do you feel that your doctor neglects you?

Hi Ivy,
I think maybe its time to find a new doctor. I would find a doctor with better bedside manners. So one whom will listen to you and whom cares.

teddybear

Nope; I can't change. I'm in the country; there aren't many docs to choose from. And, believe me, he is better than the alternatives... by light years.

And it's not just him. It's the big-city experts who are doing this to me, too --- and they're supposedly the best in the state, and amongst the top docs in the nation.

Hi ivy6 yes I know exactly how you feel and have often thought myself is it because I'm too polite and don't want to trouble them.  I've been in tears before at the constant promises of ringing me back to hear nothing.  It's not nice when you are suffering I really hope they sort it out for you!

ivy -

Sorry that you go through this. Me, I don't take it. I start off all polite, but when they (the doc) starts not returning my calls or treats me like a number, I get very very sharp tongued. I am not sure if this is because I worked around attorneys for so many years or what, but I just feel that if any other profession treated their clients like these specialist doctors, then there wouldn't be any clients. I have said that so many times. We pay good money for these specialists and expect a level of care that includes promptness in returning calls, some level of sympathy and understanding rather than a coldness and we also expect them (for the money they are paid) to remember who we are and the specifics of our disease. Hence, I cannot seem to keep a GI doctor. I simply do not tolerate someone speaking "down" to me or being treated like a number. I've chewed up three and spit them all out! Thank the lord for my Primary Care Physician. He is truly one of a kind. I think they broke the mold when they made him and his twin brother (both doctors).

I need to find another new GI, but I do not wish to start all over with "You probably have UC"... it's always that way.... always. I can say, hey, look at all the scans done while I was hospitalized - see where the inflammation is, see the notes where it says CROHN'S. Call someone over at that hosptial and have them look at them if you don't believe the notes. And so on... and so on...

So Ivy, sorry to rant, btw, I understand your frustration. Mine has left me without treatment because I am not as kind as you are. When I don't get a call back, I start calling the doc's cell - fools for calling my cell phone to begin with. Of course I'm going to save that number!!!

Ivy -
If you want me to call your doc and chew him out, just say the word.... :) Just say the word.
-Les

Ivy6 I really like my GI too. He always spends whatever amount of time with me as needed. But recently I got very upset with him. He had been on vacation, so I waited until he was back to refill my much needed Crohns meds. These prescriptions no longer had any refills, so the pharmacy had to get his approval to refill them. I waited 5 "business" days before I went to pick up my prescriptions. Neither had been approved or filled yet. I went up to his office (same building) and complained to his nurse, she said he told me to just wait in the pharmacy. I was livid that medications I need to keep my Crohns in check still had not been filled. I went to the membership services dept and filed a complaint against him. I didn't want to do it, but felt it was the right decision this time. I have a chronic and incurable disease that needs these medications to keep it check. Ever since the complaint my GI is now much more attentive to my needs. He even called me with some test results recently, something he never did before.

Is there someone you can complained to? If not, I agree with Texas, its time to stop being nice and demand that you be given the care you deserve and need.

God Bless,
Gail *Nanners*

((((((((((Ivy))))))))))
It is probably why I have had 7 GI's.

Give me a bit to come up with a good script for you, because he is transfering some emotion on to you.

My last GI doctor has always been a bit cold, but I stuck with him because it's hard to find a GI doctor that will take my insurance. One time when I needed a Pentasa refill, he didn't fill it for a month. I called, the pharmacy called and faxed, and I even paid a visit to his office. His staff said they kept telling him to sign it, but that he hadn't done it. Luckily, my dad also takes Pentasa and shared some with me. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened if I had gone a month without meds. I still stuck with him though. This last year, he had gotten particularly neglectful. He would have me come in almost every month, but would hardly say a word to me. He mostly just read his notes and typed on the computer. One time, he wasn't in the office at my appointment time and so I saw his assistant. She was very nice, but mostly said I should save my questions for the next time I saw the doctor. If I didn't have insurance, I'd be seriously PO'd about spending money for an appointment I didn't really get. As the months went on, my GI said less and less with each appointment. I can't remember the last time he did anything like feel around on my abdomen or do any sort of physical exam. When I was waiting to get approved for Humira, he said to call his office before I started taking it. I called and left more than one message, but then never received a callback, so I started taking the med anyway. The final straw came this last summer. I was in the ER, and the ER doctor called him. He was very rude, refused to tell the ER doctor anything about my case history, said he wouldn't treat me, and then hung up on the ER doctor. The ER people were quite shocked at how awful he was. I wasn't totally surprised though. He has a huge turnover of both reception and nursing staff at his office, so I've always kind of figured he's a hard man to work for. I decided it was time to get a new doc. I've had to wait 3 months since I'm a new patient, but will soon be seeing my new GI. It's a longer drive, but I'm in hopes it will be worth it. I checked out her bio on the internet, and she seems to be a very qualified and caring person (lots of humanitarian projects in her past).

I miss my doctors from my old city. There were 7 or 8 GI's in the office (if my main doctor wasn't available, one of the others would see me). Most of them were really good doctors. I could also expect the nurse to return my phone calls shortly after leaving a message. Too bad all offices aren't like that one.

Yes, this sounds a lot like what I experienced with my last GI. I still don't have a new one btw. I plan on finding one, but in no hurry. Seems like a lot of them where I live is just like this. I'd rather just see my primary who is so much more attentive, and half the time more knowledgable on Crohn's anyway.

It is frustating, because to me this is a serious condition to have, and we should have a good specialist to help us with it.

With my last GI it could take weeks, if not months to see him. If it's something more serious and urgent? Go to the ER. Oh that's wonderful advice, considering most things with Crohn's really shouldn't wait weeks to months anyway! They'd hardly ever call back, without me calling several times to badger them about it. I could go on and on!! So no you are for sure not alone!

Keep in mind that in some cases the lack of response to your calls and messages could well be the "desk dragons" and not the doctor. Some of these "desk dragons" get really possessive and protective of "their" doctor.

Everytime I need to visit my gastro I wonder what mood she will be in this time. We started out well, even enquirering after each others kids and family, but since asking her to help with disability forms her attitude towards me has changed (even though she did help me). This also coincided with my rejection of meds she offered, so I cant really say which changed her attitude towards me. She also tells me I am her worst patient - as in never having this DD under control, and I guess that makes her feel hopeless in treating me. Could that be it Ivy, that you are such an extreme Crohn's case that you make your Dr feel inadequate. Not trying to make excuses for him, but he may feel hopeless at treating you, it may be easier to just put you in his 'too hard basket' on occasions. Just a thought, anyway. I know you really like your Gastro, as I did, so it is upsetting when they just 'fob' you off.
Jo

ps. Sorry, Jo, I didn't see your post.

Even if they are frustrated, it isn't good enough. This is where their communication skills need to improve. They need to have the courage and courtesy to say "I don't know how to help you", or "I won't be able to call you today; phone someone else for help" instead of leaving the patient dangling. They leave us reliant on them, yet don't have the courtesy to give us other options.

I think if they treated us a little better while we're in medical school, all patients would be better off. I'm only a second-year med student and am already jaded and horrified! By medicine in general, by my colleagues, by my patients (especially the manipulative ones), by my professors, etc. No wonder so many people are dissatisfied with their docs...I'm dissatisfied with MYSELF!