Err...know-it-all doctors!

[iamalyssa]

Just venting here...

My doctor makes me so mad! I hate it how in my last visit he just blew off all of the symptoms that seemed relevant to me... he rushed me when I gave an explanation of what had been going on after I hadn't seen him for over 6 months! As a result I was prescribed some new medicine that was like over $60 with insurance when I could have been prescribed something much less expensive and more effective...it's like he was just giving it to me to shut me up and say he gave me something. PLUS he told me that after a quick iron transfusion I would feel so much better after suffering from anemia...first of all it takes 4-5 hours for an infusion, it can cause an allergic reaction, AND there is an oral alternative he could have offered...TODAY I paid for a doctor's visit that I wouldn't have had to if he would have just given me the same thing they did today!! And I didn't get the infusion! Is he TRYING to put me in a worse flare?! eeerrrr! Anyhoo... I'm done now. hehe

 

[Cog]

If it is any comfort I know how you feel. If you ask them to prescribe something different they seem to deliberately pick something else and if you go back later to see them you hear those immortal words "I don't know why I did not prescribe (what you suggested in the first place) before?"

 

[Kev]

there is a risk with the oral alternative. in some, it can cause bleeding ulcers, and it can be life threatening. My addage has always been.. 'don't get mad, get even!' In pursuit of that, I posted a challenge in another part of the forum calling on members to write/beg/borrow or steal their best (worst) doctor jokes. Like, everyone heard so many blonde jokes, or lawyer jokes, that blondes and lawyers have become jokes

Figure why not do the same thing to the doctors...

 

[kpratte]

I've been there, but I've gotten better at not letting the Doctors do it to me as much. It's really tough to remember to do, but I politely question them about stuff and try to read up on everything so that when they suggest things I can have a discussion about it with them.

So, in your case I would try going about it this way.. Doc says blah, blah, iron low, anemia, and he is going to schedule this or that, take this or that. You can ask about risks, alternatives to the tests / treatments, voice concerns and most importantly I found is to ask what is next. Okay, treatment works out, then what? Is this something that will keep happening?, etc.

I've found the best Doctors can be some of the biggest a-holes, but you just can't take it personally. Honestly they should know all of the possible issues with drugs, tests, etc. and you should leverage that as much as possible.

- Ken

 

[adidar83]

I think I'd rather have a know it all doc than mine. Everytime I tell him anything he has a clueless expression on his face.

 

[Kev]

I'd have to respectively disagree with you on that. Give me a doc who looks like he is stumped Vs one who acts like he knows it all. I've seen too many know it alls in my profession... sometimes they were right, which was no problem. But on the remaining occasions, when they were wrong... Boy, talk about getting water from a stone. Wouldn't admit when they were in over their head, bluffed til it was too late, or refused to ask someone who knew the right answer... or even accept they were wrong AND try to make things right!!