The First Day: A Doctor that Cares About Me
A Doctor that Cares About Me
Rachmonos with Action
This is the ballgame. Without that one person, that one doctor, who cares about you and your health then you might as well say goodbye to the world now. In Latin there is an expression "sine quo non" which translated somewhat into English is "without which there is none." In New York English: "If you ain't got this you are screwed."
We all read about all these various people who are managing our health care to make sure we are healthy. We have the "managed care" companies, for example. If you go to any of their web sites you will almost believe that they care about your health. They care primarily that you BELIEVE they care about your health so they can sell more plans. The list goes on and on about whether drug campanies, politicians, hospitals, and others care, but since I have these juicy tidbits in the later days I will concentrate on the topic at hand.
What does it mean to have a doctor that cares about you? In Yiddish there is a wonderful word -- Rachmonos. The pronunciation is difficult but the message is clear. A Yiddish dictionary interprets this as Rachmonos: (rach-mo-nis) - sympathy, empathy. It is much more, though. It is heartfelt loving kindness and care that affects your soul to such a point that it will drive you to action to help the other person you are feeling rachmonos for. THAT is what you want from your doctor.
In the medical maze known as American medicine you need a supreme advocate for your healthcare. Here is a partial list of the duties of this advocate:
Is it possible? It may not be possible for every doctor to succeed in this superhuman description to be everything to everyone. We do want our doctors to try. Trying to do the right thing is the best way to start.
If you find that doctor who cares about you then pin a medal on his/her chest and keep that person forever. Without that central person, you will get eaten alive by insurance companies, hospitals, drug companies, politicians, neutriceutical/herbal snake oil salesmen, and more.
Your one goal this coming year is to find the doctor that works for you.
Sine quo non.
Dr. K.
P.S. I would like to solicit stories from this post about POSITIVE experience about a doctor in your life that made things better for you.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: healthcare, rachmonos, patient advocacy
Rachmonos with Action
This is the ballgame. Without that one person, that one doctor, who cares about you and your health then you might as well say goodbye to the world now. In Latin there is an expression "sine quo non" which translated somewhat into English is "without which there is none." In New York English: "If you ain't got this you are screwed."
We all read about all these various people who are managing our health care to make sure we are healthy. We have the "managed care" companies, for example. If you go to any of their web sites you will almost believe that they care about your health. They care primarily that you BELIEVE they care about your health so they can sell more plans. The list goes on and on about whether drug campanies, politicians, hospitals, and others care, but since I have these juicy tidbits in the later days I will concentrate on the topic at hand.
What does it mean to have a doctor that cares about you? In Yiddish there is a wonderful word -- Rachmonos. The pronunciation is difficult but the message is clear. A Yiddish dictionary interprets this as Rachmonos: (rach-mo-nis) - sympathy, empathy. It is much more, though. It is heartfelt loving kindness and care that affects your soul to such a point that it will drive you to action to help the other person you are feeling rachmonos for. THAT is what you want from your doctor.
In the medical maze known as American medicine you need a supreme advocate for your healthcare. Here is a partial list of the duties of this advocate:
- Make himself/herself available to the patient
- Listen to the medical complaints
- Work hard to make a diagnosis
- After the diagnosis, come up with a comprehensive treatment plan
- Be willing to understand at least some specifics about your health plan that gets in the way of your care.
- Recognize the pitfalls in the system, whether these are barriers put up by your healthplan, poorly constructed government regulations, overpriced medications, or hospitals that have arbitrary rules that produce unnecessary errors.
- Navigate aggressively through those barriers to make sure the treatment plan is completed.
- In the end, do something to help make you a healthier person to the best of his or her abilities.
Is it possible? It may not be possible for every doctor to succeed in this superhuman description to be everything to everyone. We do want our doctors to try. Trying to do the right thing is the best way to start.
If you find that doctor who cares about you then pin a medal on his/her chest and keep that person forever. Without that central person, you will get eaten alive by insurance companies, hospitals, drug companies, politicians, neutriceutical/herbal snake oil salesmen, and more.
Your one goal this coming year is to find the doctor that works for you.
Sine quo non.
Dr. K.
P.S. I would like to solicit stories from this post about POSITIVE experience about a doctor in your life that made things better for you.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: healthcare, rachmonos, patient advocacy
58 Comments:
I had a doctor like that, unfortunatley she moved out of state. Her husband was transferred. I like my new PCP but I don't have that type of relationship with him yet. I know that he cares but he doesn't seem to work as hard for me. My old doctor was always available through e-mail and I often sent her messages when I was frustrated with my care from other departments within the group. My neurologist is also a doctor that will go out of his way to help me even if it means ordering tests that are not in his area of expertise. I have some very good doctors but I also have some that don't always seem to care.
this is not a comment, it is a question. i have a serious tooth (teeth) infection, recently both my ankles have swelled and it's pitting edema 2-3+. i have no insurance and w/o insurance a doctor will not help, nor a dentist.is there any correlation between the two? any info will be appreceiated.
Thank goodness I found a Chiropractor is like that! The neurologist didn't feel there was any point in starting PT for my gait (after being diagnosed with MS), but my chiropractor bent over backwards to help any way he could--from exercises to advice, to a pat on the back when needed. He open his door wide and said, anytime you walk in that door, I will do all I can to help, whether you have an appointment or not. Even when I just needed a kick in the rear to keep plugging away at stregthening my legs, he was there to pat me on the back and encourage me to keep working. As I have now resumed all former activities (and picked up some new ones), he is a winner in my book!
