So I am trying to figure out if there is a way to request your doctor. I am at the mercy of my gastero guy because he is the only one around and my gp says I should just be happy to have him. I hate him...he tells me im fat and doesn't take any of my concerns seriously and he makes me cry everytime I see him. When I take my daughter to her doc. they treat her like gold....(which of course they should). How do I get that kind of service?? Does anyone have any suggestions??
I hate my doctor!!
- Thread starter qfu
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Ask around. There might be a doctor within 30 minutes to an hour drive away. My GI is about thirty minutes away from where I live. Also you might want to talk to your doctor and let him know how you feel and if he keeps continuing to treat you a certain way that is upsetting to you that you will be forced to find someone else to care for you.
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Whereabouts in Ontario are you? If you are close to Hamilton, McMaster has a great Digestive Diseases clinic with about 12 doctors.
Agreed. When I was underage my GI was 4 hours north of where we lived. He is one of the best in the state and totally worth the drive. A specialist isn't someone you see all the time so taking off work a couple times a year isn't really out of the question. This is your life and well being that you are in control of. Yes shopping around for a doc really sucks but if you do your research before you make an appointment with anyone, you'll have a better idea of what kind of person they are and how seriously they will take you. And remember, if you're very sick, you can always go to the emergency room when you're in between docs. Hope you can find a good one soon as I don't give any doc a second chance (I currently don't have a GI cause the last one I went to failed to follow proper procedure during my last colonoscopy).
Also, if this GI you see works through a hospital and isn't a private practice, you can always report them as I did with mine.
ameslouise
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Agree with all of the above!
My doc is about an hour away, but totally worth it. I always take my husband with me - my "wing man". He remembers things I forget to ask or mention and asks questions I don't even think of. If you don't have someone to take with you, make a list of questions you need answered.
And sometimes there is a nurse or someone you can see or speak to on the phone that is even more knowlegeable and way less intimidating than the doc. (See Joan's recent post about her non-GI doc appt as an example).
Good luck. Here in the US things are different and we can shop around. But the bottom line is you are the patient and you have rights!
- Amy
My doc is about an hour away, but totally worth it. I always take my husband with me - my "wing man". He remembers things I forget to ask or mention and asks questions I don't even think of. If you don't have someone to take with you, make a list of questions you need answered.
And sometimes there is a nurse or someone you can see or speak to on the phone that is even more knowlegeable and way less intimidating than the doc. (See Joan's recent post about her non-GI doc appt as an example).
Good luck. Here in the US things are different and we can shop around. But the bottom line is you are the patient and you have rights!
- Amy
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Where in ON ?
Hi gfu.. i too am in Ontario. My GI is in Pickering. After I got stable he told me to "get fit". I took that very personalyl and have become obsessed with dieting and food and exercise and .. as a friend says.. fixing myself. I have always had issues with food and self esteem but this disease has exasberated it.
But when I really step back.. i knwo that my GI and I haev a personal conenction. I really think that was his best way of saying I care and I want you to get even healthier. But hell it is insane. I don't like attention at the best of times. But take weight off and boy did I get attention. .. from women. Cause it seems the women in my circle are obsessed with weight and body images.
Actaully when I think of it is is more likely one or 2 people.. but it really affects me. Others tell me I look good and I jsut say thanks. It is so sad...that it becomes about weight loss rather than being healthy.
I am considered obese or maybe morbidly obese but I can walk up huge hills and for 2 hours straight. I have endurance.
I also think that I wouldn't know what to do with my time if I jsut eat and exercise and have nothing else to think about or do. My life would be too empty.. sad but true.
Wow .. i am sad today. I also was glad to hear from my mom. She just called to say hello. She was likely lonely and it is nice to know she cares. Also sad too as she is getting older. Even though she was a boring cook at home and today.. I think the basic.. meat potatoes and veggies was good for me. My dad introduced me to process foods though.. and he had diverticulitous. (sp)
Hi gfu.. i too am in Ontario. My GI is in Pickering. After I got stable he told me to "get fit". I took that very personalyl and have become obsessed with dieting and food and exercise and .. as a friend says.. fixing myself. I have always had issues with food and self esteem but this disease has exasberated it.
But when I really step back.. i knwo that my GI and I haev a personal conenction. I really think that was his best way of saying I care and I want you to get even healthier. But hell it is insane. I don't like attention at the best of times. But take weight off and boy did I get attention. .. from women. Cause it seems the women in my circle are obsessed with weight and body images.
Actaully when I think of it is is more likely one or 2 people.. but it really affects me. Others tell me I look good and I jsut say thanks. It is so sad...that it becomes about weight loss rather than being healthy.
I am considered obese or maybe morbidly obese but I can walk up huge hills and for 2 hours straight. I have endurance.
