Humility is something I always look for in people especially those with power over the lives of others. I feel far better with the psychiatrist I’ve had for 9 years who is generally willing to go along with my requests….as long as they are well-reasoned. He is about 75 and a great psychopharmacologist and surrogate father figure. He has no problems learning from me and less of a problem just laughing when I come up with some bozo idea.
Before him, I worked with 2 psychiatrist friends (small-town) who tended to be pretty rigid, conservative, and rule bound. They were always quite sure of themselves and their high degrees of certainty were matched only by high degrees of major errors. With these two, I was teaching them…..and getting them to try a bit of what they were prescribing me so they’d think more clearly. Nobody cares more or is more invested in ‘getting it right’ that the patient….stands to reason we might know a thing or two about a thing or two if we invest the time to learn.
Might I have control issues ? Nope………………
Great post and great point Therese.

“Every doctor makes mistakes in diagnosis and treatment. But the frequency of those mistakes, and their severity, can be reduced by understanding how a doctor thinks and how he or she can think better…. Because doctors desperately need patients and their families and friends to help them think. Without their help, physicians are denied key clues to what is really wrong. I learned this not as a doctor but when I was sick , when I was the patient.”
Hopefully Dr. Groopman also tells us how to get doctors to listen.
Thank you Therese, for this great blog.

i have that book…read awul gatwante too. I Have nothing but praise for USF Mental health out patient clinic…

Therese,
I totally understand what you mean about that “cocky doctor”.
I was going through the first round of depression and didn’t know what was causing my mood swings. I knew something was off with my thinking but due to my insurance coverage I had to see a regular doctor first.
I have never before felt so insulted by a doctor as I did this one.
He made it quite clear not to question ANYTHING he wanted done or prescribed. He actually told me the last visit “because I am the doctor and have years of schooling is why”.
To say the least…after the first visit I was looking for a new doctor and was out the door without a backward glance as soon as I found a new one that took my insurance.
Hope that man has gotten out of the business because he sure doesn’t care about his patients. Just the all mighty dollar.
Nancy aka sixlittlekitties

I find this advice to apply to ALL our docs, not just the pdocs! I have FINALLY found a primary care doctor who accepts that after living in it for nearly sixty ears, I’ve come to know my own body and who will believe me when I tell herthings like that I’m sure I’m getting a urinary tract infection, do the testing at my request and treat me accordingly. Any woman who has even ONCE had a UTI knows the symptoms far too well. This ay also be true of men, but as I’m a woman, I can’t speak to that. I just know how much I appreciate having a doc who believes in my interpretation of my symptoms enough to fax an order for tests to a nearby lab and prescribe accordingly. My former primary catr doc used to ssay,”Just tell me th esymptoms you’re experiencing and let ME decide if an urinalysis is called for, which invariably delayed treatmentand allowed the infection to get a tighter grip on my urinary tract. another trait about my current doc that thrills me is her accessibility Rather than send me there, Dr. D. will MEET me at the ER when something crops up outside of business hours. Her service will find her and I always get a call back within a couple of hours. It is very reassuring to know that a doc who is familiar with my history and current problems will be treating me rather than a young resident who is completely ignorasnt about my case. she already knows the meds I’m taking, so I needn’t go through that litany with someone else either. Any doc of any specialty (or non specialty in this case) is worth his or her weight in gold IMHO. Since Dr. D. is also familiar with my bipolarII disorder and its consequences, it’s not necessary to explain to yet another medical professional why I’m on an anti depressant and/or a mood leveler, something that has raised more than one emergency room brow in my experience. Here’s to all of those wonderful docs who practice with not only a license but also compassion and anon-inflated ego. may they live long and prosper!

I have had my own name for many of the doctors that I have known in my life. Considering the high estemm they held themselves in and the fact that they apparently felt they could walk on water, I have refered to them as being an M.Diety.

