Your relationship with your endocronologist

DISCODIABETIC · #1 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 10:02 AM

Hi All,

How is your relationship with your endocronologist? I have a very tenacious relationship with mine.

any tips on how to improve this most important relationship.

It completely stresses me out having to go see him or any of the diabetic educators/nurses at his clinic.

I did switch endo's over the summer, but went back to him because the other was just useless and was actually quite insulting to me when i tried to explain my financial situation.

B.

RLK · #2 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 10:35 AM

Seeing my endo is about like taking a mid-term exam, or visiting a professor for extra help. I study, get my notes and questions in order, and make sure that I'm prepared to make the best use of my limited time with him. But, despite the rush, he generally agrees with my line of thinking and the decisions that I'm making day to day. I walk out of there feeling like I've just ridden a rollercoaster, but not belittled or attacked in any fashion.

Seeing one of his nurse practitioners is generally a more relaxed appointment. They seem to have more time for questions, and discussions. They're also more willing to talk about the emotional facets of diabetes, maybe because they're all women *shrugs*

Can you be more specific about how your endo stresses you out? Folks might be able to give you more tailored advice with that information.

DISCODIABETIC · #3 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 10:50 AM

well sometimes, when i see him in the clinic, i don't feel that we connect, that he doesn't stop to listen to me and what I am saying. I resisted taking insulin for almost a year, and that didn't make him to happy.

It is also a teaching clinic so often there are residents who sit in on our appointments and having to meet a new person everytime and go through my history adds to the feeling of stress or uncomfortableness.

I don't feel that way when i see him in his private practice.

B.

xMenace · #4 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 11:36 AM

They say hindsight is 20/20. That's why I am very unhappy when one of us decides not to take their insulin or medications *nudge* *nudge* I get the same sense from my endo. If I'm doing the things I need to do, then he's as happy as can be with me regardless of where the numbers are.

Those same feelings you have have crept in on me, but I push them out. I consciously take charge of my health. That also means I assume responsibility for things that might go wrong, so I approach my care team that way. I ask them questions on how I can improve and listen intently to their responses. I typically go in with a list of 6 questions to ask and don't give them a chance to take the initiative. I take a list because they like to ramble on about ****. I guess it takes two to make it work, and I try hard to do so.

My GP on the other hand ... dumb-*** all the way!

JediSurfer · #5 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 11:51 AM

I've always found that the younger endo's who have recently been trained are always open to new ideas and can often think 'outside the box' but as time goes on they seem to listern less and will only see the science on which they have been trained. Ican honestly say I have never received any beneficial help from the endo's, always taken my care into my own hands and have done quite well so far.
I have found a good GP at my local surgery who does listen and doesn't seem to be blinded by the science and can see things on a more practicle level. The funny thing is the best understanding of diabetes I have come across has been from paramedics and I think this is because they actually see how the big D affects us in our day to day lives.
I just use the endo to get my blood works done and check for complication.

Rich

DISCODIABETIC · #6 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 11:54 AM

now that i am on insulin he is happier, but still feels i am non-compliant. He just makes me feel that no matter what i do, be it going to the gym, eating properly, taking my meds, its just not good enough because my sugars are still hovering over 7. (8.1 this morning) He seems to forget that despite trying and working hard i am still human and i will still fail at certain things, usually food. (**** cadbury cream eggs)

My other issue is that i can't see the same dietician or nurse everytime, its always a new one, so i don't get the sense of actually having a team supporting me, that i'm starting over each time.

I have seen the dietician and asked for help in meal planning, and instead of actually sitting down and helping me to learn how to plan, i got a lot of hoipolloi about setting and achieving goals... well my take on that is that you can't achieve goals unless you have the skills to do so.

JediSurfer · #7 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 12:06 PM

I can be very difficult coping with the medics and getting them to understand. For me it has been easy because I have always been diabetic and learned the skills I needed to survive at an early age.

Nutitional therory is an important part of diabetes and can only be learned over time really and can be hit and miss.

Do you have courses in Canada like we have here in the UK? there is a course here called DAFNE which alot of people use to learn how to manage their D better. I have never taken this course because I was using these techniques along time before the docs were.

A result in the 7's isnt too bad at all. some will disagree with this. but take it from me I lived in the 7's and 8's for many years and lived to tell the tale complication free.

SueM · #8 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DISCODIABETIC

It is also a teaching clinic so often there are residents who sit in on our appointments and having to meet a new person everytime and go through my history adds to the feeling of stress or uncomfortableness.

I don't feel that way when i see him in his private practice.

B.

Well the answer to that is ask the students to leave

They can only stay with your permission.
I went to a clinic once and found 5 students sitting in with the consultant.
I just asked them all to leave.

DISCODIABETIC · #9 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 12:12 PM

i don't think i have that option. It isn't a private clinic, its a publicly funded hospital and my Endo is the head professor in the department.

The one person I have a good relationship with at the clinic is the receptionist, I will ask her if I can see him without the underlings.

DISCODIABETIC · #10 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 12:14 PM

[quote=JediSurfer;298359]I

Nutitional therory is an important part of diabetes and can only be learned over time really and can be hit and miss.

Do you have courses in Canada like we have here in the UK? there is a course here called DAFNE which alot of people use to learn how to manage their D better. I have never taken this course because I was using these techniques along time before the docs were.

QUOTE]

no courses that I know of, do you have a link to DAFNE, it might be something i could look into on line.

JediSurfer · #11 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 12:39 PM

Welcome To The Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE) Website

There must surely be a Canadian version of this but I can't find a link. Any Canadians have a better idea?

SueM · #12 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DISCODIABETIC

i don't think i have that option. It isn't a private clinic, its a publicly funded hospital and my Endo is the head professor in the department.

The one person I have a good relationship with at the clinic is the receptionist, I will ask her if I can see him without the underlings.

Yes you do have the option of seeing your endo without the students.
In the UK we have the good old NHS and we have the choice as to whether students sit in or not.

jeggeman31 · #13 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DISCODIABETIC

Hi All,

How is your relationship with your endocronologist? I have a very tenacious relationship with mine.

any tips on how to improve this most important relationship.

I love my Endo. I found that younger female Dr's are the way to go. My family Dr is in her mid 30's and my Endo is also in her mid 30's and female.

Go Young, Go Female and keep looking until you find the right one.

parrotletzoo · #14 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 07:19 PM

Being in the room with my endocrinologist is like being inside a pinball machine where I'm the bumper and he's the ball. bing bing bing bing bing! He's hyper. I like him, he's a good endocrinologist but if I don't smack him upside the head with a list of question already written down I won't get my questions answered because by the time I think of what I wanted to ask he's already out the door. He now knows I'm going to have a list and towards the end will sit and let me ask them.

I've found that, with all of my doctors they tend to take my questions more seriously if they see I've taken the time to think about what I want to ask and write it down. At first they're usually thrown back by it. Eventually, they learn to expect it. I've found it also helps with the dr/patient rapport to bring a printed list of my other medical doctors (w/ phone numbers) and any medications they've prescribed with me. It makes it easier for me to remember and the drs and staff appreciate the time it saves them. I keep said list on the computer and update it after each dr appointment. so I know when changes were last made.

If pinning your doctor down and making him realize that you are serious about health care (and time with him) doesn't help its time to find a different doctor. imo even if it means traveling further then you'd like to see them.

JediSkipdogg · #15 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 08:46 PM

I personally have zero relationship with my endo. When I go in I pretty much just want to see my test results and what she thinks and any prescription refills that I need. I have found I can learn 1000 times more on my own via research than I can from her. My #1 problem everytime I see her is that I just don't have the motivation to make the changes she suggests.