Comments on: Prevention is All about the Doctor-Patient Relationship!

By: Linden Malki

Linden Malki — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:14:21 +0000

There’s another side–my husband changed from a doctor who was very good medically but not so good with courtesy, etc., to a doctor who had a great bedside manner–who missed a diagnosis of recurrent lymphoma and lost four months of possible treatment–and gave him an antibiotic that set off a really bad string of problems. Both my husband and I have been overmedicated by doctors who do have too much faith in the meds and not enough respect for side effects. One even told my son that he doesn’t read the PDR on meds he prescribes. The trick to getting decent treatment is to find the doctor who knows what you really need and how to “work the system” to get if for you.

By: BOB HOFFPAUIR

BOB HOFFPAUIR — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:42:51 +0000

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH. THIS HITS THE “NAIL ON THE HEAD” FOR ME IN MY PERSONAL LIFE (5XCABG / MI), AS I CONSTANTLY
DISAGREE/FIGHT/PLEAD WITH MY CARDIO TO GIVE THE MINIMUM MEDICATION, THEN INCREASE AS NECESSARY AND COMBINE WITH NATURAL REMIDIES (WHICH I GIVE HIM RESEARCH INFO). ALSO, OUR PRESENT NATIONAL HEALTHCARE ” FIASCO/DEBATE” HAS CONSPICUOUSLY LEFT OUT NATURAL PREVENTION REMEDIES. ONCE AGAIN, THANKS.

By: Karen Davis

Karen Davis — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:07:38 +0000

In my experience, good doctors are very, very difficult to find! What I have settled for is a doctor who will not immediately and unilaterally discount my feelings, symptoms, questions, or opinions, so that I have room to negotiate. And it is upon ME to read everything I can get my hands on, so that I am not a weak and unwilling participant. I have had to learn this the hard way. In 1999, my beloved husband died of a massive, undiagnosed heart attack at age 43. Yes–he had seen many doctors through the years, each of whom diagnosed “muscular-skeletal problems” although they had EKG results indicating myocardial infarcts (which they never told my husband about). The very night he died, he had seen a triage nurse and the doctor on duty that night, who did not catch the fact that he had a heart attack in progress. And, since the same symptoms were misdiagnosed time after time over years, why should my husband conclude that he was having a heart attack? My own daughter had her first brain surgery 6 yrs. ago at age 10, and then her second surgery a year later, followed by 15 mos. of chemo. Even after she completed chemo, the oncologists insisted that she still take Dapsone, which was used prophalactically, “to prevent PCP pneumonia”. One oncologist left a number of very panicked phone messages about her “abnormal blood tests,” until–one night–I decided to look up the adverse effects of Dapsone. On the web I read about anorexia (which she suffered from) and anemia (which she had). I decided to discontinue the Dapsone, even though the lead oncologist threatened me and tried to frighten me, saying, “Don’t blame us if she winds up with PCP pneumonia!” And–GUESS WHAT??? Her blood tests started showing improvement one week after discontinuing the Dapsone, and they continued to improve until back to normal. Had I not caught on and become curious, my daughter would have suffered from a painful spinal tap–or worse, had they rushed to the diagnosis of aplastic anemia. And my own primary care physician–lauded in one of the local papers for being a “Top Doc”–is usually half-way out the door to her next patient (all the while still talking to me!), before I get a chance to ask even half of the questions on the list I brought. And she still threatens me and pushes the osteoporosis meds, which I have resisted and will continue to resist, in favor of diet, exercise, calcium and D3 supplements. I see the Big Pharm salesmen/women–so neat, clean, and nicely dressed–saunter in and out of their busy office. I know the docs get kickbacks from Big Pharm. I don’t have to be part of it. The moral of this story is–PEOPLE…DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! You don’t have to be a pawn in the process. If the docs flat out won’t even give you even the slightest credibility, then find another doctor. That may not be so easy in more rural or remote areas, but for many millions of others it may be the only way to survive. Our country has two problems–affordable access and adequate education of our physicians. They can start by encouraging more docs to become primary care/family physicians, subsidizing their education and training, so they do not leave school with crushing debt. And, Big Pharma needs to get the heck out of our med schools! All doctors need MUCH more training in nutrition and in the use of natural remedies (for example, natural, desiccated Thyroid hormones to treat patients with thyroid diseases. We can do SO much better!

By: marianne thode

marianne thode — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:27:06 +0000

Amen! Read of one patient who went to 245 docs before his thyroid problem was dx’d. Have probably been to 30 some myself. Everyone needs to research their symptoms if possible and the thyroid is a good place to start.

By: Sharon Louise

Sharon Louise — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:23:42 +0000

I am interested in a questionaire to take to a new doctor I am interviewing for my 90 yr. old mother. Its is very difficult to find a doctor who uses both sides of the fence, so to speak, alternate and traditional. The M.D. I am approaching is also an OD., but I understand the new OD’s, push the drugs as well.

Any guidelines you can give me is very much appreciated.
Thank you,

Sharon Louise

By: joann

joann — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:41:57 +0000

Thank you so much for your very insightful article on doctor-patient relationships!

I have always very much believed what you advise to be the only beneficial doctor-patient relationship and have long searched for it; and, now, after reading your article, feel I must, and will, continue to do so. I, also, will be sending your article as a timely reminder and encouragement to my son who is a physician.

I am so happy to hear what you are saying. More of us must hear and be told what your are saying so we may all benefit. Please continue to speak out about this, Dr. Schwartz!