I am one of those women who uses an OB/GYN for primary care, and I could not ask for a higher level of care! He is excellent! He is always willing to answer any question about anything, even if it is not a gynecology question. When I get discouraged as a patient with a chronic, painful gynecologic disease (endometriosis), he is always there to provide encouragement, advice, or simply a smile and pat on the back. He always returns his own phone calls, which makes it easier in that I don't have to play phone tag with his nurse as she asks him what I ask her! He also does little things, like send you flower when he puts you in the hospital or does surgery, which simply makes you feel special. I wish that everyone could be so fortunate to find such a great person!
My wife and I are blessed with a family doctor who is from South Korea. He has a great sense of humor, a terrific diagnostician and sharp as a tack when it comes to medical "know-how". He has provided us with first class care and concern for over 14 years.
We happen to belive that about 75-80% of the medical profession are mediocrities at best so it's just great to have found one in the top 20 percentile.
Bob and Joan D.
Um, this is ludicrous:
Without that one person, that one doctor, who cares about you and your health then you might as well say goodbye to the world now.
I don't advocate avoiding doctors your whole life, but you certainly aren't going to die instantly without a super-special caring doctor!!! I certainly lived for several years without such a doctor! What a weirdly severe statement to make, especially for a community of people who obsess about their health (let's face it, that's what us WebMD readers are).
Of course, if it's true, and even if it's not, it certainly speaks strongly for health insurance overhaul. It's also ludicrous that ANYONE lives without health insurance, like poor Alicia, posting comments to doctor's blogs in the hope that she can get help!
I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND A DOCTOR THAT IS VERY CARING. I JUST HOPE THAT HE DOESN'T "BURN-OUT" LIKE I DID IN NURSING. I HAVE HEART TROUBLE, DIABETES, SEIZURES AND VARIOUS OTHER PROBLEMS AND HE ALWAYS IS THERE TO LISTEN,UNDERSTAND, SET ME ON THE RIGHT TREATMENT PATH (USUALLY ONE OF COMMON SENSE TREATMENT ALONG WITH HIGH TECH MEDICAL) ALSO HAS GIVEN ME HUGS WHEN NEEDED AND I BELIEVE THAT GOD PUT HIM IN MY LIFE AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME TO ASSIST ME. HE IS A BLESSING
AND I LET HIM KNOW THAT AS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS TO SAY IS TO LIVE FULLY EACH DAY, TELL EVERYONE YOU LOVE THAT YOU LOVE THEM AND DON'T WAIT. WE NEVER KNOW WHAT EACH DAY MAY BRING.
Um, Anne . . . I find it ludicrous when people post critical personal comments on a doctor's blog; especially when all he requested were postings regarding positive Primary Care Physician experiences.
Although my health is excellent, I see my internist regularly for thyroid monitoring. Since I have no other health issues to discuss, we spend most of my appointment time talking about all sorts of interesting things. In the last 2 1/2 years, I have been through a divorce, other serious family issues, and the two hurricanes that ravaged South Louisiana. I'm sure he doesn't realize it, but the friendship that I've developed with this truly caring individual has made all the difference. His other patients feel the same way, and we know how fortunate we are that he chose to remain in our community.
As God makes all kinds of people, He also makes all kinds of doctors. Some don't come with the greatest personalities but make up for it with their terrific skills. I prefer the skilled ones over the pleasant personalities if I have to make a choice. We can also affect our relationship with the doctor if we come prepared with written notes or records, don't waste his/her time, and follow instructions exactly.
I have a wonderful,caring dr.He will always return a call, sometimes as late as 10PM. He even goes to the office on his day off to see patients that need seeing. He follows your treatment with peripheral drs., and when I was having difficulty with a cardiologist, he called, asking me what on earth they were doing to me? He rescued me from a terrible cardiac situation,and attended to me until I could see a another cardiologist.He is on top of everything, and has even given me articles to read referring to various conditions. He is a jewel among drs. and I am so thankful for him.
Dear Doctor
Rachmonos means "compassion".... and it is a beautiful word as well as a beautiful feeling.
Barbara Brown
Dear Dr. K: I have a rather kind, competent primary doctor, but there seems to be a wall between us which is baffling to me. I have HTN that is uncontrolled even with several medicines - I am compliant and try to be a partner in managing my health concerns. I was diagnosed with cerebral aneurysm Dec 05 and had recent CT follow-up, but it has been over two weeks and I have had no word as to the results either from my neurosurgeon or my PCP. I really would appreciate a call from either one..as it is unnerving to just have to wonder if the thing is growing larger. I cannot help feel that neither doctor cares about me at all.
Dear Dr. K: I have a rather kind, competent primary doctor, but there seems to be a wall between us which is baffling to me. I have HTN that is uncontrolled even with several medicines - I am compliant and try to be a partner in managing my health concerns. I was diagnosed with cerebral aneurysm Dec 05 and had recent CT follow-up, but it has been over two weeks and I have had no word as to the results either from my neurosurgeon or my PCP. I really would appreciate a call from either one..as it is unnerving to just have to wonder if the thing is growing larger. I cannot help feel that neither doctor cares about me at all.
Esteemed Dr.Kirschenbaum:
Thank you for this page and for the word I have been searching for: RACHMONOS. A positive comment is YOU would be the ideal doctor based on your perspectives,honesty in noting fault and shortcomings when and where they occur and what the patient needs to do if possible.
