'A Patient Voice' Community

I have been very blessed to have found an excellent doctor about 10 years ago. He actually LISTENS to what I have to say, is genuinely concerned about how I am feeling and how I am managing my chronic pain and other health issues. My wife and sons also see him, and he knows our family well.

I see my doctor about every 3 months. I update and take with me my 'medical history summary'. This is a document I maintain on my computer that shows all my medications, my conditions and their current treatments, and a list of questions I need to go over with him at that visit. I simply hand him that document and he goes over everything with me. I also maintain a daily diagnostic spreadsheet which shows my daily fasting blood glucose readings, my blood pressure and my weight. He takes these documents and puts them in my chart.

We all must be proactive with our health care. Research and knowledge are excellent tools to equip us for the battle. My doctor appreciates how I am managing my health issues, and can easily work with me on effective treatment plans.

This my first ever posting anywhere on any site of the internet. I have been on many different sites of different topics but always felt that my story was the same and I had nothing of value to add. But you hit hit my absolute HOT and I mean H O T botton when it comes to doctors. You asked so I am going to just in general tell. First, yes there a few good even great ones out there but my experience has been that unforunately the ones in pain management and nuero and ortho surgries are ill equiped both from an educational and an emotional point of view. It would take hours for me to post all my true experiences. I had my first fusion 5 years ago and didn't fusion correctly, although this was not diagnosis for 3 years because 3 drs didn't even open my MRI upon an examination!. I had my second fusion surgery to correct and further fuse a year ago. In between the surgeries, I had every pain management therapy out except hypnosis and pain pump implant. I wish that I only had one bad story to share but I have so many. Just explaining the worst one I ran out of space so I will not even try to explain but will tell you that I have experienced 1.Drs total lack of caring by being much more interested in easier cases. They loves injections, quick easy money. They really don't want to have to work on cases that are not cookie cutter. 2. Drs. don't understand use of narcotics for chronic pain patients and do not want to. I am so sick of feeling like a junkie and fight for drugs from my doctors. I know more about them they do most of the time. They really have no idea the positive impact that these drugs have on our lives. They mean having some productivitiy vs bed. They do not understand how much we have to fight depression and self doubt already. We really don't need their condemnation. 3. Drs are not emotionally tuned in enough to treat chronic pain patients. I don't expect my neighbor to understand what I go through but in order to make decisions on my care I feel that my dr needs to have some inkling of empathy 4. Lastly, pain management for chronic pain is so far back in the dark ages. I realize that this is a system and not dr specific but it is run and driven by drs. What I do not understand is that it cost the insurance companies and work places so much in money and lost time why hasen't this been an issue front and center. I can't believe that if you were to do a cost benefit study on dollars spent vs some other ailments . I do not any disrespect what so ever please to other ailments. I just dont understand the politics for such lack of funding of studies. I know things have increased but it still amazes me that there are so many of us that suffer with no answers. The public awareness is even more appaulling. You say cancer and everyone trembles, you say chronic pain and everyone one says so what, including the drs. I really mean no disrespect to cancer patients. My wish is for no one to suffer. Summary I write this about my dealings over 4 years in the Kansas City area. It has been excruciating. I have always been a very strong independent person. I was the youngest manger of a large fortune 500 and left to start my own company. I use to not bother my husband to take time for drs visits. I am smart, educated and know how to ask questions but after such horrible experiences after year 3, I emotionaly can not handle facing drs alone. For me I feel like I am going into battle each time fighting for myself. That is so wrong! I do agree having an advocate for you is good that is not what I am infering here. Sorry if I ranted off point too much but I hope you heard something to think on.

I see my doctor because he usually listens, but I don't like the fact that I usually face a wait of upwards to 2 1/2 hours because he double and triple books! I've already stated my frustrations about this to him, sometimes patiently and sometimes with much frustration - yet still I'm with him. I've been with him for many years. I've seen other docs in the interim but always come back to him.

He's sharp, and he isn't afraid to make changes. I guess that's why I'm willing to stick with him. AND he was the one who put me on Lexapro, which has made all the difference in the world.

He even denies the double and triple booking, but I can see people sign in at the same time as I do! I may not be in Mensa, but I'm not an idiot either. I asked him once if he had to wait that long for a doctor, if he would. He answered me, "If he was good, I would." !!!

Too true....your frustations are the same as mine and I am sure many others.

I know how you feel, we definetley shouldn't have to feel guilty about telling them what we need to get out of bed!!

