Wellness

[surfk]

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@june22 wrote:

I have the same experience. They do not even have you disrobe anymore. I wear my clothes through the entire exam! The doctor barely touched me at all. 

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That's rather standard though these days. Most doctors don't much touch a lot of patients. Although mine always does. Not that I'm boasting or anything. lol

Seriously, though, my docs never do the bp or temp stuff (the nurse or tech does that beforehand). But they usually listen to my heart and lungs.

But its none of the "Strip down!!!" of the old days when people had to go naked just for an achy kneecap. Even back then I highly doubt total nudity was required.

But ya get enough sexual harassment suits sent to your malpractice attorneys and you learn to check the toes without the patient needing be topless, I suppose.

Most routine doctoring is done through ordering up blood work anyway. Its how so many doctors do things today. Let the lab tell them what's wrong as they don't sometimes even know where to start looking.

Or in the case of a rash, all they really can do is give a prescription for a cortisone cream and await blood results to see what might be the cause.

(Marcus Welby, MD was only a t.v. show, you know).

[hckynutjohn]

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@DARING GREATLY wrote:

I have to laugh.  When I go to a doctor (and not for a physical), it amazes me that all they do is take your blood pressure and pulse.  They never take your temperature or do other exams when you come in not feeling well.

I'm having burning pain on my skin around my abdomen (it's not shingles) maybe due to a medication I'm taking.    All they did at the doctor was take my blood pressure.   She didn't bother to check my lungs or heart, look down my throat, in my eyes, or take my temperature.   

It just seems to me that they do so little when you come in seeking help.  She has no idea why my skin is tender and offered me no advice in dealing with it.    

Having two parents who died of 4th stage cancers, I am always skeptical of doctors and whether they are thorough and really know what to look for in examining patients.

I could get my blood pressure and pulse checked at Walmart on my own!

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  My doctors do much more than take my BP and pulse when I go in for anything. Suggest you consider changing doctors. Why did you not speak up and say something to your doctor? Many doctors with "do what they do" if a patient lets them.

Hey, it's your body and you are in charge of who takes care of it besides yourself. Speak up and protect that body, you only  get 1.

[Reba055]

I recently went to an allergist. I was broken out in hives at the time. The nurse took my BP and temp. The allergist never looked at my eyes, ears, nose, or throat and barely glanced at my hives. I was appalled. I have never been to a doctor with allergy/cold symptoms that never touched me. I don't even want to say where this was, but I can assure you that everyone is familiar with it. I give up!  Our medical care system is going down the tubes. 

[Black Cat Back]

I spoke up people.    I asked her over and over about the causes, fibromyalgia, sjorgrens.... she said it's none of that.

I'll go see a skin doctor next.  I'm out of work.  Every doctor appt is costing me money since I have no co-pays and will never meet the deductible.

Please quit bashing me.  I spoke up.  I worked at a hospital for 20 years and I don't take SH*t from MD's.    They killed my parents by ignoring their cancer symptoms.    

Suicide is painless.

[terriebear]

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@DARING GREATLY wrote:

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@bear wrote:

Sorry OP... you just sat there and said nothing and walked out and complained on here?  Shame on you!!  You are reponsidble for your health!!  Be agressive with your doctor and stand up for yourself.  Ask the doctor what he is going to do about your pain.  What are the next steps to be taken?  What are any nessary tests do be done?  What is his opinion on what is causing this?  What does he thinks this is?  What are some meds that could relieve this pain that you could be taking in the mean time?  You said nothing???   Well you live and learn....  

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I asked BEAR.   I asked... but she said she has no idea what it is.  Why the heck are you being so rude?    I'm glad you have a great doc who goes out of their way for you.  My experience with doctors is they do no wrong and most patients are hypercondriacs.

I kept asking the doctor and attributing it the steroid eye drops I'm taking but NO ONE WILL BELIEVE ME THAT THE EYE DROPS ARE CAUSING THE ISSUE!!!    So what am I supposed to do tell the doctor she's an idiot?  

I get better advice from pharmacists.   

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No, I don't have great drs.  I have learned to stand up for myself, and to not walk out of there until I am satisfied and have the answers that I came in for.  I l am the one that is the paying customer.  Sorry if I sounded rude, but doctors are not gods and patients can say what they are thinking and get the answers that they need.  Yours included.  

[Snowpuppy]

I've been to my dr twice in the last 6 weeks for knee pain, tore my meniscus. Didn't disrobe either time.

