Tonyw,
Feel pissed off with your doctor, you’re entitled to feel that way. My doctor, other medical and helping professionals, and I are PARTNERS in managing my health; however, I'm the one that knows best when it comes to my body and its symptoms.
I INSISTED that I wanted to be FINGERED (DRE) even though my PSA was only 3.7! My doctor agreed! If you look at my profile, you'll notice my PSA rate of increase was 0.16 (over 5 years), then 0.25 (over 3 years) then it
JUMPED by 1.3 (1 year) from .25 the year before and this 400% increase was a serious RED FLAG Here is what you should do:
1. Register with MYGOV at
/my.gov.au/ and download all your Medicare Claims. This will give you a list of doctors who have "worked" and charged you for services. Contact then and ask for COPIES of your treatment. [Not sure how the eHealth is progressing, but sign on for electronic health records as well]
2. Whenever, you go for any blood test, Xray -- ask for a COPY of the report BEFORE you visit your doctor. This will give you a chance to ask intelligent questions about
treatments. Also ask for copies to be sent to all treating doctors so that they can confer with one another.
3. If you get a referral, insist that you also want a report.
4. When you've been in hospital ask for a copy of the "discharge summary" - don’t leave without one.
5. Check your medication on the internet - any new advances or issues.
6. Get your doctors and specialists to speak to one another (see point 2). I recently had my Endocrinologist and Urologist confer that I should go back on HRT.
Everything of the best, mate and good luck with your treatment!
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