Community Chat

[excpa]

I see my ophthalmologist about once a year and he spends about 5 minutes with me.  In all the years, this amounts to under 1.5 hours.  These last 4 or so visits have included a demand that I get a Primary care doctor and he's becoming increasingly belligerent without expaining what benefit there would be for me.  I'm fedup with his attitude and am wondering if he isn't taking himself much more seriously than he is taking me.  We've both aged almost 20 years and I seem to be dealing it much more successfully than he is.  How do you know when your doctor has gone by his expiry date and it's time to move on?

[Mi47]

I think you have already answered your question.  NOW is the time.  

[traveler]

My eye doctor won’t give me a prescription unless my pcm leaves a note my diabetes is tightly controlled. Diabetes, hypertension and other conditions affect eye exams.

[bowlicious]

I think he is right you do need a primary care dr. Don't know what I  would do without mine.

[RainyDayGal]

Why won't you get a primary care doctor??  I agree with him, that you should have one.  Everyone should.

That being said, you are obviously annoyed/disatisfied with him.  Move on.

[deepwaterdotter]

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@traveler wrote:

My eye doctor won’t give me a prescription unless my pcm leaves a note my diabetes is tightly controlled. Diabetes, hypertension and other conditions affect eye exams.

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My situation also.

[Allegheny]

Next visit I would ask him to explain his insistence about the PCP.  If you feel it isn't to your satisfaction, then move on.  If you are friendly with his staff you could pose your question to them to get an understanding of why.  Most specialists are accustomed to working in conjunction with the patient's primary care physician.  It is almost a given any more.  If that is against your philosphy then time to move on.  The question will still be posed, but perhaps the pressure won't be there because they won't care as much.

[ahoymate]

RedConvertible: "Why won't you get a primary care doctor??  I agree with him, that you should have one.  Everyone should".

Pretty broad statement. Not everyone needs a primary MD. Depends on my factors, conditions which I won't belabor here.

[Mz iMac]

@bowlicious

Not everyone needs a primary doctor.  I haven't had one since my "child bearing" years.  I'm never sick. 

That being said, I do see a neurologist every 6 months for migrines and have eye exams once a year.   Other than that, I am healthy as a horse.

I am in my 68th yr.  "Each day above ground is a good day"......my middle brother.

[Scooby Doo]

Maybe he's seeing the symptoms of some conditions that need to be dealt with and you are unaware of them.