He comes out to greet me, no longer has a nurse or other assistant. I don't have bp issues, I wasn't there for the flu so I'm not sure why the temp probe would be necesary. He knows my weight, I'm honest with him so no need for the scale.

We chat in his office. 1st visit I'm on the exam table and I wore shorts. Probed my knee and oh yeah OUCH! Sent for MRI and some routine blood work. I do get a full 30 minutes of his time.

[VaBelle35]

This swings both ways.  There are some doctors who feel that it is their responsibility to check everything they can while they have you there since this may be the only doctor visit you go to.

Others feel that it's not their responsibility and just stick with their "jurisdiction" to save time and see more patients.

When I went to the gyn last  year, she started doing a full body mole check.  I said, I go to a derm twice a year for that, and she was relieved.  She said she has a checklist of things to go through with every woman because most women only go to a gyn and consider that their "full physical."

I see specialists for everything.  Even my dentist takes my blood pressure.

I get a physical at a family practice for all the parts and pieces that aren't covered by my specialists.

I have gone to the CVS Minute Clinic a few times for UTIs on a Sunday and they do a thorough history and physical on you every time.  It is not a rush job.

[violann]

Daring Greatly, Please KNOW that even through the words you've written over an anonymous board, I'm hearing your frustration and annoyance LOUD AND CLEAR. I have nothing to suggest to you EXCEPT- PLEASE attempt to turn some of your frustration into pro-activism. 

If there is ANY agency, even a public library, that could help point you toward more effective, affordable services, PLEASE seek it out.

You are quite obviously a bright, conscientious woman who has hit some very tough stuff.

You KNOW the medical field- please don't let the B*****ds get you down!

[LilacTree]

To Daring Greatly:

MY LONG  HISTORY

I've had five rheumatologists since the onset of my RA 11-12 years ago.  The first one, who I waited more than an hour to see, came in, looked at my hands and told me I had seven years to live.  I was 66 at the time, so I have outlived that prediction by four years so far.  I did not go back to her.

The second one I saw at the University of PA hospital in Philly was a sweetheart.  She examined me thoroughly and prescribed doxycycline.  That did not work.  Then she prescribed Plaquenil which worked beautifully for six months, after which I developed an allergy and had to stop taking it.  This wonderful young woman left her practice to go into research.

The third one was also in Philly at Jefferson.  She thoroughly examined just about every joint in my body with a student beside her.  I'll never forget her because she had the most striking blue eyes I'd ever seen.  She did not prescribe anything, but told me I would never have another day without pain for the rest of my life.  And she did not say this warmly, she was very matter-of-fact about it.

Then came two male rheumatologists back here in NJ.  I went to both of them within a couple of weeks.  Neither of them touched me, not even looking at my hands.  In fact, one of them stood five feet away from me during the whole visit.  He also had a student in the room.  He prescribed a biologic and I told him I would not take a biologic.  I mentioned that they seem to work for a while and then the patient develops symptoms from them.  He actually laughed and said, "well then we just try another one, ha ha."  He then informed me he could not treat me when I said no. 

The next one, same thing, he did not touch me either and also lost interest when I said I would not take a biologic. 

One of the earlier docs, perhaps it was even my GP, put me on prednisone about ten years ago.  I was impressed by the improvement in my pain and that's how I got hooked on it.  I am still taking it (6 mgs a day) and that is where it stands today.  I get my scrips from my current GP.  I see no RA docs anymore.  They take one road these days . . . biologics, and if you don't care to take that road, they have nothing for you.

The prednisone and ibuprofen I have taken for well over a decade has destroyed all of my health, including weakening my bones to the point of severe osteoporosis.  I have had 10-11 compressed vertebrae in my back, including two for which I had kyphoplasty.  I have daily non-remitting pain in my back, use a walker and/or a wheelchair depending on where I'm going, and braces on my hands.

I also have a rare chronic stomach lining condition which is why I'm having another endoscopic procedure at the end of the month. That was caused by taking daily Prevacid for too many years.

IMO, other than the initial diagnoses of both RA and hypothyroidism (which runs in our family), every single other thing that has happened to my health over the last 10-12 years has been caused by a medication. 

I now take three daily meds.  The prednisone, Synthroid, and Xanax when I am stressed.  I take no pain killers, daily pain is part of my life and I accept it.  If I took all the meds that have been prescribed for me, I would be on at least 20.

If you read this whole thing, thank you.  If not, I don't blame you (LOL!!)