In the early 1950's the family doctor made house calls when I was very ill in bed for months.He treated the whole family. He even came over to suture Rex my father's Doberman who had a deep gash on his back when returned to us after being lost. There was no charge. Other experiences were out of the USA. They were in South America 30 - 40 years ago when it was a "Third World country, doctors did not get paid for months and a meager salary at that. I was treated with kindness late at night at The Eye Hospital in Buenos Aires by the attending internist for conjunctivitis. I was given antibiotic drops right then with a prescription for continuing care. There was no charge.
There also were highly compassionate medical workers i.e.nurses, techs, doctors who also waited months for their salaries yet had so much sincere care and compassion with me and other patients (also in Buenos Aires at another facility.)
Healing needs compassion along with skill and ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS! The body may survive a sophisticated 'Robotic' proceedure but the soul, spirit and psyche may wither and die without genuine care, compassion and tenderness. A kind word, a gentle touch can do quite a lot to bolster the immune system.
Thank you for this page.
I had an exceptionally caring & knowledgeable cardiologist when we lived in MI for over 20 yrs. I had received extensive radiation at the age of 12 to desensitize my lungs & at age 30 for stage 3 breast cancer. This caused several terminal heart & lung conditions & as I developed new complications with cardiomyopathy & other conditions, my Dr. would talk to my husband & I for a long time telling us all about the new developments so I could understand & help myself be in some control of my health. Often he wouldn't even charge us for these visits. He always went the extra mile to show compassion . I sent him many thank you cards for his exceptional care & concern. He was very concerned about my whole body, not just my heart & would prescribe anything I might need to help. He was always available to me, even after we moved out of state. Phyllis
We have the most awesome family doc ever. My husband has some serious health issues. Our doctor is in a big, very busy practice, but he always takes time to listen to us, answer our questions, and just generally treats us with lots of caring and respect. We both adore him.
Now, his hepatologist on the other hand, doesn't return either of our phone calls, and has the WORST bedside manner. Technically he's great, but temperamentally he's a little like House, lol. Unfortunately, when you're sick, miserable and scared, a comforting and caring presence can do more for you than all the new techniques and treatments in the world.
To Alicia: if you're still checking back on this post, I wanted to suggest going to your health department. Also, check if you have a free or low-cost clinic nearby. Some, if not all, will also have a dental clinic, so you can take care of both of your needs. Call first to find out what you need to bring to your eligibility screening.
Great post! There is actually a Web site that recently went live (in December), that lets patients do just what you are asking -- recognize doctors that have done an outstanding job. The site is www.hero.md and visitors can post either video, audio or written stories about doctors that have made a difference. We'd love for anyone who wants to thank their doctor, or read about some of the great things so many physicians are doing, to check out the site.
My last OS wsa wonderful. I traveled 2 1/2 hrs. one way to see him every time I went to visit him. When I would go to see him he always knew I would have a barage of questions and he would patiently answer them even though he was running behind or had a waiting room full of patients. He treated me like I was his only patient there and I was shocked when I first received a personal phone call from him. I had never received a telephone call at my home from a doctor before that. I have a couple of times since but that really shocked me. To me, he will always be the best doctor I have ever had and all the doctors after him will have to live up to him. He has since retired. Linda Kennedy
I guess I can't be anonymous if I give a web site, but I don't care who knows who I am really. I HATE all my doctors. All but one that is. My Rheumatologist. He must have gone into Rheumatology for a reason, he, or someone close to him has the disease. I don't know, I'm guessing because he is the most compassionate man I've ever met, for a doctor. Most doctors are so busy(and he is the busiest, being the best in Boise, as I'm told by every doctor I see when I tell them my Rheumatologist is Dr. Loveless, lets call him-his real name)they want to get you out of there as quickly as possible. We usually talk sports for a while if it's a routine visit as he knows this calms me.(I have an anxiety problem) But he is willing to spend as much time as the patient needs. I just wanted to give anyone in the Boise area that if they need a Rheumatologist, ask for Dr. Loveless. I doubt if you'll get him because he's so busy he can't take new patients. But try. He's a GOD according to other doctors. I don't know why they think of him this way, but I know why I do. Other doctors always seem to wish you weren't there. Like you're taking up time that should be spent on patients that have a real reason for being there. I've been through this countless times. My new "regular" doctor seems that way too a certain degree. Although he does seem to care or I'd get rid of him. I've fired doctors before but the funny thing is, the reason I have this new "regular" doctor, generally referred to as a GP(General Practitioner)is that my last doctor of 10 years, who I thought was a good guy but I thought he was moody and maybe bi-polar(this I'm actually sure of)must have found out that I was looking to replace him or something because he wrote me a letter telling me he was no longer going to be my doctor. After 10(actually almost 11) years!And no reason given. I owed him a very small amount of money but that couldn't have been it because I'd owed him much more in the past and he knew whatever my insurance didn't pick up, I always paid up. Boy did he get a nasty one from me. But I thought he was starting to show signs of incompetence so I was looking around anyway, for a new GP. I demand that I get proper treatment from my doctors, and I have many because I have many ailments and I'm only going to be 47 next month
CPP (chronic pain patient)
Alicia: GO TO THE ER!!! Your condition is life threatening. Insurance or not, they will treat you. Do it now!
