Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
General Discussions
The Watercooler
When doctors don't listen to patients (inspired by MM's thread)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Hound dog" data-source="post: 550177" data-attributes="member: 84"><p>If I told you stories of docs not listening, you'd totally get why I'm never anxious to go to a doctor/ER/hospital. I could literally write a best seller on Travis alone, let alone myself, and we both nearly lost our lives due to it several times. This is why on the rare occasion I find a doctor who listens to what comes out of my mouth and considers it while examining me, that I don't care if they're super brilliant, I hold on to them for all their worth. My current fam doctor is that way. Travis' doctor for the SSDI exam was that way and if he doesn't want to go to my fam doctor, I'll take him to that guy for that reason. </p><p></p><p>I realized quite early on that my kidney diseases are unusual/rare, especially to have started in one so young at the time of diagnosis. I realized long ago that out living your prognosis makes medical personnel suspicious of those dxes. The longer you out live them, the worse the battle to get them to believe you have those dxes and they're accurate. For the past decade, I've been forced to "prove" I have what I have. (cuz you know taking script strength vitamin and a super strong water pill twice a day I do just for kicks I guess omg)</p><p></p><p>My first visit to my nephrologist.........he didn't believe a word that came out of my mouth as far as dxes goes until I started showing him scars. Then the only one he refused to believe was the glomeralsclerosis (sp is off not enough coffee). Now that was somewhat understandable as it's the one that throws them. It's usually a disease that results as an end stage of other renal diseases. My case is <strong>rare</strong> (actually the first known and documented) because it was my <strong>first diagnosis</strong> with the other dxes branching off as a result of IT, instead of the other way around. The doctor literally mocked me over it. Then out right called me a liar. Then......when it came to the lasix told me I didn't need it while stating my water retention, which was really severe that first visit, was weight, not fluid. I'd have dropped him at that very moment if not for the fact he was the ONLY nephrologist in the entire area. We argued. It wasn't pretty because I don't back down. Docs don't intimidate me in the slightest. He finally gave in and gave me the script for the lasix........and then did a battery of blood / urine test to prove my lies. omg He was downright rude and insulting.</p><p></p><p>Next visit he was contrite and apologetic. Having my script for the lasix back I "lost" 25 lbs in 7 days without doing a single thing. This weight was in my stomach where I tend to hold water first (if it goes to my hands, face, ankles, feet I'm in serious trouble) He had blamed my 9 month gone looking belly as "fat" weight, as in I eat too many fatty foods when I rarely eat anything fatty. He ate those words the first minutes of the 2nd office visit. Then, he had to apologize for not believing me about dxes because the blood / urine tests were so horrible that it downright stunned him. I tend to look "healthy" even when deathly ill. (not a good trait to have) He was shocked I was able to crawl out of bed to get to the appointment. lol Only thing that continued to baffle him was how on earth I got the glomeralsclerosis FIRST, and well heck, I can't fault him for that, the doctor who diagnosed it was anal retentive over the diagnosis and worked day and night for 3-4 plus years searching the country then the globe for another similar case to compare notes on treatment. He never found anyone. </p><p></p><p>A few years later when I had my heart attack and did the follow up with the cardio, the witch with a capitol B thought she was going to pull the same thing. husband was very upset when after 10 mins of her nonsense I simply got up and walked out of the appointment telling her that I'd next see her again when she specialized in renal disorders but until then she could go straight to hades. I refused to go back and have not seen another cardio since. </p><p></p><p>I follow the diet given to me by the nephrologist in hopes of putting off dialysis as long as possible. Because when he saw me 10 yrs ago I was riding the line. I'm probably over that line and have been for a while now, at least I won't be surprised to find out I am given symptoms over the past 2 or so years. With chronic renal failure, you of course have good days and bad days and very bad days. Cardio had refused to believe me based on blood results by a low quality lab (any doctor in this area worth their diploma sends blood/urine to cincy or dayton labs) and either the results were inaccurate or they caught me on a good day. Given the way I was feeling that day, it was probably both. But you don't attempt to toss out dxes not in your expertise that a patient has had for 20 plus years simply based on a single blood test. That is absurd, a malpractice suit waiting to happen. And she has since been sued a few times. Go figure. </p><p></p><p>When Travis got his polycythemia diagnosis, it was the first time I didn't have to fight for months or years to be listened to, which is odd because I took him to a neurologist.....because the boy had had an obvious stroke. doctor listened, said not a big deal to check even if it was a long shot as the disorder is very rare and basically unheard of in one so young anyway, did the blood tests, did them 3 times to confirm and was as amazed as I was that is what the kid has. It's since been confirmed via a dna test for the gene and a bone marrow test. I've literally had to fight for ever single d@mn diagnosis the boy has for years. Sad thing is that for many, they were obvious dxes that docs should NOT have missed over and over again. </p><p></p><p>Medical schools would scare you. Students are not actually taught to listen to their patients anymore. They're taught not to believe their patients either due to stupidity (I'm serious) or because they're probably drug