ziadel

well, tell me a little bit about your personal physician.
how you came to be his/her patient, and how you feel about him?

is s/he a doof, or does he actually know his shit?
does he listen to you, or does he play the, "I am doctor hear me roar" routine a lot?

how about some experiences, from the good to the dismal, lets hear a few.

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maleficent

Just a few stories from my last doctor:

I had gone to him for bronchitis I couldn't shake-- i go thru this ona yearly basis and it's usuallya shot of tetracycline to knock it out... which I reminded him of... Doctor says he wants to try something different and gives me a prescription... I trot off to the pharmacist to get it filled... Pharmacist's computer comes up with a problem, the prescription the doctor gave me contained something I was allergic to. Pharmacist calls doctor-- Doc says -- oh he didn't realize.

Episode two, regarding bedside manner (and this is one of many incidents)
I had gone in for a blood test about two years ago in early December -- I was just tired and couldn't explain why i was so tired - it wasn't constant travel tired it was just tired... For three weeks I heard nothing - even though I calld the office 7 times for the results... Two days before christmas -- doctor calls me later that evening... and says the blood test showed something odd... (insert very vague oddness here) but he was going out of town for two weeks - could i come in January... Umm doc-- is this oddness something to worry about -- oh no - but take a baby aspirin every day just in case.. (I googled that oddness and google told me it couldbe anything from cancer, to an impending stroke or heart attack, or an error in the lab...) Now, I'm not one ot panic or anything- but this doctor was willing to leave me hanging for two weeks - with something that could potentially be life threatening. Got a new doctor the next day...

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Wyckd

i've been reading this student teacher, teaching english in japan... he has a blog online about his experiences...

i find it HILARIOUs...

and this is what he wrote about doctors out in japan..


http://www.outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher89.html

worth a read..

Charlatan

I haven't had a regular doctor since I was a kid. For years I would just go to a local clinic when I needed to see a doctor.

However, when my daughter was born I decided to "hook up" with her doctor. He was the doctor for both of my kid's births. I just liked him and came to trust him as well.

When my daughter was in emergency last summer (after a horse accident) the pediatrician asked who our family doctor was and when he heard my doctor's name he was impressed. Apparently he is the head of family medicine at the hospital where my daughter was born but also a pretty big mucky muck in the doctoring community.

I had no idea.

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Siege

I am his patient because my father is his patient.

I don't know if he knows his stuff, I haven't gone there long enough. The only times i've been are for a shot and a physical.

I don't really like going to my doctor, not so much because he's bad, but because he's also my dad's doctor. I know that there's supposed to be a confidentiality kind of thing, but still, my dad is friends with my doctor. This means that there are things that my dad might learn that aren't really his business.

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Cynthetiq

my doctor's office is on the ground floor of my building. I walk past her office every morning on my way to work, and on my way home.

She also routinely does house calls and home visits for her elderly and most sick patients.

She's also really cute.

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Brewmaniac

Mal, you did the right thing! If a doctor isn’t listening to your concerns tell him/her and if that doesn’t work find one that will listen.
My doc was just out of med school a couple of years when my wife and I both went to him. He always listens intently without speaking and you can see the wheels turning in his head when you’re explaining your symptoms. He has said no one knows your body better than you do. Given the fact that I’m a quad my body does some strange things such as blood clots(3 times), skin infections(2), pneumonia(3) along with many other problems, he is always seeking out other doctors to help him figure the problem out. He has been good for me for 22 years.

You are in control, find a doctor that is down to earth and willing to listen. They are just human after all.

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Grasshopper Green

I love my doctor. After a bad experience (more later), I called a clinic close to my work because I needed to see someone NOW. I prefer women doctors, so all I asked was for a woman, and got paired with my doctor. She listens, she asks lots of questions, she listens, she has a good bedside manner, and oh..she listens. I hate doctors that don't listen. I was lucky and just happened to find her by chance.

After my brother died, I decided I needed to get some antidepressants, so a co worker recommended her doctor to me. He seemed uncomfortable with the reason I was there, gave me my prescription, and told me to call if there were any problems. There were. I developed a rash about three days after starting the medication. I called his office and the nurse there told me to stop taking them, and that she'd have the doctor call me back. He didn't call me that day, so I tried again the next day. I called and left another message the day after that; he never did end up calling me back.

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Carno

I don't have a doctor. I've never been in a hospital unless it was to visit someone.

Once I went to my school's clinic, but that was only to have a biopsy, and the doctor there was only filling in for the permanent doctor.

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joemc91

I miss my old pediatrician. His bedside manors were amazing. He was very friendly but not very empathetic. This was good in my opinion, as it kept me from feeling down. I remember one time when I needed a bunch of shots. He was just talking to me and holding my arm while swabbing it with alcohol and before I even knew it he says "we're done, did you know you don't notice things very well when you're talking?".

I tend to trust doctors since I grew up around them, but sometimes you meet one and just say "may I have what's behind door number 2?".

Biscuit Buns

I had an excellent pediatrician. I'm sure my mother found him by word of mouth. He's no longer practicing and my son now goes to the best pediatrician in town, also found by word of mouth (just to show HOW we find doctors in this small town LOL). Once I was a teenager, I went to a decent-sized medical clinic and just picked a name. Had a few poor experiences there with various doctors (and one FNP who claimed to be a doctor and told me my symptoms were all in my head) and found myself at the Public Health Center where I met the best doctor I've ever had. She's incredibly knowledgable, is clearly confident but not arrogant, and our personalities mesh well. I feel completely comfortable around her. Unfortunately, I'm not qualified to receive services there (well, fortunately, but unfortunately still), so I'm now seeing the doctor that I used to work for. I like him as a person and know that he sees a lot of people with unique issues, but he's not quite at the same level as my favorite Public Health Center doctor. BTW, I started seeing him because it was convenient to be working in the same clinic. Get my stuff taken care of during my lunch hour. I'm not opposed to changing doctors if someone else is a better fit or can help me better.

