When Do You Need to Change Your Doctor?

Have you ever just stuck with your doctor because it was convenient? I know I have. I don't know whether I'm afraid of change, or it's because my doctor's office if close by, but I am guilty of this. I have decided though that it's time to change my doctor, and I'll tell you why.

I've only seen my doctor twice in the three years that I've been her patient. She's very pleasant to talk to, but doesn't seem to interested in follow-up appointments. There was an 18 month gap between my first appointment and next appointment with her. I never heard from her in between appointments, and she refilled my prescriptions, no questions asked. I'm only on a blood pressure medication, but I think after a year she would have said I needed to come in and be rechecked. My last appointment was last October. I scheduled a physical and it took six weeks to get this appointment. Three days prior to my appointment, I ruptured my Achilles tendon and I asked her to look at it. She examined it, which took maybe a full minute and said to keep on what I was doing. She asks me routine questions about my health, then looks at her watch and says she only has a few minutes left to finish my exam! At this point I was perplexed!!! She did the female portion of the exam and nothing else. No listening to my heart, lungs, looking at my throat or ears. Nothing. Oh, she did order annual lab work.

To this day I still can't believe that I didn't say anything to her. I've worked in doctors offices. I know what a physical is. I was just so dumb-founded when she made that comment, that I didn't think to respond.

I have an HMO for insurance, so it's pretty easy for me to change doctors. All I have to do log on to their website, find doctors that I'm interested in, then see if they are accepting new patients. I've also used YELP to look at reviews of doctors as well, and to see what other people/patients have commented about them. If I see someone who looks good, but after reading reviews see that he/she is frequently behind schedule, I probably wouldn't choose them.

Now, not all people have the luxury of changing doctors as easily as I do. With Obama Care now, more and more doctors offices are feeling the impact of additional patients and having a hard time keeping up with the ones that they already have. Also, you may have to call around and see if the doctor you have in mind accepts your insurance. Not all doctors take every insurance that is out there.

If you are thinking about changing doctors, ask yourself these questions?

• Do I like my doctor? Is he/she pleasant and does he/she listen to me?
• How easy is it to get an appointment?
• Are same day appointments available for urgent issues?
• What are her/his policies when they're unavailable?
• What is his/her refill policy?
• Are they on time or frequently run behind?
• Is their office staff pleasant?
• Do they call you back if you have a question?
• Does he/she feel rushed when you see them?
• Do they take family members?
• Do they accept and bill my insurance?
• Do they have positive patient reviews?

These are just a few of the questions I would ask. I would also ask friends and family members for recommendations. As a consumer, you have the right to the best medical care possible and shouldn't accept anything less.

How to Get the Most out of your doctor appointment

Have you ever gone to a doctor appointment, only to leave and forgot to ask questions or forgot what was told to you at your appointment? Well, you're not alone. Most appointments last, (or are scheduled) for only 15 minutes, and you usually have to cram as many questions and receive suggestions, prescriptions and additional information to act upon. Unfortunately, a lot of this is forgotten as soon as you get home. It's not that you've intentionally forgotten it, it's that a lot is done in a short amount of time, and you're not wired to recall that much information. I too have experienced this first-hand; not only after working in a medical office for several years, but as being the child of an aging parent who easily gets facts confused.

I have come up with a list of suggestions to make your appointment easier for both you and your doctor.

Carry a medical notebook with you

On the first section, write down your name, address, phone number, emergency contact information and insurance name. Include illnesses, previous surgeries, and all your prescriptions that you take and any allergies that you have. Make sure you include the milligrams, (strength) and how often you take it. Also note which provider prescribed it for you. Also include a list of vaccinations that you had and the date you had them. Next, include important family history that your doctor should be aware of. Now, make a list of all your providers, including their names, specialty, address and phone numbers.

Make a list of your appointments and who you see

This should resemble the list of chapters in a novel, but you keep adding to it with each appointment.

Keep a separate section for each provider that you see

Write (again) the providers name, address, and phone number at the top of their section. Always write a date and time of appointment for each visit. Keep it in chronological order, just like you would do with a diary. In the provider section, write down any questions and answers that you have when you have an appointment. Make sure you include any changes and tests that have been ordered. Also attach any copies of orders or records that they have given to you that day.

Hopefully this will give you some ideas on what will help you gain the most from your medical appointments for both you and your providers. I know that it's been a big help for both myself and my family members.

Sports Injuries in Seniors!!!

I've always liked to be active. I am not much for going to the gym and working on the weights, but I do like to participate in classes and sports. Now mind you, I'm not a spring chicken anymore. In fact, this year I'll turn 60, but I don't believe in stopping what you love because of your age.

This brings me to sports injuries. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be in my first cast in my late 50's!

I was playing pickleball (I call it tennis for old people), at the local YMCA. I had been playing twice a week for quite sometime now. I was probably an hour into playing, (you take turns, so I did have some down time), when I went after a routine ball and it felt like someone came up from behind me and hit me in my right calf and I heard a loud pop. I immediately went to the ground, (more to protect myself than anything), and knew instantly that something was wrong. I was helped over to a bench where it was apparent that something was seriously wrong with my achilles tendon.

I ended up getting a ride to urgent care where I was misdiagnosed with a sprain and put in a walking shoe. Three days later I saw my own doctor, who examined it, but didn't suggest anything else. I finally asked for a referral to an orthopedist as my leg was swelling. 

I saw the orthopedist 16 days after my initial injury where he thought that I ruptured my achilles tendon. Neither the urgent care doctor or my physician knew they correct way to test for this. I ended up having an MRI which verified his diagnosis and was put in a cast for four weeks. I recently had it removed and now am in a air cast/boot with wedges that have to be removed weekly. This will go on for about five weeks, then lots of physical therapy. Did I mention this was my right foot? That means NO DRIVING which is driving me crazy!!!! Not only can I not drive, I also have to have help taking a shower.

If you think you've been misdiagnosed, trust yourself and get a second opinion immediately. If I had, I probably would have been on the road to recovery sooner and possibly have a better resolution to my overall healing. Sports injuries can happen at any age. Even if you think you know your limits and are doing all the appropriate things, (stretching, diet, etc), it can still happen to you. And always, check with your medical provider to make sure you are healthy enough to participate in any physical activities before you start.