I would suggest reading the books written by Dr. Sherry Rogers, MD
She goes to the causes not just treatment of the signs and symtoms and her books are very educational, too.
llc

Sadly, the majority of doctors I have met are cocky and too self assured. If a doctor acts in this manner, it’s my first and last visit. I know the most about MY body and what’s going on with it. I find I have better experiences, in general with female doctors. I think they are much better listeners, in general, but I have had a few female doctors who don’t listen at all. I demand and expect respect from all people, so if a doctor is ever arrogant or rude to me, I let them know right there on the spot and I make a call to patient relations. I encourage everyone to do the same — if they get enough calls, the doctor might have to take further training in how to deal with patients or get an attitude adjustment!

I don’t know what to say about this issue. I’m diabetic so I have seen more doctors than I could shake a stick at, and then there are the therapists we say as a family when one of my teenagers had a major depression coupled with a drug problem. I went to a woman doctor who was terrible, who kept telling me I was going to die. I have had anemia from time to time since I was a child. ON one of the blood tests from this female doctor, who had come highly recommended, I showed up anemic and promptly got told I was dying of lukemia. Blessedly having had this issue before I merely restarted Iron pills and the next visit my blood work was fine. I decided that this doctor was more stress than she was worth and got another name from a friend, who is my current doctor. He’s a bit of a tyrant, but what he tells me works and he does have a good sense of humor

I too thought I had finally found a primary doctor that had all my best interests at heart until I was admitted to the hospital last week. I had complained about symtoms I was having six months ago and she sent me for tests (my fault I didn’t ask what the tests were for) – I was told if the tests were okay I would not get a call. I was glad for that then three months ago during my physical exam I complained about the same symtoms and asked if I was maybe having reactions to some of my many medications and I asked if maybe the mg’s could be reduced? I even asked could these symptoms be signs of aging? I was advised yes age can play a factor and if I took off another 20 lbs that it was possible to lower dose – I was sent for testing – same procedure. Well three weeks ago these symtoms escalated into no appetite (for four days I did not eat) nausea and vomiting, bloating and weight loss. When I felt so bad, I knew it was time to get into the doctor’s office (almost too late). By then I had a fever, major bladder and stomach pain, pancreas infection, congested lungs and urinary tract infection. A hospital doctor that saw me, with two interns, during my hospital stay asked about a certain medication I was taking and how long had I been on it. He took me immediately off that particular one and went on to tell me I should not have been on that med (he said it hadn’t been used in Europe for years) and then he went on to tell me the side effects – the same I had complained about. Nothing was ever discussed with my primary about these even though I explained them to her in the exact detail that this other doctor was telling me about – there was not even her saying I’ll look into it. I went on line this week and found out information on that drug and was shocked that my doctor had not even mentioned some of my complaints were side effects of one of my medications. I am now researching all my other medications, as I do not trust my doctor any more. I feel like maybe I was just a test case (guinea pig) for my age, gender and ethnic type. I think she thought because of my age I may not be around too long for the side effects to take or matter much, but one of the side effects was that I should be extra careful in driving if on this med and I was in a car accident first of the year that totalled out my car. I have to go in for a follow up since my release from the hospital and I plan on taking the pages of information I got on my meds with me and I hope she has the decency to give me some sort of apology or at least explain why I was not informed of these side effects after a period of time of use. I would hope our visit brings about more open dialog between us. I know for fact I will seek various advice on line from other physicians so I am more equipped and educated in what to ask from now on. I have come to know my body and how it likes to feel. I think every one needs to be proactive in their health program and being as healthy as they can be by knowing what they are putting into their bodies that could affect others (namely yourself and your family). I talked with another doctor and he informed me certain medications taken over a period of time do need to be re-evaluated for it’s purpose in what you’re taking it for. I used to feel intimidated by doctors. I had some in the past that told me don’t ask why just take as directed. WHAT A DOPE I WAS. I will never take what one doctor says as gospel and the only way or approach to a medical problem. I am 60+ and I plan on being around for a long time more despite the mis-informed and wrong doctors out there. GET YOURSELF A THINKING DOCTOR, AMEN!!

I find most Dr.s in spite of their arrogance to be as clueless as the rest of us! God bless the ones who realize their falibility!