And as for this anonomous person,only you know who you are as it seems a lot of people use that one:A chiropractor caused me to have to have 8 surgical prcedurs on L-5 but the worst and most dangerous was C-6. He just cracked and cracked and every time I saw him I went home in so much pain and was told by his receptionist and his associate Dr.(term used very loosely)that I should NEVER feel worse than when I walk through that front door. So I went to a real doctor, had the MRI's, the mylogram(very unpleasant, and X-rays and then came the procedures. You see, the Chiropractor had broken my NECK. Whatever you do, don't let a Chiropractor mess with your neck. They can't do too much harm in the lower back, but do NOT let them touch your neck! Said Chiropractor's insurance paid for most of the "procedures" done on my neck. Couldn't prove the lower back as it wasn't "broken" but I'm not allowed to mention his name. Just be careful and my advice is to see a REAl doctor. Not an over glorified trainer who is allowed to put the word "Doctor" on his shingle. This irks me so much. Can you tell? Chiropractors do so much damage to the most important part of your body. Your spine! C'mon people. Go for science and not that no drugs, no surgery, no fix approach.
And Alicia: ER. Now!
Warren Ross, MD - Columbia, MD - the very best, kindest physician ever. thank you Dr. Ross.
Melvin said: My right knee was agreviating me for nearly 8 months and NO Doctor could figure it out. The answer came from a Doctor and a friend. He told me the problem was derived from weight and NO Excercise. I followed his advice and now my knee is 100%. The Doctor, Ira Kirschenbaum
Is it proper for a doctor to require an in-depth annual physical exam to rewrite a prescription (i.e. for Crestor) when the patient asks to just have the minimum visit that would be covered by insurance to renew the prescription, i.e. blood test and office visit? My doctor said that I had to get an annual physical for an $800 dollar fixed charge (if not covered by insurance) or he was dropping me as a patient. I said that I just wanted the minimum and he then dropped me as a patient after over six years of seeing the same doctor. This does not seem right. I feel that he wants to charge me to use his x-ray machine and electrocardiogram machine that he has in-house, plus bone density machine wither I want to or not!
Now I have to find a new doctor or stop taking the drug that I feel is helpful to my overall health.
Dr. K you sound like the doctor you described. I could only wish i had one who took me seriously until a few weeks ago. I found a loving caring determind doctor and she is going to get to the bottom of my health problems. I am curremtly undergoing testing for autoimmune diseases. I wish the best to you! Would love to talk some time!
Sincerily-15 year old Jacie Dawn
You can read my blog on "the doctor blog"
Thanks.
I have been extremely fortunate to find an OB/GYN whom I met once before he performed a total hysterectomy to remove a large ovarian cyst. He called me personally after my lab tests came back with simple endometrial displaysia to explain and discuss those results with me and answer all my questions, and seemed to have all the time in the world for me. I've never had a doctor call me personally with lab results. I saw him before the surgery, after I woke up, and several times while I was in the hospital. My endometriosis turned out to be rather severe and the surgery was longer and much more complicated than he anticipated, and he was patient to explain everything to my family and later to me. He called me at home to be sure I was doing okay and inquire as to my recovery progress. He has a modern, upscale office and practice with several other physicians in a big city. I have never experienced this level of personal service with any physician ever. I'll be his patient for life. In contrast, during the same surgery, a general surgeon performed a ventral hernia repair. While I was extremely grateful for the two doctors working together in one surgery and sparing me the agony of having two procedures and two surgeries, I barely saw the general surgeon. He would have done his repair on an outpatient basis, and would have released me back to all activity in 10 days, even knowing about the ovarian cyst. He even offered to remove the cyst. After I saw my OB/GYN, and he heard what the general surgeon's plan was, he said nothing negative, but simply said, "No, you will have inpatient surgery, be in the hospital two nights and three days, and not be back to work for 4-6 weeks. We will do a total hysterectomy, and I will need to examine everything while I am inside." I felt so much better about his approach. I'm 46 years old, and I can tell you, I could not have possibly been okay with outpatient surgery and back to full activity in ten days. I'm so thankful for Dr. C., my OB/GYN.
Twice I have been diagnosed with a large 3"x12" long ventral hernia. Doctors repeated have indicated it is not recommended for operation. Are there other treatments?
im 32 years old about ready to have a compleate hysterectomy.im trying to find out about a new sergical approach a robotic.4 holes in the upper ab all to be done by roboticarms (less recovery time)(less risk of infection)any sites on this new methed? anything please! sam
This post has been removed by the author.
To the commenter above:
This video about hysterectomy procedures might help answer your qestion.
from the commenter above ; Thank u .I have downloaded much needed information.and lots of unanswered question answered. thanks again !
I would like an interested dr in my case of Aspergillus an Infectous disease dr or Pulmonary. I and all the ill people need a little understanding and compassion. I am in or near the Memphis area if anyone has had luck. I was diagnosed 9 days aggo with a fungas in my lungs and last words were I don't know how to treat it I'll make some calls. Haven't heard a word since.
I had a obgyn that really care about the people he worked with. I had woke up around 2am one morning with rockets exploding in my stomach it hurt so bad. I went to work that morning and could barely move. I went to see my obgyn to find out what was happening after a lot of testing I found out I had a large cyst on my right olviers and was told I need surgey. When it was all said and done he showed me all the pictures they took while they were inside me. It was the size of a small apple that had one on top of another. After I healed I felt better but in the long run It was not worth it because now I have pain all day long from the scar tissiue. So for woman that have cyst just make sure you look down every road you take before you let them cut anything out of your body. I know not all cases are that way but now I have to live with it for the rest of my life.