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raeanna74

Well I just lost my Doctor of 3 years and am having to switch Dr's. She, Dr. C just had a baby last year and has decided to become a SAHM. She was great. I have switched to her husband Dr. J though. He is equally open minded and pleasant. I have seen him before in a pinch when she wasn't available and he's been hubby's Dr for a while. Both of them are open minded, willing to consider other alternative therapies, and encourage less medicated solutions when possible. I've had some doctors who's first act is to give you a prescription for something when you need something much simpler than that. Dr. C has solved some of my problems by addressing vitamin deficiencies and lowering medication dosages. She has encouraged me to see the chiropractor and take yoga classes. Both of our doctors are aware of our alternative lifestyle and do not seen to have a problem with it. They have been more curious than anything. I have had another doctor that went so far as to lecture me about our lifestyle choice, saying that what we were doing was morally wrong. Dr C and Dr J are the most intelligent and they are willing to learn about new drugs, therapies, and any other medical knowledge they can find. They are willing to admit that they don't know it all too but they are willing to use the resources available to them to find out what they don't know. That is invaluable in a doctor.

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DDDDave

We played Little League baseball together. All-Star team too. No, really.

Back story....We grew up in the same neighborhood but went to different high schools. He went to Duke, I went to a state school. His Dad was a Dr. and actually was head of HEW (a cabinet position) under Reagan. My Dad owned a construction company. We both had kids (our girls are on the same cheerleading team). He did his residency at Johns Hopkins, I paid my dues in the real estate business. I have asthma and when my prior Dr. was retiring from practice he recommended I try this new, young guy I said 'Sure, what's his name?'. 'Really? He is an asthma/allergy specialist? Great.' Been with him for 10 years now. We work on my asthma together. He is a professor at the USF Med School in Tampa so he is always on top of the new drugs and treatment therapies. I like the relationship.

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meembo

It took me too many years to figure out that doctors are about as distinct and different as any other people on the street. I became more discerning about them when I had kids. My oldest son was a special needs infant, and I learned to become critical of doctor's attitudes and biases because the quality of care varied immensely due to these subjective qualities.

I still see a doctor for myself about once every 18 months or so. It's not important to me now that the doctor even knows who I am.

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yellowchef

At the moment I dont have a Primary Care Physician, I am at that stage of inbetween switching from my awesome pediatrician to a family medicine/internal medicine doctor because of the way the clinic is structured. My Mom used to work at the clinic where my peditrician is and he was the one most widely reccomended. Hes a great guy...and we've had differences but they've been minimal. Things like eating habits and how to lose weight nothing dramatic. Soon Ill be seeing my parents internal medicine doctor once i turn 22.

My gyno is a friend of my parents and hes cool, though I dont know about him talking to me while hes looking at my stuff. Hes a good guy, he knows his stuff and hes very well rounded, he has been very good about respecting my patient/dr confidentiality(not that I havent told my Mom most of what Ive done) but he has never said a word to my parents before I did.

My pediatrician, gyno and my parents internal med all listen well and have been great people. My Mom is in the medical industry so she knows what to look for and now I do as well. Ive worked for some specialists and I know what it takes to be a good doctor. Im going to have one hell of a time finding my own doctors when I am out on my own.

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StanT

Despite a history of cancer and complete rework of my internal plumbing, I'm pretty easy on Doctors. I need a referral to see a Gastroenterologist once a year and have a prescription renewed once a year. Other than that, I only visit if something is seriously wrong (read once or twice a decade). I recently dropped my employers health plan and went with my wife's, she works for an HMO. All new Drs and no complaints, so far.

Jinn

I've only been to the doctor once or twice.. mostly just for acne prescriptions. That said, she's a very nice lady and I use her becuase my parents used her.

Oh, and

BAHAHAHAH.. I read into that more than you meant, I think -- still funny, tho.

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spindles

The GP unit we go to is attached to the local hospital, and has a series of interns doing their GP term seeing anyone who wants an urgent appointment - the two GPs that are there full time are there to supervise the interns. You can see either of them if you are willing to make an appointment far enough in advance.

The unit specialises in children's medicine, and if you have a child with a need to visit you will get an almost instant appointment.

The usual doctor we see is one of the two supervisors - very good bed side manner - hardly ever prescribe drugs (which I think is a good thing).

The best thing - they are on call - great to be able to see your own doctor at 10pm on a Sunday night It helps that the clinic is only 5 minutes drive from home too.

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Suave

Both of the ones who I remember have been super-nice. Very good bedside manner, and no "hear me roar" crap. The new guy seems like he might not have the experience to properly diagnose EVERYTHING, but he's still good (especially for a young doc).

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Rodney

Haven't had a regular doctor for years. I tried a couple of times, and they keep leaving the area. The cost of living (especially real estate) is extremely high here, and Medicare reimbursement rates are low (we're classed as a "rural" county, the local hospital sucks, and we're next door to a metro area with good hospitals and great specialists which sucks off a lot of the higher paying patients.

So new doctors don't stay, because they can't make enough $$ to afford a good house, and the old timers are retiring one by one and don't take many new patients, because they don't have to.

We got a bit of a pickle here, unless I want to find a primary care physician 30+ miles away.