seeking. It's ridiculous. Of course some schools are worse about this than others. </p><p></p><p>When they don't listen to patients it is bad. When they refuse to listen to nurses who are caring for that patient (and therefore tying everything going on together), even when that nurse has far more experience than they do, it can be terrifying. easy child has flat out refused to follow doctor orders many many times simply because it puts her patient's lives in danger, she's had to be backed up by her charge nurse and nurse manager in order to finally bully the doctor into listening to what they were saying. She's had to literally "coach" residents on drugs / treatments that need to be ordered for certain critically ill patients to the point where she's stopped because it makes her want to strangle them. This is in a cardiac ICU folks. </p><p></p><p>When you start cranking out for quantity, quality goes down. It's not just with docs, but we've seen the same thing with nurses too. </p><p></p><p>So if you don't understand something, don't let the doctor "dismiss" you until you're clear on it regardless of his/her attitude. You're paying them, not the other way around. Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as needed to understand and make them stand there and explain it in terms you can understand. If they won't listen, make them listen or dump them and find someone who will. There is a current over abundance of docs in just about every specialty and fam practice, so you will find one eventually that does listen and take you seriously. <strong>You can refuse any medical treatment.</strong> So consent to nothing you don't fully understand the pros and cons. Docs are NOT all knowing. They make mistakes, and do so fairly often. A good doctor can admit this. Avoid any that have an attitude of I Know Best. If you don't agree with them, get a 2nd opinion, a 3rd, a 4th if needed. If doctor objects, dump him so fast his head will swim. (totally serious here, a doctor should welcome a 2nd opinion) </p><p></p><p>I have found I can weed out most cruddy docs simply with my attitude alone, what that doesn't accomplish my knowledge takes care of. They won't like me right off and their attitude will surface and I drop them or refuse to let them treat me and force them to give me someone else. (latter is in hospital, <strong>you can fire a doctor at any time FYI</strong>) And I have several times. Once because I was near death in acute renal failure and the idiot doctor treating me at the time was determined it was somehow my stomach even though not a single test was backing him up........meanwhile my blood pressure was through the roof, I looked like an umpa lumpa girl, my heart rate alone was at 200 plus and I fired his rear on the spot and demanded another doctor.......whom they yanked from ICU and was livid at the other doctor for nearly killing me, treated me properly and I went home 3 days later. omg So please, never be afraid to stand up for yourself. I don't care if it makes you look like a "bad" patient or whatever. You are and always will be your best advocate.</p><p></p><p>I'm climbing off my soap box. I think I started that book even though i didn't mean to. lol</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Hound dog, post: 550177, member: 84"] If I told you stories of docs not listening, you'd totally get why I'm never anxious to go to a doctor/ER/hospital. I could literally write a best seller on Travis alone, let alone myself, and we both nearly lost our lives due to it several times. This is why on the rare occasion I find a doctor who listens to what comes out of my mouth and considers it while examining me, that I don't care if they're super brilliant, I hold on to them for all their worth. My current fam doctor is that way. Travis' doctor for the SSDI exam was that way and if he doesn't want to go to my fam doctor, I'll take him to that guy for that reason. I realized quite early on that my kidney diseases are unusual/rare, especially to have started in one so young at the time of diagnosis. I realized long ago that out living your prognosis makes medical personnel suspicious of those dxes. The longer you out live them, the worse the battle to get them to believe you have those dxes and they're accurate. For the past decade, I've been forced to "prove" I have what I have. (cuz you know taking script strength vitamin and a super strong water pill twice a day I do just for kicks I guess omg) My first visit to my nephrologist.........he didn't believe a word that came out of my mouth as far as dxes goes until I started showing him scars. Then the only one he refused to believe was the glomeralsclerosis (sp is off not enough coffee). Now that was somewhat understandable as it's the one that throws them. It's usually a disease that results as an end stage of other renal diseases. My case is [B]rare[/B] (actually the first known and documented) because it was my [B]first diagnosis[/B] with the other dxes branching off as a result of IT, instead of the other way around. The doctor literally mocked me over it. Then out right called me a liar. Then......when it came to the lasix told me I didn't need it while stating my water retention, which was really severe that first visit, was weight, not fluid. I'd have dropped him at that very moment if not for the fact he was the ONLY nephrologist in the entire area. We argued. It wasn't pretty because I don't back down. Docs don't intimidate me in the slightest. He finally gave in and gave me the script for the lasix........and then did a battery of blood / urine test to prove my lies. omg He was downright rude and insulting. Next visit he was contrite and apologetic. Having my script for the lasix back I "lost" 25 lbs in 7 days without doing a single thing. This weight was in my stomach where I tend to hold water first (if it goes to my hands, face, ankles, feet I'm in serious trouble) He had blamed my 9 month gone looking belly as "fat" weight, as in I eat too many fatty foods when I rarely eat anything fatty. He ate those words the first minutes of the 2nd office visit. Then, he had to apologize for not believing me about dxes because the blood / urine tests were so horrible that it downright stunned him. I tend to look "healthy" even when deathly ill. (not a good trait to have) He was shocked I was able to crawl out of bed to get to the appointment. lol Only thing that continued to baffle him was how on earth I got the glomeralsclerosis FIRST, and well heck, I can't fault him for that, the doctor who diagnosed it was anal retentive over the diagnosis and worked day and night for 3-4 plus years searching the country then the globe for another similar case to compare notes on treatment. He never found anyone. A few years later when I had my heart attack and did the follow up with the cardio, the witch with a capitol B thought she was going to pull the same thing. husband was very upset when after 10 mins of her nonsense I simply got up and walked out of the appointment telling her that I'd next see her again when she specialized in renal disorders but until then she could go straight to hades. I refused to go back and have not seen another cardio since. I follow the diet given to me by the nephrologist in hopes of putting off dialysis as long as possible. Because when he saw me 10 yrs ago I was riding the line. I'm probably over that line and have been for a while now, at least I won't be surprised to find out I am given symptoms over the past 2 or so years. With chronic renal failure, you of course have good days and bad days and very bad days. Cardio had refused to believe me based on blood results by a low quality lab (any doctor in this area worth their diploma sends blood/urine to cincy or dayton labs) and either the results were inaccurate or they caught me on a good day. Given the way I was feeling that day, it was probably both. But you don't attempt to toss out dxes not in your expertise that a patient has had for 20 plus years simply based on a single blood test. That is absurd, a malpractice suit waiting to happen. And she has since been sued a few times. Go figure. When Travis got his polycythemia diagnosis, it was the first time I didn't have to fight for months or years to be listened to, which is odd because I took him to a neurologist.....because the boy had had an obvious stroke. doctor listened, said not a big deal to check even if it was a long shot as the disorder is very rare and basically unheard of in one so young anyway, did the blood tests, did them 3 times to confirm and was as amazed as I was that is what the kid has. It's since been confirmed via a dna test for the gene and a bone marrow test. I've literally had to fight for ever single d@mn diagnosis the boy has for years. Sad thing is that for many, they were obvious dxes that docs should NOT have missed over and over again. Medical schools would scare you. Students are not actually taught to listen to their patients anymore. They're taught not to believe their patients either due to stupidity (I'm serious) or because they're probably drug seeking. It's ridiculous. Of course some schools are worse about this than others. When they don't listen to patients it is bad. When they refuse to listen to nurses who are caring for that patient (and therefore tying everything going on together), even when that nurse has far more experience than they do, it can be terrifying. easy child has flat out refused to follow doctor orders many many times simply because it puts her patient's lives in danger, she's had to be backed up by her charge nurse and nurse manager in order to finally bully the doctor into listening to what they were saying. She's had to literally "coach" residents on drugs / treatments that need to be ordered for certain critically ill patients to the point where she's stopped because it makes her want to strangle them. This is in a cardiac ICU folks. When you start cranking out for quantity, quality goes down. It's not just with docs, but we've seen the same thing with nurses too. So if you don't understand something, don't let the doctor "dismiss" you until you're clear on it regardless of his/her attitude. You're paying them, not the other way around. Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as needed to understand and make them stand there and explain it in terms you can understand. If they won't listen, make them listen or dump them and find someone who will. There is a current over abundance of docs in just about every specialty and fam practice, so you will find one eventually that does listen and take you seriously. [B]You can refuse any medical treatment.[/B] So consent to nothing you don't fully understand the pros and cons. Docs are NOT all knowing. They make mistakes, and do so fairly often. A good doctor can admit this. Avoid any that have an attitude of I Know Best. If you don't agree with them, get a 2nd opinion, a 3rd, a 4th if needed. If doctor objects, dump him so fast his head will swim. (totally serious here, a doctor should welcome a 2nd opinion) I have found I can weed out most cruddy docs simply with my attitude alone, what that doesn't accomplish my knowledge takes care of. They won't like me right off and their attitude will surface and I drop them or refuse to let them treat me and force them to give me someone else. (latter is in hospital, [B]you can fire a doctor at any time FYI[/B]) And I have several times. Once because I was near death in acute renal failure and the idiot doctor treating me at the time was determined it was somehow my stomach even though not a single test was backing him up........meanwhile my blood pressure was through the roof, I looked like an umpa lumpa girl, my heart rate alone was at 200 plus and I fired his rear on the spot and demanded another doctor.......whom they yanked from ICU and was livid at the other doctor for nearly killing me, treated me properly and I went home 3 days later. omg So please, never be afraid to stand up for yourself. I don't care if it makes you look like a "bad" patient or whatever. You are and always will be your best advocate. I'm climbing off my soap box. I think I started that book even though i didn't mean to. lol [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
General Discussions
The Watercooler
When doctors don't listen to patients (inspired by MM's thread)
Top