My primary care doctor is caring and wonderful, willing to work WITH me rather than talk down to me. She is able to hear my emotions as well as diagnosing my physical conditions. She also was able to put together a superb team -- a medical secretary and a nurse who have both worked with her for years , know her patients, and are great at their jobs. It says something for my doctor that these two have stayed loyal to her for more than seven years. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm going to lose her. Her practice group has cut doctors' pay, and these days she always seems tired and harried.
Hello:
When I went to my Dr in Feb. and asked him to put me on Paxil for my depression/bipolor he refused so in the mean time it got worse,that I ended up going to the Hospitol cause I wanted to commit suicide. I went to see a differant Dr 2 wks later for the samething,told him the problem and no questions asked he put me on it. So the Dr I was seeing who was a terrific Dr.left for a better job. So I started seeing my old Dr again,when I went the other day he asked me why I was on it. I told himwhy and asked him if he was going to pay the Hospitol bill since I have no Medical Insurance because he never sent the papers in. Please tell me what I should do.
Thank you
I have been blessed with several wonderful doctors. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year so I've seen several doctors. My OB-GYN and my surgeon are two of the most fabulous doctors I've ever had. My oncologist and radiation oncologist are very kind and caring. My cancer experience has been quite positive (if there is such a thing!) because of the wonderful care I received from all my doctors and their staff.
I would like to offer high praise for Dr Graham Matthews in Woodstock, GA. This man is great!!! He takes plenty of time with his patients and will PERSONALLY call you back with test results. He DOES NOT OVERBOOK his appointments! He and Nancy will do whatever they can to help you. I was unemployed for a time and he supplied me with sample medications. He is a very caring man.
I am sure alot out there have had experiences when the dr does not listen to the patient.
My story is my pcp listen to me when my oncology dr did not.
From receiving a treatment for my NHL disease that left me open to infections in the lung.. it was the pcp who followed up w/a antibiotic to treat that infection while the onc dr kept ignoring what was going on.
Needless to say.. I exiting from the onc dr's care and staying with the pcp.
By the way, my NHL disease is now consider inactive. :O)
Dear Dr. K,
I had the BEST doctors care in New York! I lived there 15 years, and my entire family was treated with the utmost of sensitivity and respect, AND quality knowledgable care! Unfortunately, we chose to move to Washington state ... biggest mistake of my life, true, but the medical fiascos have been life threatening!
I would add to your article (A Doctor that Cares about Me) that people should really get to know the "territory" in which they reside to gauge their medical associations. I have excellent insurance still, but the medical personnel options scare the hell out of me, and so, I rarely go in anymore. I only take my kids in when it is something beyond "time is on our side". I'm terrified to utilize the insurance benefits because the physicians in our area are so blatantly, arrogantly, ignorant and tightly connected. I ended up seeing a NaturoPath (an N.D.) who specialized in Endocrine issues. What a difference! What nearly took me out over a 4 year period via following the directives of the physicians we had, was identified and properly attended to within 3 months seeing an ND.
Perhaps the real moral of this don't automatically "trust" because they have their license to practice! TALK talk talk to them, and get a feel for their personality, too. Afterall, Doc's assess us in this way, and do make judgment calls based on their impressions ... it's not all science.
I loved your reference to the jewish term for caring. I had that in NY ... it was a most comforting and positive feeling. I appreciate that you wrote such an article/opinion about your own colleagues ... I relate!
- CeeTak
I am a 48 yrs young female nurse forced into early retirement due to a plethara of medical disabilities. I have been fortunate in that I have been blessed with many kind, caring physcians dedicated to finding the cause of my many medical problems. The problem however, is that I had been plagued with many more physicians who followed the old tried and true method of treatment. For most women who present with vague,uncommon symptoms that do not fit inside any of the MD's comfort boxes. For some inexplicable reason, if a male came in with the same
identicle symptoms the Dr. would not hestitate to try and find the cause of his symptoms no matter how unusual, but the poor female is going to be put into his FFFF box. "Female, fat
, fourty and ----" (just imagine a four letter word that would fit into this litany). This category went with the assumption that the patient is of the age that is pre or into menopause, hormonaly challenged, usually dealing with the mid-life weight problem most women deal with during that period of life and overall they're just unfortunately stuck with the perdicament but want to whine until the doctor finds something wrong and gives a perscription for something if nothing else to ease their nerves. But they've come to the wrong place because 'I'm not going to waste my time nor my reputation in taking these hysterical women seriously. So he summarily dismisses her and any symptom objective or subjective and tell her it's all in her mind and that she needs to accept getting older,
loose some weight, and take up a hobby or some equally stupid advise. These such practioners are not only irritating but dangerous because of the female mindset and rules of upbringing. We are taught never question a man of authority's
wisdom especially a physcian. What person women or man would be anxious to be that humilated again.
So this persons signs and symptoms go untreated until they become so
problematic or even catastrophic that by the time treatment is sought again treatment may longer maybe available.
For these exact reasons when my pain and early signs of radiculopathy started I believed that I was responsible for my own pain because I was overweight. So I spent years trying every diet, Starvation, fasting, you name I tried in desperation to try and loose the weight to no avail. So I decided to go the absolute last ditch effort Gastric bypass-- Which if I was not still trying to get the Pcp words out of my head I would have never considered. So I agreed to the Bypass and Reux in Y
proceedure, that's where they not only resect your stomach down to a funnel that held no more than 3-6 oz at any time but it also bypassed
a very long piece of the small bowel so that the little bit of nutrion that I could eat and get through the stomach funnel would not be absorbed. It was a hard surgery and an even longer recovery. But, worth it psychologicaly I lost 150# in the first 7 months and then slowed down the weight loss after that to about 4# each week so by the anniversary of the bypass I had lost approx. 214#. After awhile the pain and radiculopathy came back and sometimes worse than before so I went back to the same PCP and asked him now what? He did not recognized me although I had been his primary patient for nearly 8 yrs, so he got my chart out and briefly skimmed through it.
