The Complicated Patient, OH MY!
Have you ever gone to the doctor and felt like you weren't being listened to? Have you ever gotten the desire to take one of those large medical texts and drop it on the floor to get a reaction or have you wanted to bring a wireless blocker for the computer the doctor is so focused on? Have you ever wanted the doctor to ask you a question that wasn't symptom based like, "Did you have to wait long? " I call it the human touch. But in today's medical climate, the doctor knows it is all about getting the numbers in a few hours. Enter evidence based medicine, today's politically correct medical diagnostic thinking and standard of medicine. It has developed a life of its own uniting the medical community in shrugging their shoulders at patients that present with long winded symptoms or simply don't talk fast enough. I used to like going to my doctor because we'd chat. Now, she smiles at me and we are off and running. I have learned that before I get into the office, I need to have a mental script as to what I want to say. It is a dance I don't like. I am a medical person and know the key phrases and words to get the right attention. I know I have maybe five minutes to get my symptoms out.
My heart goes out the person who seeks medical help with multiple vague symptoms, who knows their health is off and feels like they are on a slippery slope. Evidence based medicine doesn't always have room for the vague symptoms. Either you get in the diagnostic box or come back when it gets worse. If the insurance evidence based lab tests are normal, good luck and don't let the door hit you on the way out. Oh and by the way, have you thought of taking an anti depressant? Psychological issues or "it's all in your head" is the new diagnosis for the patient who keeps returning with the symptoms that the lab tests don't nail down. Undiagnosed sub clinical thyroid people, environmental allergy people (another sham science I am told), chronic fatigue people, the undiagnosed cancer with unrelated symptoms or someone who has multiple medication side effects are just a few that fall into this category. And guess what? Depression will set in when no one will listen to you or take you seriously and you feel poorly.
I receive many calls from people who feel helpless and betrayed by an often deaf and unresponsive system. I am called as the last resort to help find a medical professional who will listen, be a detective and find a reason for the unrelenting suffering. Part of my job is to give hope, support, find the right medical situation and strong arm the insurance company to pay part of the bill when it is out of network. I never tell people it will be easy or simple only it is possible to find the care you deserve.
Posted by HealthCare Whisperer at 8/26/2009 5:04 PM 
Categories: patient, doctor, evidence based medicine
Tags: patient evidence based medicine doctor
Categories: patient, doctor, evidence based medicine
Tags: patient evidence based medicine doctor
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