Doctors

[Biddlin]

For twenty years, my missus' primary care doctor has been convincing her that she needed a ton of medication for her very real problems, ignoring the fact that they haven't worked, even she after doubled and redoubled the doses, until they were at near toxic levels and then switchied to another or more often two more medications, that didn't work. Finally, we asked the doc to just wean her off of the crap that didn't work, an find the right dosage of what did. Her response was to deny treatment, because we were not following her prescription advice to the letter and leave us searching for a new doctor in a town where they are hard to get. We actually had to find one in another city about 20 miles away. My missus was without medication for 12 days, Merry Christmas.
At our age, such prima dona behaviour on the part of a medical professional constitutes intentional neglect. The reality is, the doctor is supposed to be working for you. In today's USA, they are too often pushers for big pharm and then turn informants for the DEA. The concept of doctor patient confidentiality is meaningless.
Happily, all has worked out ok, this time. Her new private practice doc looked at the facts, asked her about her conditions and what worked and then prescribed accordingly (I will now pay, accordingly, until the HMO/PPO gets the paperwork straight). He is at least a couple of years older than me, so how long can this last? protracted sigh!!!!!!

 

[Sérgio]

Health care seems to be a tough issue all around the world...

 

[eSGEe]

Her response was to deny treatment, because we were not following her prescription advice to the letter

Hows that for your Hippocratic oath !!??? That Doctor needs to go for a ride in your trunk Biddlin, ---- I can give you hand if ya like---- see if she can doctor herself back to walking after I'm through tap dancing on her legs with a Buick

 

[tazz3]

Hope every thing works out

 

[Biddlin]

Hows that for your Hippocratic oath !!??? That Doctor needs to go for a ride in your trunk Biddlin, ---- I can give you hand if ya like---- see if she can doctor herself back to walking after I'm through tap dancing on her legs with a Buick

I have a more painful remedy. I worked in the bureaucracy for thirty years. I am burying the state medical board and her hospital's CEO with forms. They hate forms. You have to respond to forms. From there, it just rolls downhill. I have written the insurance company to tell them that they should withhold any payment for the last two visits, with detailed explanation. And then there is the YELP review..............

 

[RVA]

I know a lot of doctors, but not a lot of doctors who care. I am happy to hear that you found a good one for the time being. My best to your wife.

 

[gasket]

Her response was to deny treatment, because we were not following her prescription advice

Wow!!!
To my eye this shows you've been seeing the wrong doctor for the last 20 years.
I can't relate to the US medical system as we have tax funded free health care in Australia. It certainly varies in quality depending on many different circumstances and some Australians particularly in remote or low income areas don't do as well from the service as others. I won't comment further on that subject as it always becomes political and we don't want to go down that road.
Some doctors just don't understand that when they're in a room with you they actually are employed by you. They're just like an accountant, employed to give advice and YOU decide your action based on prevailing circumstances, some unknown to them.
I've been taking Somac 40mg daily for 30 years, after some recent personal study I asked my Dr to change the dose to 20mg reluctantly he agreed. Now I take the 20mg dose every second day. With ongoing adjustments to my diet, (including timing and volume) I hope to be drug free and my Dr will say something like 'Good for you." not expel me from his practice.

 

[Gahr]

I hope things turn out for the best for you and your missus, Biddlin.

You really need to be in good health to be sick... Too many things to watch out for, really. Like @gasket I'm happy I live in a country where health care is tax funded. We pay very little for anything really, and if your doctor's bills exceed a certain level during the year, you get a refund.

But still, how well you are treated really depends on the actual doctor you meet. My dad was diagnosed with Prostate cancer a few years ago and for some weird reason his treatment was postponed several times until a newly employed doctor at the local hospital put his foot down and told whoever was in charge to hurry the hell up because things were getting to a point where the cancer could become really dangerous. By then my dad had really worked hard to try to get things moving, but it wasn't until that particular doctor stepped in that they started the radiation treatment. Thankfully my dad actually never felt sick at all during the whole thing and the treatment was successful.

I guess it just goes to show that the most important thing in ANY healthcare system is that people actually care about their patients.

 

[eSGEe]

BURY THEM IN PAPER BIDDLIN!!! Rock on

And I hope the Misses does exponentially better with the new Doc.