waste of time.

She didn't bother to find out why I was there or what the situation was.

She assumed I was a new diabetic and started rattling off the basic stuff.I

couldn't get a word in edgewise she started writing scripts for me for a

diabetes educator,Have One,2 differant drugs I've already tried,and a couple

of drugs that my PCP tried to prescribe last week that the insurance

wouldn't pay for.At one point she told me to get dressed,walked out of the

room a few minutes later walked back in and said " where's your gown? " I said

" we've already done that part. "

The only news was she told me to stop eating any fruit.Never heard that one

before.

What do you all think?

Cat

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To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to:

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Hope you come back soon!

[Guest guest]

Cat,

I wouldn't wish that endo on anyone. Make sure and let your PCP

know about the kind of treatment you received. It probably wouldn't

hurt to let your insurance company know too. Like they say, " the

squeaky wheel gets the most grease " .

As for not eating fruit, I'm guessing your triglycerides were high.

The endo should have explained to you that fruit elevates your

triglycerides. Fried foods and even cola drinks (they contain

citric acid) can also cause an elevation.

When I first went to my endo my triglycerides were over 600 and I

was able to reduce them by more than 50% by just cutting out the

above listed foods within 3 months.

I hope this helps you.

Marie

>

> Hi All,

> I saw an Endo today at my PCP's request.It was such a waste of

time.

> She didn't bother to find out why I was there or what the

situation was.

> She assumed I was a new diabetic and started rattling off the

basic

> stuff.I couldn't get a word in edgewise she started writing

scripts for

> me for a diabetes educator,Have One,2 differant drugs I've already

> tried,and a couple of drugs that my PCP tried to prescribe last

week

> that the insurance wouldn't pay for.At one point she told me to

get

> dressed,walked out of the room a few minutes later walked back in

and

> said " where's your gown? " I said " we've already done that part. "

> The only news was she told me to stop eating any fruit.Never heard

that

> one before.

> What do you all think?

> Cat

>

[Guest guest]

,

I've also had some disappointing experiences with doctors, and I just fired

the doctor I have been to a couple of times since I've been in Pensacola. My

Medicare kicked in in March and, though Medicare doesn't normally cover an

annual physical, they do allow for a one-time " Welcome to Medicare " physical.

When I went to have mine done, I was dumbfounded by how incomplete it was.

Essentially I got a pap test. She didn't check anything, didn't even inquire

about my diabetes control or check my breathing (I have asthma). It took me a

few weeks to sit down and do it, but I wrote a letter giving the details of my

visit, asking that the charges be resubmitted to Medicare as a pap test visit,

so that I could get a proper physical and have Medicare cover it. Well, I

talked to the doctor's office today, and they are going to do just that. I have

rounded up another doctor, whom I will see in two weeks. I hope to have a

better experience with this one. She came

recommended by a lady in my diabetes education class.

Dawson GlassArtist@...> wrote:

I think that's just nuts. I have been so disappointed in doctors lately.

The best care I've gotten so far was from my diabetic nurse practitioner at

a diabetes clinic I went to. But I have other issues so I can't just go to

her. And then you or your insurance company has to the pay the high cost

for this doctor who basically did nothing to help you. Blah!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Unfortunately I've heard a few stories like that. What you did was the

right thing. I am learning now (through experience) that I have to be more

proactive in my own health care and use my own gut feelings about the things

doctors tell me and whether or not I want to take their advice and

recommendations. It's just frustrating and sometimes I just can't seem to

cope with it all very well...it becomes overwhelming.

I'm going to bed... We'll see what tomorrow brings.

RE: New Endo Appointment

,

I've also had some disappointing experiences with doctors, and I just

fired the doctor I have been to a couple of times since I've been in

Pensacola. My Medicare kicked in in March and, though Medicare doesn't

normally cover an annual physical, they do allow for a one-time " Welcome to

Medicare " physical. When I went to have mine done, I was dumbfounded by how

incomplete it was. Essentially I got a pap test. She didn't check anything,

didn't even inquire about my diabetes control or check my breathing (I have

asthma). It took me a few weeks to sit down and do it, but I wrote a letter

giving the details of my visit, asking that the charges be resubmitted to

Medicare as a pap test visit, so that I could get a proper physical and

have Medicare cover it. Well, I talked to the doctor's office today, and

they are going to do just that. I have rounded up another doctor, whom I

will see in two weeks. I hope to have a better experience with this one.

She came recommended by a lady in my diabetes education class.

Dawson GlassArtist@...> wrote:

I think that's just nuts. I have been so disappointed in doctors lately.

The best care I've gotten so far was from my diabetic nurse practitioner

at

a diabetes clinic I went to. But I have other issues so I can't just go

to

her. And then you or your insurance company has to the pay the high cost

for this doctor who basically did nothing to help you. Blah!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi All,

> I saw an Endo today at my PCP's request.It was such a waste of time.

> She didn't bother to find out why I was there or what the situation was.

