[volleyball]

A difficult doctor can mean a lot of things. Maybe they have their own agenda or they have not seen enough effort/progress on your part.
We cannot say because we do not know the situation. I had one doctor who quickly saw I could help myself, the next needed to be proved too and we worked together after that. Recent most was an E/R type of thing and the doctor quickly got on board as I was the first person in a long time that was informed, motivated and honest with him. Problem is unless they have enough regular patients ( income to them), they may have trouble justifying dealing with my type. Would your fish monger ever teach you how to fish for yourself?

[deziner124]

Hi folks, I've been lurking for a bit. Am an 18 month Byetta user who sings the lizard's praises sometimes hourly. I've lost an average of 3/4# weekly and don't really spend much time watching or monitoring. I have very little appetite now so I definitely do not overeat. I still take 1k mg Metformin x2 daily. Last Aic was 6.3. Hoooray!

Anyway, back to the doctor question. I had to fight like the dickens to see my endo. But the day I came to the PCP's office armed with an inch thick sheaf of paper printed from the internet is the day he decided I might be "non compliant."

Well, harummmph......non compliant am I! Member services didn't agree with him and he was replaced...by me.

Now I'm something like a missionary whose job it is to inform people in the US that we employ our doctors. They need us and our good will. We have voices. And no one wants their boss to know that WE are unhappy. So if you really understand that you have a problem and they don't, make sure you get to someone who will attend your issues.

Thanks, Charli

[Hammer]

Deziner124.....I agree with what you said, and I practice it all the time. People don't seem to understand that doctors, dentists, lawyers, whatever, are being paid to give us their opinion and to share their knowledge. It's up to us to decide if and how we use that knowledge.

A doctor can tell you what disease you have or what condition you're in, and he can recommend courses of action. You don't have to follow his course of action. In fact, if you've been reading up on it, you can suggest a treatment to him. If he doesn't think it's a good idea, then he should tell you why it isn't a good idea. Then it's up to you to decide whether or not to have it done.

Doctors are not gods. The best doctor is one who will suggest treatments with you and answer any questions you might have about it. A bad doctor is one who tells you what to do, and isn't willing to discuss other treatment options.

[volleyball]

I agree about the docs working for us, I was questioned about being 10 minutes late for an appointment and still had to wait 30. so I went and told that receptionist to call me if they are on delay or I'll be 30 minutes late next time.
I don't care about their business, only my health.
But while I make the final decision and live with those consequences, I do give his knowledge and experience the benefit of doubt. I guess I know too many nurse who think they know more than doctors, too many paralegals who know more than lawyers. I am in the computer field and know too many amateurs that think they know more than me.
I pay the doctor because I think he knows more. I am not looking for a doc that will give me what I want. That's why I have a doc who is not happy about my course of living. A little check and balance. So I continue to prove myself.
A lot of people do not have enough faith in their own judgment or willing to take the time to learn their malady and how to treat it so they just do what the doctors says or find a doc to say what they want.