He had no comment on why my back pain was still a problem and more importantly had no words of apology for his mistreatment from
before and offered no help or alternative treatment for then. I had to finally tell him what I wanted a referal to neurologist, and a neurosurgeon for second opinion. Once they examined me they found 5 slipped discs,advanced state of degenerative osteoarthritis moderate to severe radiculopathy and sponylosis throughout all levels of the spine from the c-2 to the coccyx. According to both specialists surgery was not an option unless I was willing to undergo a permanent full length rod
for stabilization which would not have been necessary if I had not waited so long to seek medical attention. This is but and example of but one problem this one Pcp who just would not take me seriously, there were many others and many specialists who were asked to evaluated other problems in other body systems and each system problem was treated pretty much the same way. Believe it or not I now have a wonderful doctor with education in his field and stays eduated on all of the newest and best current treatments and who is not afraid to challenge the
insurance systems whenever needed to get the type of care I need. So far I have not seen or heard him accept the word no! I admire this man more than I can ever say. I also have the most wonderful Ob/Gyn
She and I have been together since
she finished her medical residency in the hospital where I was working. She is also the most skillful surgeon I've had the honor of working with and of having
working on me. Even though she does
not have the authority to intervene
on any of my medical probles due to
the wonders of managed care but she continues to educate herself on all the many medical issues that have been created by some of the initial medical symptoms I complained about that went ignored or dismissed. Her requests made to the PcP's to have lab test done or
other diagnostic tests done was how my other major diagnosis was finally made "pituitary tumor" without her help and emotional support I don't think I could have
handled all of the processes I've had to go through these past 25 years to get my diagnosis made. She is truly my rock. So in summary, for all the bad,frustrated medical care or lack of medical care I received
I did find excellence in at least two of my providers who I consider now, first my friends and then my doctors. I appreciate blog's opportunity to tell others of my frustrations but also of my appreciations for the "Good Guys".
I have had experiences with PCPs that run the range of 'the good, the bad and the ugly'. After an experience with an 'ugly' PCP based on personality & ability I never returned for ANY non-emergency medical care for 20 years. When I finally went to another PCP I found a 'bad' one. He did basic care but didn't listen to me and ruled my problems as psychological despite evaluations that stated I wasn't having those type of problems. When I found my current PCP, there was a WHOLE new advance in my medical care and willingness to go for proper medical care. She ruled out the basic issues but pursued further ideas and found that my issues were metabolic. She fought the opinions of other Drs and insurance company bean counters. I have never felt better in years. There are some permanent damages based on lack of care by the other two Drs but my current PCP has done a great deal to minimize these problems. When she moved to a new location I knew her value so I moved with her. Hopefully her moves will always keep her within driving distance. I will follow her anywhere. She is a rare occurance that I just ABSOLUTELY appreciate and value.
After about 17 years with the same PCP, now it appears that when I go to his office he tells me his problems and experinces. I never get a word in sideways. The last visit I made with him last week I made a list and give to him. It was like talking to a wall. His explanations were not acceptable to me. Guess it is time for a change.
Steve Sr.
I've had both sides of the spectrum of care: had a doctor who was tolerable as long as all I needed was a physical a year and maybe antibiotics for a strep throat, but who turned absolutely scary when I was hospitalized. I don't know if he was scared for me or upset that he had to go to the hospital to see me, but he was abusive, yelled at me to go home already, blocked other doctors from seeing me and basically did a lousy job (enough of it that the hospital did an internal investigation).
However, I also had--and now still have--wonderful doctors. I have a PCP who is always available and returns calls and supplies with referrals as I need them (I'm under the care of several doctors due to chronic health issues). I have a cardiologist from heaven, who diagnosed the rare condition I have and found the right and effective treatment that allowed me to slowly return to more functining. But he is more than just a good diagnostician, he is a mensh (good man in Yiddish)--attentive, respectful, empathic, accessible, kind. He doesn't necasserily spend more time with me than other doctors did, or do more tests, or some such. He does listen, however, more than he talks. Makes sure I understood what he explained, how to take new medications, what to expect. He always invites me to call if I need to, and when I did--and not even in a life threatening crisis but a concern--he returned a call within the hour. A one minute call, that I didn't have to wait all day to get.
I also have an angel of a GYN, who walks the tightrope of my numerous medical issues with sensitivity and care. I know she cares, even the first time she met me (I had a bleed that ended up needing to be surgically handled). She made sure I understood the procedure, checked in with me frequently when the OR was delayed because of the procedure before mine, stayed with me in the recovery room until I was relatively comfortable and made sure that the nurses attended to me and gave me suffienct pain medicaiton (due to other conditions I was in more pain that the procedure usually elicits). She was--througout my hospitalization--absolutely supportive. I didn't need to call her since, but I know that if I needed her, she'd be there.
And THAT, to me, is a good doctor.
I thank God that I have great caring Doctor. He is the bestest Doctor I ever had here in Texas. I been his patient for four years and I absolutly love him. He is a Doctor who cares for his patients, listens to them ; he is always on a good mood trying to animate the patients. Unfortunetly, he is thinking to moved from here, but I hope he wont, if he does I hope to not be far from here because.I will go even though I'll have to drive 2 hours. Doctors like him you don't find them very much.
