Reply to I'm in my 60s, dealing with a significant health issue and

Forum Index » Eldercare

Reply to "I'm in my 60s, dealing with a significant health issue and"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]To the OP - just wanted to let you know that your feelings are normal. I would say don't look to your doctor who is treating you as also your therapist. Many doctors don't include that in their approach. Is the doctor good at treating your condition otherwise? Find a therapist as others have suggested. [/quote]

While I'm not looking for my doctor to be a therapist,  I was assuming that when prescribing a serious medication  that he would  explain  why this is the choice, how it will impact my life, serious contraindications. What I got was  "We are taking this now" with answers only after I asked.

My questions were things like " Doesn't that  cause xyz?" 
His answer " Yes it can."
Isn't that contraindicated with x and y?"
His answer "Uh, hmm, yes. Stop taking those."
Me:( Wouldn't that be up front?)"How long?"
His answer  AFTER another discussion not pertaining to this, almost as an afterthought- " You will take  this for life, and you cannot stop it. This drug will also have significant lifestyle changes. "
Me- LIFE? What are those changes?
His answer " You can read up" shock: 
Is he good at treating me? I really now do not know.

So, I'm not going for crunchy chewy therapist.  But- human and informative would  help! [/quote]

He sounds totally inadequate. Look for someone with special expertise in your condition, or a well regarded geriatrician. [/quote]

He's been pretty good generally for years,  a little wooden, but he tries. I think he deals with a large spectrum of conditions that are mild to fatal,  and he's just not addressing the personal reaction that he might think is smaller potatoes than others.  But I do need real information and clarification on protocol and drugs, yes, especially scary ones.

A couple of folks have suggested a geriatric dr, and I have to say, this may be part of my sadness (?), but I literally just used this type of dr - for my inlaws who were in their 80s to 90 and just passed away not that long ago.  It seems unreal to me that I would require this- it seems like these drs are involved with the multi-faceted issues of chronic  needs and illness- rehab, home nursing, maintenance lab work, social services, etc.

Maybe I just don't see myself as a geriatric,  and that's my problem! I am pretty active, working, etc. What I have is something anyone, of any age, can have, but can get worse with age. Maybe I'm there and it snuck up on me.

[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics