Posted by Racer on September 18, 2007, at 12:31:36
In reply to Re: For once I disagree with Poet » Racer, posted by pianissimo on September 18, 2007, at 8:57:31
I didn't want to look as though I still disagreed with Poet about anything, since it's so much easier just letting her have the thoughts for us both ;-)
Back to you:
You know how much I enjoy your company, so I will just say that you deserve better. You want a good, caring, compassionate doctor? I got one. If it comes down to it, come out here and see her. (There, if that's not incentive to find a good one where you are, I don't know what is...)
I've got a very long history of problems with doctors. I come by it honestly -- my mother hasn't seen any doctor in over a decade! Even when I got insurance, I struggled a lot. The first two PCPs I saw were -- sub-optimal, shall we say. The first asked something stupid about my weight, "Is this a normal weight for you?" I said, "I have an eating disorder" -- and watched his eyes glaze over. When I said I knew I needed to gain weight, but didn't know how, he said, "I tell my patients who need to lose weight to cut carbs, so I guess you need to eat more carbs." Uh...
The next was so appalling my husband -- who hates conflict -- called him to yell at him! I'd gained weight by this time, but when I went in for something basic, said, "Oh, and it's probably time for another thyroid test." He turned around and said, "You American women want to think it's your thyroid that makes you gain weight..." Hello? I told him that I *knew* why I had gained weight -- it was a year's nutritional counseling from a dietitian, and the same year's worth of psychotherapy -- I wanted a thyroid test because I am treated for severe depression! Uh... Maybe my mother has the right idea?
I'm telling you all this so that you understand that I really do know how hard it can be with doctors.
I now have a team of doctors I -- mostly -- like and trust. My pdoc, affectionately known as Dr Dorky, is still scary to me, but he's a good guy and I'm working on that. My PCP is a tiny little Russian woman, and I like her quite a bit since she asked about what classes I was taking and then went on to talk about how much she liked Algebra, with such a light in her eyes. My gyn is a nice, avuncular sort of a man, older, very compassionate. I'm less thrilled with my orthopedist, but he's only a now and again sort of doctor, so that isn't so vital. Even my podiatrist is a good talker. It really and truly is possible to do this. You can find a doctor who isn't an [body part]. And you know what? You deserve to. You deserve to find a doctor who treats you as a whole human being, not as an eating disorder with legs.
Good luck, and if you want ideas on finding a good doctor, I've got some experience with it now...
poster:Racer
thread:783058
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/eating/20070820/msgs/783741.html