> Cat

Cat,

I hope you fire that doctor, and that you also complain to your local

medical board. You may also wish to send the doctor a letter of

complaint, though she may not care. Unfortunately, there are bad

doctors, but we don't need to patronize them.

My wife recently fires her doctor at my suggestion because he just

wasn't helping her get rid of her persistent lung problems (Pneumonia

& many colds). Her new MD cleared the problem up in a month.

I like to tell people that half the MDs graduate in the bottom half of

their class.

I hope you can resolve this problem soon.

Giles.

[Guest guest]

> I hope you fire that doctor, and that you also complain to your local

> medical board. You may also wish to send the doctor a letter of

> complaint, though she may not care.

The phrase 'fire that doctor' keeps coming up. I have a couple of comments

about it (and this situation).

First, based upon Cat's email, there is nothing to complain to the local

medical board about. Nothing illegal, immoral or ethically wrong was done.

Just because you don't like a doctors 'bedside' manner doesn't mean that

there is a cause for a written complaint to the medical board. (Unless you

have documentation of a specific problem, your 'complaint' will be given a

cursory review and put in the category of a personality conflict between

doctor and patient.) It accomplishes little (other than making you feel

good), and adds to the 'noise' ratio that these individuals receive and

might prevent them from identifying a legitimate problem with another

doctor, a problem that may result in a life or death situation.

As far as the 'firing' statement goes... again you may feel good saying you

fired the doctor, but unless you take the time to write to them and give

them a detailed 'unemotional' accounting of the problems you had with the

visit and explain that you won't be coming back (or referring acquaintances

to them), you have done nothing special and nothing that thousands of people

do every day with everyone from a hairstylist to a restaurant... you just

quit going and the target of your anger has no knowledge of your concern and

probably doesn't even notice you missing.

I guess my point is venting is one thing... but if you expect to make a

change, you need to draft a rational, unemotional response to the situation

(one that will make them stop, read and consider... instead of shrug, say

'whatever' and toss it in the trash), and direct it to the appropriate

individual... the individual who can make the appropriate changes. In this

case, it appears to be the doctor him/herself.

Mike

[Guest guest]

Mike:

Much of what you say is true. And the truth of it is sad. Personally, I

think doctors SHOULD care about their patients. It SHOULD matter to a

doctor if a patient leaves. I have written to doctors before, in the manner

you suggest. I've yet to have such communication make any impact. I can

tell you that there are a number of times I wish I'd have had the surgeon

save my 115 gram thyroid - there are a number of desks I'd like to plop it

on - " Here is my perfectly normal thyroid, Dr. So-and-so. " I suffered

tremendously for six years before finding an endocrinologist who, in a

matter of FIVE minutes accurately diagnosed the problem and immediately

scheduled surgery. The problem was removed within two weeks. FIVE YEARS I

had to schlep around only to be told to " eat less " , " exercise more " , " take

PhenFen " , " take antidepressants " . I was sick. Very sick, and was getting

absolutely no where because not a single general practitioner was willing to

look beyond the magical TSH test to SEE that I had a big problem, despite

the myriad of other symptoms.

Sadly, so often we have to be our own advocates and the mainstream medical

community resents it greatly.

The endo I just saw was quite miffed at my knowledge when he discovered that

I do NOT work in the field. At his inquiry I said, " No. I don't work in

the medical field, never have. I do, however, own a body and it has been my

experience that it is essential to be knowledgeable about the functions of

this body and to be able to speak in medically and anatomically correct

terminology. It avoids misunderstandings. "

His culminating opinion was that I should see a nutritionist and come back

in six months. Waste of my time. Waste of his. To be fair with regard to

this particular doctor, I think that the fact that I AM self-educated and I

DO know quite a lot about my particular medical situation gave him little to

add. This, in contrast to the two doctors who felt I should take PhenFen -

and repeatedly assured me that it was " totally safe " . I declined the

offers, much to my long-lasting relief! ;oD

The bottom line is that not all doctors are a good fit for all patient.

Like mental health professionals, it sometimes takes sorting through bad

fits to find a good mix. If a patient is not getting what they want or need

from their physician, it is fair to discuss that, but, ultimately, I'd

suggest looking elsewhere. I recently made an appointment with a local

doctor who offers " meet and greet " appointments - I liked her, I think our

philosophies will mesh and will probably switch, as my current doctor is WAY

too interested in throwing pills at symptoms to make me comfortable.

C

Re: Re: New Endo Appointment

> I hope you fire that doctor, and that you also complain to your local

> medical board. You may also wish to send the doctor a letter of

> complaint, though she may not care.

The phrase 'fire that doctor' keeps coming up. I have a couple of comments

about it (and this situation).

First, based upon Cat's email, there is nothing to complain to the local

medical board about. Nothing illegal, immoral or ethically wrong was done.

Just because you don't like a doctors 'bedside' manner doesn't mean that

there is a cause for a written complaint to the medical board. (Unless you

have documentation of a specific problem, your 'complaint' will be given a

cursory review and put in the category of a personality conflict between

doctor and patient.) It accomplishes little (other than making you feel

good), and adds to the 'noise' ratio that these individuals receive and

might prevent them from identifying a legitimate problem with another

doctor, a problem that may result in a life or death situation.