I HAVE A SON WITH SEVERE ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES. WE HAVE FOUND A WONDERFUL, CARING ALLERGIST. MY SON DOCTOR'S CAN BE CALL AT ANY TIME AND HE WILL CALL YOU BACK AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. HE ALWAYS TAKES THE TIME TO ASK HOW SCHOOL IS GOING. HE TAKES THE TIME TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO FOLLOW HIS DREAM OF BECOMING A DOCT0R. YES SOME DOCTORS TRULY CARE ABOUT THERE PATIENTS/
Unfortunately, most of my doctor stories are horror stories. Still, there are a few.
I have found the doctors at the Joslin Diabetes Center to be INCREDIBLY helpful, encouraging, caring.
My son's pediatrician cleaned up a couple of messes caused by his previous doctor. He was always friendly, caring, and respectful. He treated the kids with respect, too, and took all of our concerns seriously. I recommend him whenever I can.
The surgeon who did my gastric bypass surgery was one of the most compassionate AND skilled people I've ever met.
My care provider for the past few years has been a nurse practitioner at the women's center in an urban hospital. I have more confidence in her care than that I received from a LOT of MDs. She takes lots of time with me. I just had a check up and she spent about an hour with me, going over everything. She's very quick to send me to a specialist when I need one (thankfully,I have good insurance), and she is more than willing to discuss whatever I've got going on.
Does my doctor care about me? No, not really. If my name wasn't on my chart he probably wouldn't know who I was although I was one of his very first patients 11 years ago (#16, to be exact). I always feel like he is meeting me for the first time, every time. Time to get another physician you say? You're right. But will the next one be any better? Better to stay with the devil I know (even if he doesn't know me).
I went to our family Doctor for 35 years. I got hurt on the job,broke my back,went to him next day. I had to sue to get Wal-Mart to pay for my surgery.I lost case because our Family Doctor didn't remember me telling him I got hurt on the job..12 years later.I went to have lab work. I couldn't eat anything. They put me in a room for 35 minutes.I started getting sick,I left the room to get some water to keep from getting sicker...then they came to my aid..This Doctor was raised in USA. Well guess what??? I got another Doctor.He was born on the other side of this world.I am getting better care and better medication than I was getting before.My theory is give the younger Doctors a chance. If a Doctor don't take care of you, then who will. I think he was bought off by Wal-Mart...Wake up,Doc.
I've had some very caring doctors, but have come to the conclusion that all they know is to medicate or do surgery, and if you have something that doesn't neatly fit into those options they are at a loss. For almost ten years I could hardly walk because I had a great deal of pain in my hips; my doctor's only comment was that I was too young to have arthritis (I was in my thirties), but he had no solution for me. I finally went to a chiropractor and after an adjustment could walk again without pain for the first time in many years - it felt like a miracle! After a few more adjustments the migraines I'd suffered with for years were also gone. I have been going to him for almost ten years now, and consider him my primary care doctor; no matter what health concerns I have I run them past him first and am amazed at what he can cure without the help of drugs. He does not hesitate to refer me to a "regular MD" when the need arises, though. I'm now in my fifties and am in very good health, and take NO medications. Oh, and he is very considerate, never in a rush, and will take time to explain and answer questions. He realizes the connection of mind, body, and spirit, and how they all have an effect on overall health so he listens and knows me as a complete person - not just as a body part or a disease. I trust him completely. He's the greatest!
I have a wonderful psychiatrist. He has rochmonos. I have tried over the last 15 years a few different psychiatrists. This one is the BEST. He is kind, compassionate and very funny. He responds by email any time I email him. When I was in a crisis he was available and when I didnt keep in touch for a couple days, he contacted me. I love this guy and I refer many people to him. I work in the health care profession and the docs I work for don't compare. I hear them talking negatively about patients and it upsets me. It's about the bottom line not people. So if you find a good pcp or any doctor keep them.
I have the most amazing primary care physician. After only treating me once for allergie symptoms, I was admitted to the hospital for an emergency. This man was kind and always answered my questions honestly but tactfully. Bedside manner is so important and my doc is the definition. I have had physicians just the opposite and do thank God i found him.
I need to know something what does it men when you have a small red bump on the shaft of the male penis and it does not hurt.
I want to take this time to applaud Resident doctors. I have been through two experiences in my life involving student doctors. I feel it will benefit other patients to share my story, In 2001 I was a patient at Family Medicine in Vancouver, WA. Dr. Laura Donaghu was my Primary Care doctor at that time. I have had a medical condition since childhood, due to severe emotional and head trauma, which makes my speech shut down when stress overwhelms me and/or I feel threatened and violated emotionally. I have gone to countless doctors through the years to overcome this debilitating handicap, but have had no positive outcome. I have been made fun of at school and at home and shut down socially because I had a hard time talking. I flunked classes at school because I could not give oral presentations and was rejected by men I dated because I struggled to talk. I lost jobs and the few jobs I did hold onto I was demoted to lower positions, because of my speech. There were times in my life when I struggled to talk fluently and some people mislabeled me as being mildly retarded. You can’t imagine how this further affected my self esteem and make me into a social recluse. I was devastated, to say the least!
