New doctor: the verdict
Dec. 1st, 2008 08:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenayHmm, I am in two minds about my new family doctor.
I saw my new doctor for a grand total of five minutes. Her first language is definitely not English so we were having some communication difficulties - perhaps she doesn't usually deal with things beyond the usual coughs and colds?
Explained that I had Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and her first response was to refer me to a rheumatologist. Now, I have no objections to being handled by a rheumy for this because it makes more sense. I would have thought that a couple of questions about how it affects my life and the diagnosis history might have been in order, though.
Oh, well.
Her biggest concern was my grandmother's breast cancer. Nope, not early on-set and from what I know of the protocols there is no need to start screening me for at least ten years even with this history. Oh, and my other grandmother's bowel cancer. Which, again, I've been told is incredibly unlikely in someone my age.
Her next biggest concern was my chronic daily usage of NSAIs. She wants some blood work done to check my kidney function and monitor it, which I admit might be a sensible idea. Me pointing out that I'm willing to take the risks if it keeps my back pain down to a point where I can continue working didn't impress her. Most doctors prefer to keep me in work so that felt like an odd response.
I'm going back in a couple of weeks for results and a couple of other tests so we'll see how we get on at second glance.
One thing: can any Canadians tell me what the process is with repeat prescriptions? She's happy to keep me on my current meds and dosages if they're available in Canada (please let my painkillers be available here) but it sounds rather like I'll have to make an appointment to see her every time I need the script refilled. Is that the case? Or will she be able to give me something that gets me X refills before I have to see her again? Because I'm not sure that I want to be seeing her every couple of months just to get a prescription and I'm not sure that work would be happy about that, either. Particularly if I have a rheumy appointment every six months as well.
Overall, I'm not too impressed with her but I'm willing to see where we go. If she's the kind of doctor who will just write a referral for everything then it could be that I'll rarely have to see her! I must remember to request a flu shot the next time I'm there, though.
I saw my new doctor for a grand total of five minutes. Her first language is definitely not English so we were having some communication difficulties - perhaps she doesn't usually deal with things beyond the usual coughs and colds?
Explained that I had Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and her first response was to refer me to a rheumatologist. Now, I have no objections to being handled by a rheumy for this because it makes more sense. I would have thought that a couple of questions about how it affects my life and the diagnosis history might have been in order, though.
Oh, well.
Her biggest concern was my grandmother's breast cancer. Nope, not early on-set and from what I know of the protocols there is no need to start screening me for at least ten years even with this history. Oh, and my other grandmother's bowel cancer. Which, again, I've been told is incredibly unlikely in someone my age.
Her next biggest concern was my chronic daily usage of NSAIs. She wants some blood work done to check my kidney function and monitor it, which I admit might be a sensible idea. Me pointing out that I'm willing to take the risks if it keeps my back pain down to a point where I can continue working didn't impress her. Most doctors prefer to keep me in work so that felt like an odd response.
I'm going back in a couple of weeks for results and a couple of other tests so we'll see how we get on at second glance.
One thing: can any Canadians tell me what the process is with repeat prescriptions? She's happy to keep me on my current meds and dosages if they're available in Canada (please let my painkillers be available here) but it sounds rather like I'll have to make an appointment to see her every time I need the script refilled. Is that the case? Or will she be able to give me something that gets me X refills before I have to see her again? Because I'm not sure that I want to be seeing her every couple of months just to get a prescription and I'm not sure that work would be happy about that, either. Particularly if I have a rheumy appointment every six months as well.
Overall, I'm not too impressed with her but I'm willing to see where we go. If she's the kind of doctor who will just write a referral for everything then it could be that I'll rarely have to see her! I must remember to request a flu shot the next time I'm there, though.