I was discharged from the hospital today. This is not related to my being a depressive. I have had pneumonia since Feb. along with many other significant ailments, and have been in the hospital 3 times by 2 different doctors. We had been on a cruise late Jan. to Feb.8th. I became ill the second day and spent many hours in the Doctors Quarters for 11 days. I kept saying that all these diffent symptoms started on the cruise. I even had an Infectious Disease Dr. treating a huse red, thick something covering my very swollen legs and feet. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH LEGS OR FEET.
My sister, a retired nurse remembered a strange ailment long ago that she heard about. She said it was called Valley Fever aka Coccidioides; airborne fungal spores. My friend printed everything about it on the www. He brought it to the hospital and the Physicians Asst. said, “Yes, Dr. B—–r thinks it may be something like that. Dr. B is a Lung Specialist AND NEVER MENTIONED THIS TO ME. And Dr. B did not show up yesterday or today for any discussion. Tomorrow will begin a search for real diagnosis at 1 of the 2 Teaching Hospitals in St. Louis.
Oh, how I want to feel better; pray with me that I am able to find THE DOCTOR THAT CAN HELP ME.

How funny that you wrote about Dr. Groopman, who I plan to quote in my book. You should flip to the index in the back of his book and look up mental illness (I think that was it) – he writes some very interesting things about how doctors look at mental illness vs. other illnesses.

I am going to see if I can get this book. I read another book called ” Be A Smart Patient” – I can’t tell you the author, but you can probably look it up. It tells you how to prepare your questions and information for doctor visits (writing things down in advance) and things a patient can do that they don’t know about. One example, asking for a heated blanket in the pre-op area when you are having surgery so you won’t be as cold in the operating room. When I had my catarac surgery, I did this and not only did they give it to me, they said “We have a professional patient here.”
One thing I have learned is to go to specialists for different problems because they really do know more than your primary care physician about specific problems. In the twentieth century, there are many more health prevention procedures and tests which insurance does pay for that specialists can do. Our cardiologist does Nuclear Stress Tests, Circulation Tests, and a battery of other tests to check for blockages in the heart to prevent heart attack or stroke. The pulmonary doctor checks breathing and blood gas and walking O2 levels. The other doctors do routine blood work and urine tests to check for various things that should be caught at early stages. As my husband and I are now senior citizens, we are much more aware of health concerns.
Psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorder I believe require consistent monitoring of medication and moods. My husband and I have both been diagnosed with this, and we go to therapy once a week and see the prescribing doctor every three months or in between if necessary.
My therapist is also a psychiatric nurse with awards of “Who’s who in nursing.” Not only does she listen to me and help me manage my bipolar disorder, she is able to help me make other health care decisions and guide me as to what questions to ask. I feel blessed, because I get much quality treatment and guidance from her. I believe when choosing a doctor, Teresa, I agree with you, someone who is humble and doesn’t think they have all the answers right away. Our primary care physician doesn’t hesitate to recommend opinions from specialists. I also encourage internet research to help you ask the right questions.
Lady of Light http://theladyoflight.blogspot.com

i complain some signs of stomach ache. It feels like there are some bacteria every time I done eating and feel like i am full and it starts to hurt. My stomach is so bloated and getting fat. I suspect I have some kind of colon defer and I gained some weights so fast since the last time I had my stomach flat and weighted 120 lbs and now i weight 145 with the fat stomach it s getting so misery for me to go through. I might need some check out and clean out or flush out something wrong with my stomach or colons. I need help to find the right doctor to go to see about it.

Kathy, I gained 24 lbs and lost 14 when one of my medications was changed from Seroquel to Geodon. All in my gut.
Please have a serious conversation with your doctor, and see a GI doc to get checked out.
Don’t wait…. Good Luck

Very nice insight. It’s true that doctors can make mistakes or misdiagnoses because they are humans just like us. But since they have intelligence and skills, they can help us with our health concerns. It’s good that you’ve found a better doctor, whom you can trust. I think it is important to set trust to your doctor.