Aa
Have you been in this spot??
You go to the doctor........... he/she talks over their recommendations to treat (or not treat) your condition. Either to run more labs - raise meds or add/remove some - preforms a scan - or nothing at all.............
You feel the appointment didn't give you enough information and you are not happy with the discussion.
You leave the office and go home. - You're still confused on everything that was discussed -
What are you most likely to do?
You feel the appointment didn't give you enough information and you are not happy with the discussion.
You leave the office and go home. - You're still confused on everything that was discussed -
What are you most likely to do?
I do the mayoclinic, followed by thyca, followed by 1 or 2 other endo sites, then I come in here, here where everybody is dealing with the same issues and then I feel relief.
Thanks Guys
Thanks Guys
JERRRRY.............
JERRRY..........................
JERRRRRY.................................
JERRRY..........................
JERRRRRY.................................
That's 'cause you don't have the family that I have! LOL
Seven thyroid surgeries between 6 of us; 4 cases of thyroid cancer, 2 with precancer, 5 with Hashimoto's; 2 with recurrent thyroid cancers. We're a mess!!!! So, if I can't find an answer, usually one of them has come across it . . . the hard way! :-)
Oh, and add in a mother with a cancerous thyroid nodule the size of a small animal who is treating it with herbs and supplements . . there you go. A Jerry Springer episode all to ourselves. :-)
Seven thyroid surgeries between 6 of us; 4 cases of thyroid cancer, 2 with precancer, 5 with Hashimoto's; 2 with recurrent thyroid cancers. We're a mess!!!! So, if I can't find an answer, usually one of them has come across it . . . the hard way! :-)
Oh, and add in a mother with a cancerous thyroid nodule the size of a small animal who is treating it with herbs and supplements . . there you go. A Jerry Springer episode all to ourselves. :-)
i pretty much do all of the above. i find that it's frustrating to talk to family members, though. no on really understands until they're going through it. it's nice to come to this site to feel like i'm not alone.
anyways, i have several word documents that i have from each doc appointment. i track how i've been feeling from appointment to appointment. i list all of my symptoms and questions. it helps to look back and see how you've progressed (or regressed). i give it to the doc so that she can read it and respond. that way i know that i haven't forgotten anything either.
anyways, i have several word documents that i have from each doc appointment. i track how i've been feeling from appointment to appointment. i list all of my symptoms and questions. it helps to look back and see how you've progressed (or regressed). i give it to the doc so that she can read it and respond. that way i know that i haven't forgotten anything either.
redhead - you crack me up! Probably better luck than the rest of us have too. :-)
Because my case is so unusual I usually look it up first (I like the availability of medical articles) or in some of the medical books I have. Second thing I'll do if I can't figure things out is call Cindy (my endo's nurse) - she hunts him down and makes him find answers for me. Then I call the sisters to see if they have come across my problem in all their research (a couple of them have spent hundreds of hours at the Huntsman Cancer Institute's research library). Then I go here - usually to vent and share. :-) That's the most important part - having others who understand.
Because my case is so unusual I usually look it up first (I like the availability of medical articles) or in some of the medical books I have. Second thing I'll do if I can't figure things out is call Cindy (my endo's nurse) - she hunts him down and makes him find answers for me. Then I call the sisters to see if they have come across my problem in all their research (a couple of them have spent hundreds of hours at the Huntsman Cancer Institute's research library). Then I go here - usually to vent and share. :-) That's the most important part - having others who understand.
Medical doctors? Bah, I now use a ouija board and see a Shaman who smells funny.
With my prob, they don't have enough experience nor info to give me so I find it very frustrating.
I kind of have a toss up. I go online to see what I can find out and try to make it clear to myself as to whats going on and then I go to my thyroid family.
I didn't vote because I've done all of those! I got a kick out of that one, Stella. I spent over two years hanging on by a thread between appointments, just knowing something was wrong even though the doctor told me I was "fine."
Excellent idea! Do you or anyone else have media connections?
I think the whole health care debate has been walking on eggs on a number of issues. The talk is all about costs and controlling them, but there's also obviously a HUGE quality of care issue going on. The medical machine has to be held accountable...they've been policing themselves for way too long.
There are still exceptions, but I think doctors used to be a lot better...they knew you, they cared about you, they came to see you in the hospital. Now, when you're in the hospital, sickest, at your most vulnerable, who do you get to see? A hospitalist...someone you've never even met. This is not good.
I can't remember where this came from, but when I was in school, I remember seeing the results of a poll about what qualities people most valued in their doctors. The results: amiability (bedside manner), availability (does anybody's doctor actually personally call them back anymore?), and ability (in that order). There's a whole lot more that goes into being a healer than technical skills.
My husband and I have gotten to the point where we always go to our doctors' appointments together...two pairs of ears never hurt and it's great to have the support when the doctor (or more likely his nurse or MA) starts talking to you like he's never seen you before.
I think the whole health care debate has been walking on eggs on a number of issues. The talk is all about costs and controlling them, but there's also obviously a HUGE quality of care issue going on. The medical machine has to be held accountable...they've been policing themselves for way too long.
