Need to blow off steam about doctors!

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momstaxi

Completely Boxer Crazy
sorry-long

Yes i do think a 2 hr. wait is ridiculous. I worked as an RN in a family practice office for 15 yrs. I have seen a lot of changes, most NOT for the better. Some are the doctor's faults, some are not. Doctors are under pressure from the insurance companies to see as many patients as they can in the shortest time possible(with managed care insurance).Doctors are also always covering their a#@ from frivilous malpractice suits, which is why they order expensive tests and treatments, even for old, frail people who will probably die any way...(most doctors send their patients out for tests and do not get paid for the tests they order).paperwork is another big problem, so many forms for insurance, billing,referrals,etc. Medical records have to be kept just so for legal protection and for audits from insurance companies. Complicated enough but now with new HIPPA (privacy) laws, everything has gotten even harder. I can't speak for all doctors but most that I have worked for do care about their patients and try to do their best. I think alot of times the system is at fault -not the doctors. But not all the time... I agree with Dan that at times some doctors can be pompous, Know-it-alls who don't listen to their patients at all. They don't want other opinions,suggestions because they are the ones who went to medical school and how dare someone imply they don't know everything. as far as the mammogram family doctors have to suggest them to woman (insurance again). Many women do not see a gyn , but i also agree that once a patient says she does see a gyn the issue should be dropped. Every time I or a family member has to see a doctor I am thankful that I have some medical knowledge and know how things should be handled, at least somewhat, so I can speak up when things aren't being done correctly. I would hate to be a person with limited medical knowledge totally at the mercy of the doctors. That scares me. My DH almost died last year partly because of doctors. He was 42 yrs. old and had been having exertional chest pains, he went to the family doctor (that I previously worked for) and he basically blew it off. You're too young, must be acid reflux, etc. He did order a stress test which was read as normal, even though he had chest pain during the test! Well his symptoms didn't go away and i kept pushing. finally we got him in to see a cardiologist, he had a more sensitive nuclear stress test done and failed it bad and had immediate angioplasty with stenting done. He had 90-90% blockage in 2 main heart arteries and was DAYS away from a major heart attack that he probably would not have survived! we have 3 kids. This occured 1 yr. ago tomorrow and today he is doing well, he has to exercise, eat right and take meds but that is ok. I shudder to think what could have happened if I just listened to the doctor and didn't push for more tests and a cardiac consult. I could go on and on ,even write a book on the problems but instead I got out of the field and switched to school nursing.That has it's own issues but at least the hours are good and I get summers OFF. Sorry so long, but this a hot topic and i had to vent
Michele
 
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lafsalot

Boxer Insane
I so glad that your hubby pushed for more tests, Momstaxi. Something similar happened to me several years ago - because of my relatively young age, I was totally blown off by a cardiologist that I had consulted. I subsequently went to another specialist at a university hospital after what turned out to be several TIAs. Seems I had left sided cardiomyopathy with severe mitral stenosis and regurgitation that the other doc failed to properly diagnosis and treat! My only advoce is to trust your own body - you know when something is wrong. ~ Cathy
 

brwneyesk8

Super Boxer
HA what a crock! I'm sorry you had to go through that but they're a bit off their rocker to tell you 122/80 is high. AND did she specify which direction the curve was it? lol everyone has curvature in their spine. At 40 even if it was a mild mild scoliosis it's not going to get much worse....but you could get that checked anyway if you were worried. Most you could do would be to get an xray to see the amount of curve and have a good DO or Chiropractor give their opinion (and THAT is another expidition in finding one that is fair and good...but they are out there). I'd do the Mamo. Probably time you did. And get a new doctor.
don't feel bad about not leaving the appointnemt.....can't dwell on it now. At least by staying you found an office to NOT refer friends and family to.
A patient at the Chiropractor that I worked for went to a new general practitioner for something and sat for about 2 hours past the appointment time and their 'window' they give you of waiting. He sent the doctor a bill for the time he sat in the waiting room. LOL It wasnt' paid of course, but the doctor did remember that the next time he went and apologized saying it wouldn't happen again unless he had an emergency. :)
 

Scrapper's Mom

Boxer Insane
I agree with everyone else. Find another doctor. A two hour wait is just unacaceptable. And it is very disrespectful of your time. Also, when my internist mentions the mammogram thing, I just tell her I have a gyno and she drops it. I think she is more just checking to make sure I think about it. Geez, I wish my blood pressure could be a good as yours :rolleyes:

Dan is also right, you have to be your own advocate. Unless you have a long-time relationship with someone you like who treats you like a person, you are just a case study file to them. I had surgery a couple of years ago and I had a wonderful surgeon - he gave me his home phone number and said his wife was an OB, he was used to being waked at all hours and I could call ANYtime if I had any questions. And my lady ob-gyn is a real sweetheart.

