One thing I have learned from dealing with diabetes for the past nearly 10 years, is that doctors are people just like us, and the make mistakes, and poor decisions, just like us.
The should hold themselves to a higher standard, but that doesn't always happen, and unfortunately, sometimes the business of being in the medical profession eclipses the art and science of healing.
There are some cases where treatment is far more profitable than a cure.
I have learned to do my own homework, and to make suggestions based on facts and findings of my own.
I left one doctor after several incidents including- the nurse failing to take my weight, and instead asking me how much I weighed. Anyone who knows anything about diabetes knows that accurate weight monitoring is crucial.
They also failed to coordinate my multiple prescriptions to expire on the same date, after I asked them to do so, so that I would not have to make multiple trips and pay multiple co-pays each month for renewals.
Any time I made a suggestion to that doctor, he simply laughed and immediately discounted it. Strike three.
My new doctor does listen, and I have made several suggestions, some of which we have tried and some have helped.
I had to remind my dentist that if I waited 20 days for a procedure, I'd save $250 because my insurance would renew.
My wife had to INSIST that she be treated for her gall bladder because the hospital wanted to treat her for pancreatitus, which is a symptom of gall bladder failure, before they would even consider treating the bladder, even after three months of chronic symptoms and other indicators of gall bladder failure, and no other symptoms of pancreatic distress.
I had to insist the emergency room release me after treating me for a kidney stone. They said "there's nothing else we can do, but we want to keep you here". I asked what the charges would be, and when told $2500, I declined, went home, and was fine. Interestingly, they accepted my signature for both admission, and release while I was under the influence of the narcotics they provided.
The should hold themselves to a higher standard, but that doesn't always happen, and unfortunately, sometimes the business of being in the medical profession eclipses the art and science of healing.
There are some cases where treatment is far more profitable than a cure.
I have learned to do my own homework, and to make suggestions based on facts and findings of my own.
I left one doctor after several incidents including- the nurse failing to take my weight, and instead asking me how much I weighed. Anyone who knows anything about diabetes knows that accurate weight monitoring is crucial.
They also failed to coordinate my multiple prescriptions to expire on the same date, after I asked them to do so, so that I would not have to make multiple trips and pay multiple co-pays each month for renewals.
Any time I made a suggestion to that doctor, he simply laughed and immediately discounted it. Strike three.
My new doctor does listen, and I have made several suggestions, some of which we have tried and some have helped.
I had to remind my dentist that if I waited 20 days for a procedure, I'd save $250 because my insurance would renew.
My wife had to INSIST that she be treated for her gall bladder because the hospital wanted to treat her for pancreatitus, which is a symptom of gall bladder failure, before they would even consider treating the bladder, even after three months of chronic symptoms and other indicators of gall bladder failure, and no other symptoms of pancreatic distress.
I had to insist the emergency room release me after treating me for a kidney stone. They said "there's nothing else we can do, but we want to keep you here". I asked what the charges would be, and when told $2500, I declined, went home, and was fine. Interestingly, they accepted my signature for both admission, and release while I was under the influence of the narcotics they provided.