There are still exceptions, but I think doctors used to be a lot better...they knew you, they cared about you, they came to see you in the hospital. Now, when you're in the hospital, sickest, at your most vulnerable, who do you get to see? A hospitalist...someone you've never even met. This is not good.
I can't remember where this came from, but when I was in school, I remember seeing the results of a poll about what qualities people most valued in their doctors. The results: amiability (bedside manner), availability (does anybody's doctor actually personally call them back anymore?), and ability (in that order). There's a whole lot more that goes into being a healer than technical skills.
My husband and I have gotten to the point where we always go to our doctors' appointments together...two pairs of ears never hurt and it's great to have the support when the doctor (or more likely his nurse or MA) starts talking to you like he's never seen you before.
WOW
It's a shame our doctors can't give us the reassurence we need when we don't understand and need understanding.
Actually this poll and how we felt we needed to respond is a sad thing - at least for me.
PS I am part of the majority here too - I voted internet - then I would chose 2nd Med Help.
I don;t remember the medical field being so bad as we feel it has become now.
Do you think this poll would be a good thing to try and get publicized on a news TV station on how we feel as patients towards our doctors?
With the healthcare debate going on - would pulling this be a good thing to show and see if it could be a part of getting things changed for us and others?
It's a shame our doctors can't give us the reassurence we need when we don't understand and need understanding.
Actually this poll and how we felt we needed to respond is a sad thing - at least for me.
PS I am part of the majority here too - I voted internet - then I would chose 2nd Med Help.
I don;t remember the medical field being so bad as we feel it has become now.
Do you think this poll would be a good thing to try and get publicized on a news TV station on how we feel as patients towards our doctors?
With the healthcare debate going on - would pulling this be a good thing to show and see if it could be a part of getting things changed for us and others?
Since being on this site, I have felt for the first time like I may not be crazy after all. I'm not the only one with a non-communicative doctor. I've learned more here that I did from my doc in the last year.
I love laura1967's comment about going into battle - it's true - that's exactly how I feel. My blood pressure is always out of control at the doctor's office, but fine to low at home...fight or flight response!!! She wanted to put me on bp meds - all I needed was to get out of her office.
Love this site and just recommended it to my neighbor who just had a TT and RAI.
I love laura1967's comment about going into battle - it's true - that's exactly how I feel. My blood pressure is always out of control at the doctor's office, but fine to low at home...fight or flight response!!! She wanted to put me on bp meds - all I needed was to get out of her office.
Love this site and just recommended it to my neighbor who just had a TT and RAI.
You are lucky - your doctors at least make a recommendation. Mine wanted to leave it totally up to me!
Me: Should I have the surgery?
Endo: Well it's completely up to you.
Surgeon: Well that should be your Endo's decision. I'm not impartial on this.
Me: If I were to have surgery, should I have one lope removed or the whole thing?
Endo: Ask your surgeon. I don't cut. He does.
Surgeon (looked at the referal letter): well looks like they sent you here for partial removal.
I was confused. I didn't think I could make such important decision without knowing more. I searched the internet desparately for info...and that's how I found this site!
Me: Should I have the surgery?
Endo: Well it's completely up to you.
Surgeon: Well that should be your Endo's decision. I'm not impartial on this.
Me: If I were to have surgery, should I have one lope removed or the whole thing?
Endo: Ask your surgeon. I don't cut. He does.
Surgeon (looked at the referal letter): well looks like they sent you here for partial removal.
I was confused. I didn't think I could make such important decision without knowing more. I searched the internet desparately for info...and that's how I found this site!
I have to say I come on here quite a bit, may not post much, but i read.
The last two doctors visits were like this:
Urologist: I left your medical file in my car. (She took home to dictate)
PCP yesterday: My computer crashed....
Still battling the absecss infection. Have been put on a different antibiotic seeing as the Amox and Bactrim not working. Very painful to sit and the pain increases as the days goes on.
My thyroid med has been changed to 100mcg from 125mcg. My TSH level was .44 that was the reason for the decrease.
Yeah, very frustrated, I have literally given up and decided to deal with it. The PCP did offer a new pain medication, but really, until they eliminate the infection what good will it do. I do work and drive, so can't be drugged up.....
Okay I vented....
The last two doctors visits were like this:
Urologist: I left your medical file in my car. (She took home to dictate)
PCP yesterday: My computer crashed....
Still battling the absecss infection. Have been put on a different antibiotic seeing as the Amox and Bactrim not working. Very painful to sit and the pain increases as the days goes on.
My thyroid med has been changed to 100mcg from 125mcg. My TSH level was .44 that was the reason for the decrease.
Yeah, very frustrated, I have literally given up and decided to deal with it. The PCP did offer a new pain medication, but really, until they eliminate the infection what good will it do. I do work and drive, so can't be drugged up.....
Okay I vented....
Most doctors don't even remember your previous visit with them and what was discussed....sickening! I always do my homework before and after....I am sick of them letting me slip through the cracks!! Going to the doctors is like going to battle....you have to be trained...in fit...and ready! lol
I use alot of the internet for medical sites etc for my info.
I use alot of the internet for medical sites etc for my info.
I usually come straight here to MedHelp first .. check on their health topice and archives and then go from there online if I still need any more info!
C~
C~
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