Posted by Dinah on July 25, 2009, at 11:55:34
In reply to Re: Say never » Dinah, posted by Phil on July 25, 2009, at 9:32:08
I've had three in my adult life.
One pushed way too many pills on me, answered all of my side effects with still more pills, and had a Dr. Phil like way of interacting.
The second was in no way warm, but he listened, seemed marginally interested, and said one of my favorite ever pdoc things. "Medications have side effects. Not taking medications has side effects. It's up to you to decide which side effects you prefer." He never pushed anything. I doubt he'd have seen me in the hospital, and I doubt he cared about me in any way. I called him Dr. "Just the Facts, Ma'am" because the only thing he wanted to hear was medication related. But he did his best for me, and listened to my feedback, and was totally open to switching course whenever I liked. I lost him in Katrina as he, like so many, fled for higher land.
The third scares me to death, in a different way than the first. He's very cadaverous, rarely smiles, has his clients sit waaaay back from his desk. But he's enormously cautious about meds. Makes sure he has my bloodwork forwarded from my regular doctor. If I ever reported a side effect, I know he'd listen. I'm afraid to talk to him, and whatever I do try to say gets garbled on the way out by anxiety. I think he thinks I'm a neurotic fool. But I trust him to take what I say about meds seriously. And he'd definitely ask if I was drinking six cups of coffee and why I thought I was up all night before he prescribed anything.
I don't think I've ever met a warm and fuzzy pdoc. I didn't like any of the three. Well maybe the second, just a teeny bit. But I respect the second and third.
There are good ones out there. Few and far between perhaps. I got the second from a recommendation from a friend of my mother, believe it or not. And the third as a recommendation from the second. Do you know any little old ladies to ask? :)
I'm glad you're feeling better, Phil.
poster:Dinah
thread:908314
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20090714/msgs/908495.html