I was like you I owned business, started huge companies and I burnt out my adreanal glands and got addisons and fibro and arthritis. Its hard to look back on all I used to do. I did it all for my kids. Society puts too much pressure on women in this era. Now I'm lucky to get through the day with out crying and I have to lay down by noon for a few hours.

my doctor has made serious errors with prescriptions. writing for same rx with different names causing me to take double doses of meds. not good and quite scary. I realize he is a busy man, people coud die! Be your own advocate. Check all meds thoroughly. Doctors are human and errors happen

Wow! Your post vocalizes exactly how I have felt since my back injury on 5/9/2007. The doctor's treat me as if I am exhibiting "drug seeking behavior" when I ask for refills. I have had so many bad experiences during the last 3 years with doctors, their attitudes and aloofness.I was sent to a chiropractor who used the technique of "rolfing" on me. Very painful and invasive. I felt as if I had been assaulted. The Chiro never even explained what he was going to do. He just held me down and forced his fist through my rib cage and back to my spine. I went into shock and don't even recall the 1 hour drive from his office to my home. If I shed tears while in my primary care doctor's office he writes another RX, even if it duplicates one I am currently taking and have plenty of. Just to get me out of his office. It's very hard to continue to go doctor's visits. I am also a very independant person with a husband and a 9 year old son at home. Our lives have all changed drastically since the injury occurred on the job for me. Your comments were valuable and made me feel that I am not alone in my experiences. Thank you and good luck to you.

I have worked in a couple of MD offices and YES, YES, YES they double and triple book everyday. So we wait and then they rush us out the door. It is sad. I am tired of doctors, I just cannot take it anymore.

Doctors stink! I am tired of them. My doctors office gave me three incorrect rx's last month. One of them was written so it would have given me 150 extra pain pills. I did not realize the mistake until the pharmacy said they did not have that quantity in stock. I told the pharmacy that amount was a mistake and I took it back to the doctors office. Why? Because I am honest. Well, how did I get repaid for my good deed? I went to see the md this month and asked him to change my meds which would in effect lower my dosage because I want to taper off to have a baby. He tells me that he is giving me something else that will lower the dose over 100mg a day. I almost fell on the floor. I did not want to lower it that much that fast. I have been on these meds for 6 yrs. Then he tells me he wants to lower it that way because he is not going to practice primary care anymore he will only be doing urology and I will be getting a new doctor. Is that lovely or what? Oh, he is leaving in four weeks. It would have been nice if he had told me this a few months ago. I travel an hour an a half each way into Boston to see him ( I used to live closer). If I have to start over with a new doctor I might as well find someone closer. I am very upset and do not know what to do. I do not know how I am going to continue doing PT everyday or get out of bed for that matter.
You are probably asking, how are you going to have a baby if you are in that much pain? I wonder how I will do this also but I am going to be 33 this yr. and we really want a child. If that means I am in bed crying for 9 months that is what I will do but I do not want to be in pain for one second longer than I have to. I do not think it is a good idea to lower the dose that much at a time. Apparently he has not read the pain management bill of rights. As you know you cannot argue with the doctors. Does anyone have any advice? I am really worried. I have plenty of other things to say but I cannot sit at the computer any longer my back is killing me. Thank you.

Dear jules0809,

Have you considered seeing a pain control specialist in your area? Perhaps your Ob/Gyn would have a recommendation for a doctor that could help you and coordinate your care when you have a baby.

You may also want to post on our Pain Management Exchange , too.

Best wishes,

Byroney

God bless you for your report. I'm experiencing exactly what you wrote about. I wish I had a good answer for this situation, but I don't.

They should all experience, in some part, what we are dealing with, so maybe they would learn some empathy.

Bea

My biggest complaint is when I go to the doctor I have written down one, two or three things bothering me. They only address one of the things if I have more than one problem. I know that several codes can be attached to one office visit and submitted to the insurance. So why do they only take care of part of me? Most of the doctors I have tried recently and my former family doctor (now retired) have done this.
How do I find a doctor that will address several things on one visit? Don't they take an oath to do no harm? Not taking care of parts of me is harmful!

why do people stay with doctor's that they are not happy with, they work for the patient and should be fired if they are not doing the job they are paid to do

The last two years having health problems and going from doctor to test this and test that, was not lucky to get response from doctor on follow ups. what happen to listen to all complaints and symptoms and then diagnoses the problem. What is going on with medical care in our country when traveling to different country and find out right away the medical conditions i have. First time blood work and answer was clear to that illness. The second time admitted to clinica and test right away with diagnoses of a medical condition that was evident to those doctors. It is sad when you are asked what is going on with doctors in this great country. The theory of these doctors in the clinica was listen evaluate then test to confirm.

I believe that doctors these days seem to assume they know what's wrong with you, without listening to your ideas. I mean, it's your body after all, if anyone should know what's going on, its you! I've had multiple experiences where I am pretty sure what is wrong (pneumonia, ovarian cyst, bronchitis) and they ignore symptoms that I find important and make their own idea of what it is ("Just a cold," hernia, sinus infection). It's very frustrating to receive a diagnosis that you are almost positive is not correct and it could be potentially dangerous, if you were to recieve a drug for an illness you didn't have, etc. I am aspiring to be a doctor (neurologist) and I will LISTEN to my patients and make sure I have the whole story. It is ridiculous how sloppy and hurriedly doctors operate and I am sick of it!