I also think that I wouldn't know what to do with my time if I jsut eat and exercise and have nothing else to think about or do. My life would be too empty.. sad but true.
Wow .. i am sad today. I also was glad to hear from my mom. She just called to say hello. She was likely lonely and it is nice to know she cares. Also sad too as she is getting older. Even though she was a boring cook at home and today.. I think the basic.. meat potatoes and veggies was good for me. My dad introduced me to process foods though.. and he had diverticulitous. (sp)
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Hi gfu, and welcome to the forum. I am sorry that you are being treated so poorly by your GI. You most certainly deserve better treatment and respect, regardless of Dr. Pompous's personal issues. As with many topics, for better or worse i have many opinions and suggestions for you. I hope that at they are helpful.
You are seeking professional services from him which makes you the customer and he the service provider just as if you were buying a cup of coffee. this is an important perspective to keep at the front of your mind as I have found it helps with boundaries a great deal. If you were consistently treated like dirt from the merchant at the coffee shop, would you continue to tolerate it or go back? I am assuming by reading how this has made you feel that you would find a new coffee shop..
::brief tangent coming fasten your seatbelt: I had a doctor (gp) that said the same thing to me. he stated it in the same casual manner he may have used while counting to see if I had ten toes. I asked him if that statement had anything at all to do with why I had made an appointment to see him or if it was simply unsolicited rude advice? this is the same pinhead that on many occasions suggested that I use immodium (sp?) to control my diarhrea and completely, and consistently ignored my complain about tremendous pain under right ribcage- writing it off to a pulled muscle.
So his response to my question was one of pure awe, he actually stood there for a moment with his jaw hanging open. I went in for the kill at this point, greatly amusing myself, and telling him that I thought he was a pencil-necked little fella who could use to bulk up a bit so that he would be capable of lifting more than his ego!!!
Now aside from the well placed verbal *** placed on Dr. Paste Eaters face, this changed the way that I handle my interactions with doctors for ever.
i would suggest you bring along a friend or family member who you feel could help advocate on your behalf. I have gone to many of my wife's appointments (she has fibro- i am as yet undiagnosed) and believe that I have helped to minimize the B.S that the almighty allknowing docs tend to shovel around.
I would also suggest writing out your medical questions and concerns ahead of time, it is nearly impossible to remember and refocus after being dealt an insult of a very personal manner. tell him from the start that you are seeing him for his medical expertise on the items you have taken the time to write down. to avoid the chance of being shot down with "Ya i will read it later or we do not have time for that right now I am booked solid", drop it off ahead of time. please do yourself and your self esteem the favor of including a statement that makes it clear you are not wasting a co-pay to be insulted and berated.
If this doesn't work then fire his ass and tell him why you will not be coming back. Here in the states we also have the ability to complain to the AMA (American Medical Association) which i did with great satisfaction.
I have had many, many doctor appointments since that day and if pain level allows I always walk out with my head held high and my dignity intact.
I hope that this has been of some help to you and wish you luck with both your health and with not having to deal with a doc with a god complex.
yup, i nodded through reading everyone's advice on here.. i agree completely. that doctor is getting paid to see you and provide a certain level of care. none of us should put up with bad workmanship from anyone who provides a paid service for us.
this is a massive issue for people like us, who need to feel trust and confidence in our health carers, especially those who's advice & presciptions can change our lives dramatically.
sounds to me you need to find yourself another one - and you have the right to do so. like others have said, it's worth travelling a bit further, just to get the care you need.
Jerman made some excellent points, particularly about writing things down - even if the doctor himself doesn't make you nervous, the appointment can, and having a list gives you something to focus on and will keep you bringing the conv back around to your needs, not what they want to talk about.
this is a massive issue for people like us, who need to feel trust and confidence in our health carers, especially those who's advice & presciptions can change our lives dramatically.
sounds to me you need to find yourself another one - and you have the right to do so. like others have said, it's worth travelling a bit further, just to get the care you need.
Jerman made some excellent points, particularly about writing things down - even if the doctor himself doesn't make you nervous, the appointment can, and having a list gives you something to focus on and will keep you bringing the conv back around to your needs, not what they want to talk about.
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I too am having that problem right now.Even when I am doing well I have always had my GI see me at least twice a year.The one I have now blows me off as if I know nothing...Looking into going back to my other GI who is 2 hours a way but worth it I believe.I had the same problem when we lived in WA. also when my husband was stationed on the ARMY base there they told me unless they could prove I had Crohn's they wouldn't see me.How do you figure that when I had all my records dating back since 1997.Anyways I ended up seeing civilian doctor which I liked.He helped us be able to adopt our daughter.Now that we are back in MI though I have to start the process of finding a new GI doc. cause like I said I am not liking mine either.The other one I use to see was also a long distance from me at 4 hours.