Keep looking!
 

momstaxi

Completely Boxer Crazy
Wow, what a topic. Cathy , I'm so glad you got another opinion too. You are right we know our own bodies best and have to keep pushing.
Linda, if I were you I would not go back there either and I also agree that the scoliosis is not a problem. first of all it doesn't bother you and it typically only gets worse during childhood and adolescent growth spurts, which you're past. Just call them for your bloodtest results in about a week, have them send you a copy and you'll have it for your next doctor. Good luck
michele
 

Madison's Mom

Completely Boxer Crazy
Linda: I have to pipe in one more time....... the doc does not have to give you a copy of the blood results. He has to tell you the results however. I would suggest you find a new doc soon and tell the old doc to fax the results to the new guy directly. I have work in the dental/medical field for over 25 years so I kind of know the in's and out's of how they like to play the game.

I hope all comes out well on your blood tests:)

Also, if you are using health insurance, report them to your plan. They can do more to assist you in the doc's behavior.

I once had to have something removed from my scalp...I knew it had to be removed! The doctor scheduled me an appt and said yep....needs to come off but we'll have to schedule you another appt. That was just so he could get two co-pays at $35.00 each plus be able to charge for two appts. Believe me, the insurance knew about it right away.

Sorry for the rant but last time I checked, doctor does not spell GOD. :)
 

Linda/NJ

Boxer Insane
Tulsa-Dan They are all under the control of drug manufacturers and insurance companies. They aren't interested in helping people and curing illness anymore. What in the world happened to the old fashioned General Family Doctor? I sure do miss the "good old days." Dan[/QUOTE said:
I totally agree. Dan, so glad you found a doctor that figured out what was wrong. I am still steaming over yesterday. I am gonna get them to telll me the results and go elsewhere, not stepping foot in that office again. I think the spine curve is baloney too, I don't experience a problem, why should I go for an xray! I think this doctor wants to suck money out of me & every damn test out there. Thanks for listening everyone & all your advice:)

P.S. Momstaxi (Michele) So glad your hubby is doing well now & he found out what was wrong with him. How scary!
 
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MyGirlHeidi

Completely Boxer Crazy
One time I needed to get an ultrasound done at the OB (I wasn't prego) and the doctor and nurse completely forgot about me. I sat in the room w/ just that green tie back robe on and my socks for like 1hr 45 min. I kept checking and looking around but there was nobody..I was down this hall and there was nobody around. I was sooo pissed so I finally pulled my robe together and walked down to see if there was anybody working or if they all went home and left me in there! I saw the doc come out of one room and looked at me totally shocked! I was scheduled for an ultra sound on one of the off days for that so he forgot about me. I thought that was real nice and I even got to pay the office visit charge!
 

Linda/NJ

Boxer Insane
I finally got my blood test results. I called & left a message last week, did not hear a thing, so called Monday morning & the girl said the doctor would call me with the results. She did call, everything is normal. She did confirm I have high cholestrol at 240 but my triglycerides are 90, that is considered normal. It runs in the family, other than that I am thin & don't smoke. I will try & alter my diet (I love sweets). She suggested I do that & not go back for a couple of months and another cholestrol test. They really don't want to put me on meds for someone my age. I have this info & got it for a new doctor, I just played along that I was going back there but not after that fiasco. I am glad to know all is ok:)
 

Kosmo's Mom

Super Boxer
I agree with everyone here. Find yourself a better doctor. You should not have had to wait such a ridiculous amount of time.
My worst doctor appointment was my first gyno visit.
I was 18 and did not have insurance so I had to pay out of my pocket.
I waited an hour & when I finally got taken the doc does her usual examinations and then asks me how much I weigh.
I was & still am thin, (of course not as thin I used to be:)
So I tell her my weight & she says, "Boy you are underweight".
No Sh** Sherlock. You could tell that by just looking at me at the time.
Then she told me I had a heart murmur & she wanted to do tests to check it out.
Ok first off I am paying $80 (that was 10+ years ago) for this visit so maybe you could put me on the scale and you could tell ME how much I weigh instead of vice versa. As far as the heart murmur I never heard that before I went to her or after so needless to say I never went back to that quack!
 
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