As far as the 'firing' statement goes... again you may feel good saying you

fired the doctor, but unless you take the time to write to them and give

them a detailed 'unemotional' accounting of the problems you had with the

visit and explain that you won't be coming back (or referring acquaintances

to them), you have done nothing special and nothing that thousands of people

do every day with everyone from a hairstylist to a restaurant... you just

quit going and the target of your anger has no knowledge of your concern and

probably doesn't even notice you missing.

I guess my point is venting is one thing... but if you expect to make a

change, you need to draft a rational, unemotional response to the situation

(one that will make them stop, read and consider... instead of shrug, say

'whatever' and toss it in the trash), and direct it to the appropriate

individual... the individual who can make the appropriate changes. In this

case, it appears to be the doctor him/herself.

Mike

[Guest guest]

>

> Much of what you say is true. And the truth of it is sad. Personally, I

> think doctors SHOULD care about their patients. It SHOULD matter to a

> doctor if a patient leaves. I have written to doctors before, in the

> manner

> you suggest. I've yet to have such communication make any impact.

True, doctors SHOULD care about their patients. But, you know... bus

drivers should care about their passengers, so should cab drivers. Clerks

at the bank should care about their customers. Even the guy at Mcs

who asks " Do you want fries with that " should care... We just hold doctors

to a much higher level. Maybe it's because we spend that little bit of time

with them behind a closed door telling them things other people don't want

to hear about.

Also, just because you haven't received a response to your communication,

you don't know whether or not it made an impact. You may not have received

the satisfaction of having a doctor beg you to continue to be their

patient... but maybe you did provide the feed back, or insight that

physician needed to better help the next person who came through their door.

You make an important point... not all doctors are a good fit for all

patients. However, that doesn't mean that the doctor is at fault.. or that

the patient is either. It means that, like so many, many times in life...

two individuals just don't click.

Mike

[Guest guest]

I have a number of medical conditions and have many surgeries, and I have had

some really good doctors over the years, and some really bad ones who ranged

from indifferent to incompetent. I just reported that I am leaving a doctor who

IMO was indifferent and possibly incompetent. When I complained about the

incomplete " physical " I got as part of my " Welcome to Medicare " physical, the

office did the right thing: they are rebilling Medicare with another code so

that I can go get a proper physical elsewhere. So my carefully written letter

of complaint did what I had hoped it would.

Several years ago I had some sort of disagreement with my doctor and chose to

move along to a new one, but I did write a letter letting him know my feelings.

I can't even recall what the issue was now, and I don't recall if he responded

to my letter. Oddly enough, though, this doctor called me out of the blue two

years later. He said that he never forgot me and thanked me for the letter,

which let him see things differently and prompted him to make some changes.

The subject of doctor/patient relationships has always interested me, and

when I went back to school (at the age of 38), I did a research paper on the

topic. It was revealing to learn about it from the doctor's point of view, and

helped me be more forgiving. These are delicate relationships, even for the

caring doctor who is trying so hard to get things right for the good of his/her

patient. I don't forgive, however, those who are indifferent, arrogant, or who

are too rushed to give good medicine. I did leave one of my very favorite

doctors, a rheumatologist, because he overbooked (4 patients in 15 minutes) and

patients might wait for 3 or 4 hours to see him for a scheduled appointment --

he would not stop taking new patients. Though I didn't write him a letter

(though I should have), I did let him know why I wouldn't be coming anymore.

On 8/1/06, Clayton

claytonsecretarialplus@...> wrote:

>

> Much of what you say is true. And the truth of it is sad. Personally, I

> think doctors SHOULD care about their patients. It SHOULD matter to a

> doctor if a patient leaves. I have written to doctors before, in the

> manner

> you suggest. I've yet to have such communication make any impact.

_._,___

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Sounds like she wasn't concentrating...............not the sort of person

you want dealing with your health

Love sue n xx

http://community.webshots.com/user/sue_nicholson2002

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/FeatherSaturnweb/

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sue_nicholson2002/my_photos

http://community.webshots.com/user/FeatherSaturnweb2002

-- New Endo Appointment

Hi All,

I saw an Endo today at my PCP's request.It was such a waste of time.

She didn't bother to find out why I was there or what the situation was.

She assumed I was a new diabetic and started rattling off the basic

stuff.I couldn't get a word in edgewise she started writing scripts for

me for a diabetes educator,Have One,2 differant drugs I've already

tried,and a couple of drugs that my PCP tried to prescribe last week

that the insurance wouldn't pay for.At one point she told me to get

dressed,walked out of the room a few minutes later walked back in and

said " where's your gown? " I said " we've already done that part. "

The only news was she told me to stop eating any fruit.Never heard that

one before.

What do you all think?

Cat

Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/

To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to:

diabetes-unsubscribe

Hope you come back soon!