I'll be the first to admit I do not like docs.
Particularly that patronizing way they have of talking to you as a patient. As a diabetic, it would be ideal for me to go to my doc, how often? But I only go if I have to- ie refills, acute illness.
Last visit was because I wanted a gadget and 'boom' 'you haven't been in in 2 yrs, why?', noncompliant.' Huh? Okaayy. I know where this is going, and I clam up. Give him the meds prescribed and no further. Jackass.
It would've been nice if It'd gone more like '2 years, well, glad you are here now.'
OTOH, I *know* why they want you to visit every few months- not for a sudden drastic change in your condition- not even for money (though its easy money- $100/10 minutes). Its about accountability to an authority figure. Works fine if you don't have passive aggressive issues with authority. Yes, we all know better, but on our own its like a 5 yr old brushing his teeth. He won't do it.
Your doc isn't your partner in health care, he's your 'daddy' or 'mommy' in health care. Here I'd been dieting and actually had lost weight from last visit. His comment 'keep on doing that'- yeah.. sure, thank you for giving me permission. Now you know just because that comment pissed me off, I went and binged.
I know better. Also, don't just 'tell me' things or hand me a brochure written for patients (who apparantly have a 5th grade reading level), but real medical literature. Print some stuff up from Medline or American Family Physician or JAMA, etc. showing the relation between cardiovascular disease and glucose control, etc. etc.
I've got to admit, more than any doctor lecturing me, reading these articles on a regular basis renews my commitment to lose even a little bit of weight, keep on the antihypertensives and excercise even if just a little.
Last visit was because I wanted a gadget and 'boom' 'you haven't been in in 2 yrs, why?', noncompliant.' Huh? Okaayy. I know where this is going, and I clam up. Give him the meds prescribed and no further. Jackass.
It would've been nice if It'd gone more like '2 years, well, glad you are here now.'
OTOH, I *know* why they want you to visit every few months- not for a sudden drastic change in your condition- not even for money (though its easy money- $100/10 minutes). Its about accountability to an authority figure. Works fine if you don't have passive aggressive issues with authority. Yes, we all know better, but on our own its like a 5 yr old brushing his teeth. He won't do it.
Your doc isn't your partner in health care, he's your 'daddy' or 'mommy' in health care. Here I'd been dieting and actually had lost weight from last visit. His comment 'keep on doing that'- yeah.. sure, thank you for giving me permission. Now you know just because that comment pissed me off, I went and binged.
I know better. Also, don't just 'tell me' things or hand me a brochure written for patients (who apparantly have a 5th grade reading level), but real medical literature. Print some stuff up from Medline or American Family Physician or JAMA, etc. showing the relation between cardiovascular disease and glucose control, etc. etc.
I've got to admit, more than any doctor lecturing me, reading these articles on a regular basis renews my commitment to lose even a little bit of weight, keep on the antihypertensives and excercise even if just a little.
posted by booknpenlover at 8:17 PM
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