Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 32

Thread: How to choose a doctor?

  1. #1
    Site Supporter MGW's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Kansas

    How to choose a doctor?

    Long story but I need a new primary care physician. I haven't had a primary care doctor for a long time preferring to use a nurse practitioner instead. I have no idea how to go about finding a good doctor. I know I want someone that stays on top of current research, doesn't prescribe drugs to try to fix every problem, and takes the time to try to understand what the issue is. I hardly ever go to the doctor but I want a good one when I need one. Insurance makes it more difficult but there are still plenty of options in my area.

    Any tips?
    “If you know the way broadly you will see it in everything." - Miyamoto Musashi

  2. #2
    When I was 48, my insurance changed and I had to find a new PC.

    My want list:
    - Male; being one myself, I figure he just might know more about the subspecies.
    - A few to several years older than me; I value the experience of my elders.
    - Sports physiology background; I've always liked working out & I intend to stay as fit as I can for as long as I can. Much of the fitness advice I adhere to comes from guys with at least 5+yrs on me and usually in better shape. It's been my experience that people who study health & fitness often have a better grasp on overall wellness, too...like the food pyramid is bullshit and the ability to squat is important, that kinda stuff.
    - Plus I wanted someone who wasn't gonna freak when I told them TRT was pretty much a sure thing in the next year or so.

    Then:
    Logged onto my insurance company's site and got a list of all the allegedly covered physicians and winnowed my way through that list.
    Called to see if they were accepting new patients, never trust the ins co site, dr's offices don't update them & the ins co never fact checks. *see allegedly
    Tried to speak to head nurse and asked questions about the dr like it was an interview...because it was.
    Made appointment with the first one, cancelled it when they said dr was gone and I'd be with his NP.
    Made new appointment with the next guy on the list who's staff passed the interview.
    Had a good, honest talk with the dr. Liked his attitude and his demeanor, regretted having to find a new one when we moved states away a couple years later.

  3. #3
    Site Supporter
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    ABQ
    Since I got my first doc as an adult I have tried to go with D.O.s in many states they can do minor surgery, and the spinal manipulation skills of a chiropractor have come in handy. Most D.O.s I have had have been a lot more holistic (not in a wierd way) and "whole person" oriented. Open to alternative therapies. My last two primary care were resident physicians, and it was a little rough. Super conservative, not wanting to risk irritating the attending. I realize people gotta learn, but....it was a strain. I like the relationship aspect.

    Maybe @Nephrology would have a little insight.

    pat

  4. #4
    Site Supporter OlongJohnson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    "carbine-infested rural (and suburban) areas"
    Quote Originally Posted by UNM1136 View Post
    D.O.s
    What does this mean? All I'm coming up with is Doctor of Oncology.
    .
    -----------------------------------------
    Not another dime.

  5. #5

  6. #6
    Site Supporter JohnO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    CT (behind Enemy lines)
    Quote Originally Posted by OlongJohnson View Post
    What does this mean? All I'm coming up with is Doctor of Oncology.

    Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

    https://osteopathic.org/what-is-oste.../what-is-a-do/

  7. #7
    Site Supporter
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    America
    It was disappointing to me when I realized just how bad many doctors are. Many just don’t care and blame the insurance companies for their poor performance. I have learned that when a doctor tells you they can’t fix what is wrong with you they often really mean they don’t want to (often because they don’t want the hassle of insurance companies or want to testify in lawsuits) or they don’t know how. Worker Comp doctors are a whole additional level of fucked up greedy whores. Good doctors are worth their weight in gold. I prefer DOs over MDs and docs that have played sports/athletic ones are much better than book only ones. I also learned to stay away from ortho docs under the age of 35. They usually don’t have enough personal experience with injuries. If I sound sour I have reasons

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by OlongJohnson View Post
    What does this mean? All I'm coming up with is Doctor of Oncology.
    Doctor of Osteopathy

  9. #9
    Site Supporter JohnO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    CT (behind Enemy lines)
    Quote Originally Posted by Poconnor View Post
    It was disappointing to me when I realized just how bad many doctors are. Many just don’t care and blame the insurance companies for their poor performance. I have learned that when a doctor tells you they can’t fix what is wrong with you they often really mean they don’t want to (often because they don’t want the hassle of insurance companies or want to testify in lawsuits) or they don’t know how. Worker Comp doctors are a whole additional level of fucked up greedy whores. Good doctors are worth their weight in gold. I prefer DOs over MDs and docs that have played sports/athletic ones are much better than book only ones. I also learned to stay away from ortho docs under the age of 35. They usually don’t have enough personal experience with injuries. If I sound sour I have reasons
    I had a quack nearly kill me. He came recommended through a practice in my home town. I needed to get a work related medical form completed with Dr's signature so I went to see this particular M.D.

    The first thing that happened which is fairly standard is my Blood Pressure was taken and I was told it was High. I was tested a second time later during the same visit and again told my pressure was high. Now I ended up with a follow-up visit for a Pressure Re-Check. Again told I had High Blood Pressure. The Doctor leaves the room and comes back in with a drug rep sample bottle of blood pressure medication. He hands it to me and says, "You need to take this!" I was a little flustered never having a pressure issue. I asked what will this medication do to me? Meaning what are the side effects. His response, "It will keep you ALIVE!"

    I left that office with my head spinning, a bottle of Benecar, dosage instructions and an other follow up visit appointment. On my way home I purchased an automated Blood Pressure device because I didn't trust the doctor. When I measured my own pressure I came out perfectly normal. Yet the doctor's comment about "keeping me alive" scared me into taking the pressure medication.

    I took the meds for 2 or 3 days before I quit. I was at work and bent over to pick up something on the floor and I went down to the floor, boom. Fortunately I was working with a co-worker and asked him to go out to my car and get my pressure machine. We took my pressure and it was lower than what an ER calls a Code for. I stopped those meds immediately, "F" them!

    I actually went to the follow up appointment and got told my pressure was high again. Then I told the doctor what happened and he said there was an adjustment period to the medication. WTFO! I told him my machine said I was fine! He had some medical garble dee-gook to say and I walked out.

    Months later it started eating at me. Who or what was correct? The quack or my machine? So I made an appointment with a Hypertension Specialist. Told him that whole story and he checked my machine and said it was perfectly accurate. He had me take my pressure morning and night for 2 weeks and come back. He told me I was perfectly fine and did not have any blood pressure issue. Then he asked me what medication I was put on. I told him Benecar. He was quite surprised that I was immediately put on a "dual-agent" blood pressure medication without any discussions about lifestyle changes, weight loss, salt reduction ... nothing but here take this "it will keep you alive."

    A year later I was at my eye doctor for a yearly exam. At some point in time I must have put the quack down as my primary care physician. When the nurse/tech came in to the examining room before the eye doctor to ask all the standard questions, any eye problems ... She asked is Dr. ________ still your doctor? I quickly responded with a resounding NO! And she said "GOOD!" I said really? And she said Oh Yes he is trouble.

  10. #10
    Site Supporter
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    America
    I had trouble with false high blood pressure readings too. Turns out there are different sizes of blood pressure cuffs. I just needed a bigger cuff.

User Tag List

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •