The members of this board are probably way ahead of the general population when it comes to dealing with our doctors. We've learned by experience that the information in the article at the link below is pretty much on target. Here are some quotes from the article, titled Doctors behaving badly: 7 types to watch out for:
Pilots are required to log at least 10 hours of off-duty time between flights, but there's no such clear-cut rule for doctors, who also take lives in their hands--sometimes while on 24-hour shifts. Their lack of shut-eye can have scary repercussions: Surgeons who got fewer than six hours of sleep the night before a procedure encountered roughly twice as many operation complications as their well-rested peers, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Like anyone else, doctors can be judgmental--but their prejudices may affect your health. A study in The Journal of Law, Medicine & [sic] Ethics found that women who had the same pain symptoms as men were less likely to receive appropriate treatment presumably because their physicians assumed they were exaggerating.
According to a new study in Health Affairs, more than 50 percent of doctors admit they've sugarcoated a bad prognosis. Worse: Eleven percent say they've lied to a patient in the past year. (Meanwhile, more than one-third don't think it's always necessary to disclose all serious medical errors to patients. Even if he means well, an M.D. who hides the truth robs you of the chance to make totally informed decisions, says Rosalyn Stewart, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University.
Take care: You can't always tell if someone is being truthful, but you can check a diagnosis by getting a second opinion, says Stewart. Keep a diary of your meds, symptoms, and doctor's feedback. If his advice flip-flops, he could be trying to cover up an error. Use your BS detector--if your gut tells you something's up, say, "I don't understand. Can we go over the diagnosis again?"
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
The second quote that I included in the post above (about doctors having preconceived notions) isn't just limited to female patients. In my experience, many of them are also bad about having preconceived notions about certain diseases and certain symptoms. They deceive themselves into thinking that they are following sound scientific principles, when in fact, they are basing their opinions on invalid assumptions that have been repeated so many times that most doctors have been brainwashed into believing they are factual. This is especially common in the area of gastrointestinal diseases and dietary issues.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Yep, by default, all cardiovascular issues are due to being overweight, and all aches and pains are due to old age.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Yep, Marliss, I know what you mean. I have always been pretty thin, but a few years ago I had gotten up to about 140 pounds (I am 5'4" so that was beginning to be a bit stout for me). I was horrified to find my then-GP responded to my concerns about fluid retention with a rather obvious "this is an overweight middle-aged woman - of course she's going to retain fluid - she just needs to go on a diet and everything will be OK" attitude. This in spite of a very strong family history of thyroid disease - every female member of my family except me has thyroid disease of one type or another, and both my grandmothers had thyroid cancer!
I never saw that doctor again.
And now, thanks to a lot of work and now this disease, weight is no longer a factor (I am well underweight at 105 pounds!), and I have a wonderful PCP who is more than willing to work with me and recognizes the benefits of a GF-diet-based approach to treating IBS/MC.
But I'll never forget how awful it is to sense your doctor's attitude that your problems are all because you are old and fat. :(
Tex that's a great write up. I was also impressed by a post by Carol just a bit ago about how she proactively communicates with her doctor. I find myself doing the same thing by asking what is plan A plan B and why. I find this forces the doctors to take a moment to think through the situation and the plan(s) going forward and then communicate with me what they are thinking and why
I like that approach, Joe. I'll have to remember that for my next visit for me (and my son). I often leave feeling like I have no clue what the next step will be and figure they'll call when I need to do something more. Stating it like that makes me wonder how dumb could I be to let myself be pushed out the door without having an active role in my own (or son's) health plan. I tend to be offensive to most doctors because of my directness which they seem to talk circles around until I'm fed up and ready to leave. Stating the question in this manner is only asking them to do what we're paying them to do without getting into a power struggle. I like it!
I've found it helpful to have a list of questions to ask. I also discuss some suppositions I have and ask their opinion. Some doctors would be offended, but one who is open-minded will be more receptive and willing to discuss options.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Contrary to conventional wisdom I found it best to go solo (and not take a second person along.) After some really bad Dr. appmts that were basically useless and just made me cry the boyfriend decided he needed to go with me on my second opinion GI Dr appmt. Big mistake. I'm going solo next time. I had a list of questions and reviewed them with the boyfriend on our drive to the appmt. Of course he brought a book and I forgot so I was bored for hours. Appmt was at 2:oo pm and we did not get seen till 5:00 pm. The boyfriend made a lot of jokes with the GI nurse and he is pretty comedic. Then he had more jokes with the training Dr (student) who of course the boyfriend and I both thought was the real Dr. The boyfriend and I were literally getting up to leave after seeing the training Dr (student) when the nurse advised us we had not yet seen the real Dr. More jokes. Another hour passed. I was bored to death but the boyfriend was getting into his book. We finally saw the real Dr. but at this point all of my questions had blown out of my brain and more jokes passed between the Dr. and the boyfriend. Things wrapped up around 5:00 pm (cocktail time) and I think it was even a Friday. Dr. wanted bloodwork to test for food situations. I assumed it would be the MRT stuff as I'm only 2 hours from the MRT lab but I did not specifically ask. The lab was in the hospital basement and still open. The boyfriend was like well we're here you have to go thru with the process. More jokes with the lab techs and the boyfriend. The bloodwork ended up being $1800.00 of meaningless useless tests that at the time I remember Tex had talked about some useless bloodwork tests and yup I had one. I think if I had been solo I would have gotten more specifics on the bloodwork before proceeding. So next time I'm going solo. I think I'm more on my Dr game being solo. Brandy
Whoa--it's ridiculous that it took you three hours to be seen! In my clinic (a huge operation with many facilities and most specialties) there is a sign on the wall that says to notify the front desk if you have been waiting more than fifteen minutes. Lots of times I don't get my seat warm before I am called back.
I totally agree on the going solo--the only times my husband has been with me have been for pregnancy visits and births. Even for surgeries he drops me off and picks me up because I don't want him to stick around.
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Thanks for your article on doctors and how they treat patients. I've been told I needed a man and sex for relief. When they have no idea what's wrong with you, they start acting crazy. I was truly insulted about the sex issue. Doctors have to act like they know everything so when they don't....watch out! Now they are saying doctors hate being in the medical field because of all the paper work. That means less time with the patient and they are tired, irritable, and worn out. YIKES! I've heard many hospitals will not hire nurses unless they have their MSN. In my humble opinion, medicine is in trouble and we are effected by it everytime we visit a doctor or hospital. It's becoming truly dangerous.
I agree with you. Burnout rates are going up and and the suicide rate for doctors is more than twice that of the general population.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Good article I have not checked in for A long time been A busy winter Dr appointments 1 surgery many tests steroid injections for OA and things have finally slowed down with Dr appointments surgery helped with some of my gut issues will post A update later working 6 days A week and spend Sundays cooking for the week
In my clinic (a huge operation with many facilities and most specialties) there is a sign on the wall that says to notify the front desk if you have been waiting more than fifteen minutes. Lots of times I don't get my seat warm before I am called back. 