At the end of the year in 2001 I went through a serious emotional period and again shut down in my mind and had a hard time talking. Dr. Donaghu listened patiently and suggested that I try a prescription that would make this go away. I thought at that time that she was not experienced enough as a doctor to make that decision. After all, how could a little pill take away my problem of speaking and make things all better. I didn’t believe that such a pill existed. Next, after I got home I started to ponder “Why God, did I have to suffer so long” Why was I so humiliated for all those years? There must have been medicine out there somewhere that could have helped me speak calmly and fluently under emotional duress. Why didn’t my other doctors pick up on this? Instead of helping me by taking time with me to get to the root of this problem, other doctors wrote in my chart notes that I struggled to speak, but the words they used were not conducive to the character of the lady I am. One top Neurologist in my town told me that because of the type of trauma that my brain had been through that there were no cures for me and that I would have to suffer this affliction all of my days. Other than that, he was the most kind and caring doctor EVER! Great bedside manner! When I shared this information with Dr. Donaghu, she stated back to me that she didn’t agree with this information and told me there is an answer for me. And to think that one prescription can make it all go away. I thought-Yeah right, the prescription Dr. Donaghu ordered was prescribed to control my blood pressure, but Dr. Donaghu stated to me that it would also help relax my throat so I could talk. I read the side effects of the drug and was scared to take it at that time. Years later, again I went through emotional trauma and was told I was shutting down emotionally. I was already on prescriptions for lowering my blood pressure, but my blood pressure was up to over 200/117. I felt like I was having a stroke. I always had severe headaches each time my BP climbed high and would blank out. I would read text and couldn’t make sense of the printed material. I heard my college professor talk, but couldn’t make sense of what she was saying to me. This high BP persisted until I finally went to the doctor. This doctor was substituting for my Primary Care doctor (different clinic) and prescribed an Rx similar to the one that Dr. Donaghu was going to have me take; only this doctor prescribed it for blood pressure only. After being on this medication for a week I noticed that even under stressful situations that I could talk fluently and with ease. A month after that I really noticed considerable improvement. It’s been over a year now and I feel I could finally hold down a job and answer office calls without hesitating in my speech. I can talk to men with ease and read my little grandchildren stories without difficulty. Dr. Laura Donaghu, I want to publicly acknowledge you for being a caring doctor that you are and for assertively and aggressively taking my health care seriously. I also humbly apologize to you for not having as much faith in you as a Resident doctor. I wish you were at Family Physicians Group, because I deserve to have good medical care and I would give anything right now to have a competent doctor, such as yourself. Thank you so much for your concern towards me 6 years ago. I pray that there can be more doctors who take time to care for their patients and not reflect on the money aspect of this job. All of you doctors out there, I hope you can benefit from this letter as well. I could have been a better person if I had just put my faith in Dr. Donaghu at that time. Propranolol is a miracle Rx for patients who suffer from emotional trauma. Children and people who have been through psychological and emotional trauma/crisis where they can’t get their words out may be able to benefit from this Rx. This medication has given me hope and a new lease on life. I did get through the year of college and calmed down internally and earned a perfect 4.00 GPA in every class, for the entire year I attended. I came close to that at Everest College with a 3.96, but never in my life have I ever earned a perfect 4.00 GPA. There is only one problem though. I have decided that this won’t happen again in my lifetime. I am already 53 yrs old. I told myself that I wanted to go to the grave with my perfect 4.00, only because my mother told me my entire life that I couldn’t do it. Boy, did I prove her wrong! Now I have no idea what to do with my life. I am afraid of going back to college and ruining a good thing. LOL!!!!! I can’t say that I am perfect yet or totally calm inside. Sometimes there will be an imbalance in my body due to the many different Rx’s that I take daily or my body will go through daily changes which change my body’s Ph levels, but for the most part I am whole. Dr. Donaghu, since I have no idea where you went after leaving Family Medicine Group, I hope that you have the chance to read this note and accept my thanks and also my apology. Have a great life.
what happened to my post. It was flawless when I posted it here, but when I went to read it on this web page there are weird characters that I did not put into the letter. It ruined my post. What happened? My post is the last on the page. I worked at this for quite a while to make it perfect.
I have found a doctor like this. Sadly, he was transfered as was my husband to totally different sides of the country. He did everything he could for us. He saved my daughters life when I was pregnant with her. He conviced the rest of the staff to do an emergency c-section. If he hadn't my daughter might not have made it. I had a miscarriage, so they were watching my HcG levels. They went back up, but another doctor said I wasn't pregnant again, and prescribed a medicated abortion. My doctor told me not to because he believed I was truely pregnant again. Thank God he did, because I was 4 weeks along with our son. When I went into labor at 16 weeks with my son, he dropped everything in his practice and came up stairs to just sit with us. You could see him crying because he cared so much about us and our unborn son. He left our side to go get some dinner, but when he found out our son was born, he turned around and come back. He stayed with us until after midnight and was back at 6 am the next morning. When our son was lost in between California and Maryland where he was being sent for his atopsy he made it his mission to find him and return him safely. I always joked that we would follow him wherever the Air Force sent him. He was a gift from God to us. I could never thank him enough for everything he did for us.
In reference to the posting with the weird characters inserted in their post, the patient is correct. If you go to the right side of this screen and scroll upwards, to the area "Previous posts", then click on "Bad doctors". Scroll down and see patient David H's comment, which has these same strange characters, entered at 2:57 pm, then scroll down to Anonymous's comment at 9:11 am. It is not the patient who errored, but the MD web site that posted these comments, that is in error.
this i sa question not a comment my brother has been complaining about pain in his leg and now his legs have some red spots now hes in the hospital and they said they said he has some cysts in his lungs what is it or what could it be?
Post a Comment