Delivery Systems
September 29, 2006
10:21 a.m., MT

Well. I had an appointment with a medical monopolist the other day, and my reptilian brain is still reeling. Lots of medical ramblings and rantings, interspersed with freedom-related observations, follows.

Sunni

Comments: 7 people have contributed to the conversation

On Friday, September 29th, at approximately 8:05 p.m. Mountain time, jeffrey smith said:

Am I right in guessing that med. 2 is Advair?

Simple Care or not, I would advise getting another doctor. Unless the problem was simply too many patients for one doctor. But if the doctor didn't have time to explain things, the nurse certainly should have. That's part of her job. Often enough the nurse knows more about the meds than the doctor. The pulmonary doctor I go to has one guy on staff who gives breathing tests and instructs patients on how to use these things--that's his whole job.
And make sure on your next visit you have all your questions prepared, and ask them. And if you don't like a medicine, say so. I have told a doctor that if I had to choose between the medicine that gave me pneumonia and the one that gave me psychosis, I'd choose the one that made me psychotic. I might die from the one, but the other I won't and the insanity would end once I stopped taking the medicine (prednisone, lest you think it's something totally exotic). I have plenty of experience with doctors--fifteen years with an auto-immune disease, plus shepherding my mother to doctors and hospital for much of the last seven years--and I've found the best doctor is yourself. Research any illness on the Web, and check any drugs on pdr.net. You'll quickly find enough that you may know more than the doctor.

On Friday, September 29th, at approximately 8:33 p.m. Mountain time, Sunni said:

Thanks for your advice, Jeffrey. No, it isn't Advair; I've been on that and it was very easy to use. (It was also outrageously expensive, which is why I stopped using it.)

Believe me, I don't have problems asking questions when I want to. And I read the drug info sheets that come with them, and research the meds online. I never stay with a med I don't like. This time around, I was at a severe disadvantage; that won't be the case on the followup.

(Oh, yeah, and I know what you mean about prednisone psychosis. Each time I'm on that it's a different roller coaster ride. It's been really bad only once, thankfully; and I knew enough about it to correctly attribute it to the prednisone, rather than something else.)

On Saturday, September 30th, at approximately 9:22 p.m. Mountain time, AndersM said:

Sunni, wishing you a speedy and full recovery.

My medical experience with three separate doctors in the past 18 years in the States is pretty much the same. Let's slap some pills in your hands and get you the heck outta my office so I can move onto the next person. I don't think that's necessarily the natural state of doctors by any means, but it certainly makes me think twice before making any appointment.

On Sunday, October 1st, at approximately 9:30 a.m. Mountain time, Sunni said:

Thanks, Anders; and I'm sorry your experience has been similar. His waiting room wasn't crowded, at least not while I was in it, so I'm not sure what was up with the hurrying ... but I will definitely be on the alert next time.

On Sunday, October 1st, at approximately 6:16 p.m. Mountain time, Michael said:

I feel for you, Sunni. Like everyone else has already pointed out...keep an eye on the doctor. There's nothing worse than getting a pusher who'd rather deal with symptoms than the underlying disease. I've been dealing with my own perennial illness of late and have to make it to my physician this week. Not looking forward to getting involved in another year of treatments, either. Fortunately, I have a decent MD...unlike the pusher who darn near killed me a few years ago. I don't envy anyone who gets caught in that cycle.

On Monday, October 2nd, at approximately 11:36 a.m. Mountain time, lyzard said:

You certainly got quite a bit of "freedom thought" out of this office visit, even if you feel your health needs weren't adequately met! Doctors are just people like everyone else, and like every other career some are better than others and all kinds of personalities can emerge. Simple Care or otherwise it is important for a person with chronic conditions to have a relationship with a regular dr. In this way you can get to know one another and your care will be better. Yes, you do need to know what you are looking for in the visit, and about your own disease processes; in other words taking responsibility for your own body's health. But it is also important to let the physician get to know you , so they know best how to help you when you are in times of crisis.
Don't be too hard on yourself about not speaking up at your first visit! You didn't feel well, and you were seeking professional help to relieve your breathing problems! But do try to develop a relationship with a physician so the next time you are in "crisis" the doctor already has a base to work from! If not this dr than one that you do feel understands you.
I am a nurse whose work experience includes a dr's office where we trained resident physicians to be family medicine drs. In helping to train nearly 100 doctors I experienced many different personalities and approaches to an office visit. There are Drs. out there who you can establish a rapport with! I hope you feel better!

On Friday, October 6th, at approximately 10:13 a.m. Mountain time, Sunni said:

Thanks for your comments, lyzard. I am feeling much better now, as one can probably infer from my longer absences here! Having been married to an MD, I too know doctors come in all varieties ... but it's good to be reminded of that. And hey, if this doc doesn't work for me, he does have a partner.

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