Finding a good Doctor

[Ottawa]

This is not meant as an "Amazing Story" but rather the difference it makes in having a good doctor on your side.

A few years ago after having been put on Lipitor (statin), told that there is no way to drop weight without switching to 1600 cals./day, and a few other questionable items, I called up the local College of Physicians and asked for the most recent graduate that was taking new patients. This will not work in some areas but fortunately worked for me.

He is not low carb, but has an open mind and when I presented him with what I was doing and wanted to track, he was all for it, given my success at that point.

I only see him a few times a year but he remembers my health concerns and interests, and is willing to review my blood work in detail as well as physical condition. He also enjoys my take on the "Reality of Mortality".

Today was a quick check on a few things that change as I travel down this road of time. Slight aches, fitness and a few other questions were my concerns as well as requesting a blood work form. We also reviewed previous work from my Endocronoligist for Kidney stone formation and Bone Density (my 40 years of calcium based kidney stones and whether it relates to a loss in bone density). It did not, although my water intake is still lower than it should be.

I reviewed my last 6 months and that January is my 4 year mark on low carb (PP) and I would like to do a full blood scan at that time and review it with earlier work. He gave me the appropriate form, ticked to cover all my concerns and a few of his (Urea since my protein is mainly animal based and his is vegetarian, and 2 blood sugar tests since I was diagnosed as diabetic when I first went to see him) and we will review these 2 weeks after my blood work is done in January.


The reason for writing this is that for years I went through the "medical machine" much like going to a corner conveniece store. A quick visit, little said, and you leave until the next little need. Being able to review my health concerns and to EXPECTING great service has changed all that.

For those dissatisfied with current medical service, looking for an alternative solution is the first step. :)

[deirdra]

The beauty of Canada is they hand you the forms to take to the blood-testing clinic. I often add a tick mark or two myself (I have not yet found the perfect doctor & they are too busy to notice). My mother has been crippled by severe Rheumatoid Arthritis since the age of 40, yet my doctor did not think that my severe joint pain required a test for rheumatoid factor. So I checked the box myself. Finding out I didn't have it opened me up to the whole world of what else could be causing the pain - food allergies & intolerances, all fixable without drugs. And extra tick marks for the non-routine thyroid & lipid tests proved I was on the right track with my high-fat diet. I am actually saving the taxpayer money in the long run because I no longer take ~$600/year of "free" drugs (painkillers, anti-inflammatories, thyroid, asthma & allergy drugs) and am in perfect health.

[cmcole]

Good plan, Diedra.
Now, the next time I get a "chit", I'll have to ask you which ones to check off, too.

[gitfiddle]

Randy, what a killer idea! Get a newbie right out of school who is still open-minded!

I happen to have lucked into a non-tradional thinker who has an MD, so the insurance companies go along with everything but the accupuncture. He even did a few treatments on DH, to try to help him become independent of his pain medication, but to no avail. In fact, I have this doctor to thank for introducing me to PP, supplements (instead of prescription drugs) and muscle therapy that has me flexible again.

Diedra, I have often speculated on what would happen if I checked off a couple more tests on my lab form on the way over to the hospital. My GP (different guy) doesn't think an insulin test would be very conclusive, so I just go by my glucometer. If sugar's down, insulin isn't being stimulated, I guess.

[Anniesnan]

Being home sick, and starting to slightly feel better - at least I'm done napping, can't read, even though I purchased a slightly trashy novel that I should be able to read with one eye closed, I find I'm here, dredging up old interesting posts!

Randy,
that was a terrific idea! DH & I got really lucky, after many years of suffering with an HMO, finding a doc who actually diagnosed a bunch of his problems. She left the HMO (they asked her to) and so did we.

She is very open-minded and a gifted diagnositican. She actually knows who we are and what treatment we get and when dh first went on PPLP, she was so excited for him, reduced all his meds. She's very proactive and sends him for all sorts of regular blood tests.

Deirdra, I have actually thought of adding a "tick" or two to my forms - our doc hands them to us, but SHE would know! What infuriates me (with myself) is if we asked her to add anything, she would - even if she didn't think it was necessary. I have a list of things I want her to test me for on my next blood work - some of them are probably already things she tested me for last time (they took 6 or 7 tubes of blood) but just in case:rolleyes: .