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MD's and DO's

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/13/2012 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
I know MD's are medical doctors (likes to use medications) and DO's are doctors of osteopathic medicine (they try to let your body heal naturally with or without medicine). I am going to ask my GI this because it seems like a contradiction on his part. He's a DO and he doesn't push the pred for which I am extremely grateful; yet he prescribes medications but doesn't believe that diet can help or hinder and probiotics are a waste of money. Has anyone else have a GI who is a DO that does the same thing?

Don't get me wrong, my GI is fantastic! He is a very nice guy, gentle and spends a lot of time with me. Asks how my children are - I've been with him for about 18 years. Great bedside manner. I just wished he was more open to alternative methods.
Posted 6/13/2012 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
That sounds very strange for a DO! If you like him, who really cares, but it's still odd.
Posted 6/13/2012 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
All my doctors are very open to alternative methods. I have to admit, I was surprised when my GI said: if the herbs work, that's great!! Keep doing what you are doing!

Unfortunately for me, herbs won't keep flares away but I do believe they minimize them a bit.
Posted 6/13/2012 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Not all doctors whether MD or DO's are the same. My only experience with a DO 15 years ago was a bad one, he was a Family Physician and had no empathy at all. I had a splinter in between my toes and he did an extremely painful removal with no anesthetic. I was physically and emotionally stressed by it for years. Thank God he wasn't my GI.

I would not avoid going to another DO, I judge each person on their own merits. For example I have 2 doctors whose undergraduate med schools are Guadalajara, Mexico followed by residency in good US hospitals. I find them to be above average.

Red, perhaps your DO doesn't have the time to keep up with the newest papers concerning probiotics and UC. There are new findings all the time in many areas of research and not all doctors are aware of things that we as UC people are because it is our highest priority. This is one reason I choose younger doctors, who are not set in stone for treatments and when I bring in copies of medical reports they are willing to read them and consider the treatment.
Posted 6/13/2012 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
There is one thing I like about MD and I detest about alternative doctors.

The MDs will not sell you hopes and dreams. They tell you, this is what is known, this is the medication, this is what works in 85% of cases.

The Alternative doctors, ALL of them , that I saw, they all claim that they will either cure or put my colitis in inderminate remission. And when it's not working, well they say keep trying different stuff, buy more crap etc.

The MD cannot tell you, look: eat gluten free or take this herb and this will cure you or give you remission. It's bullcrap! If it doesn't work you'll be back at him/her pissed.

Red34...You'll never get an alternative doctor prescribe you remicade. Now tell me, what keeps you in remission right now?

Doctors prescribe what is proven, what has test cases, what USUALLY works. If I was a doctor MD, I'd probably do the same.

With that said, nothing should stop you from trying all sorts of different things.

 

Posted 6/13/2012 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't say he was an alternative doctor, I said he wasn't really open to alternative methods such as diet modification and probiotics - I've never even asked him about FT because truthfully, I have no interest in that. DO's such as my family doctor is in the mindset to using BOTH traditional and alternative while my GI, who is a DO is not. I wouldn't mind a doctor (a GI) open to both ideas - which is what a DO is taught to do.

I wouldn't trade him for the world btw....like I said, I am happy with him and I have no desire to find a new doc, I just thought it was weird.
Posted 6/13/2012 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
I work in the medical field and honestly there is not much of a difference between an MD and DO anymore. Many DO's practice just like MD's. Their education is in fact VERY similar and they both go through the same type of residency program. There is not a difference in an MD and OD residency. I think in the past there was more of a difference than there is now.
Posted 6/13/2012 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Doctors used to prescribe smoking for asthma too...just sayin' :)
Posted 6/13/2012 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
I've never heard of a "DO", I've only ever been to board certified MD's that have concentrations in Naturopathic Medicine.

I made the mistake long ago searching for a 'natural doctor' or 'alternative medicine doctor' and ended up with a Chiropractic/acupuncturist. =/
Posted 6/14/2012 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe he's seen some compelling studies showing the use of probiotics in UC not working? Would be interesting to know because I honestly don't know if they really help. I just take them because I HOPE they work :-)
Posted 6/14/2012 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
I have a general dr I see who is a DO but my GI is a MD and she's very interested in alternatives. Though she's interested in alternatives, such as meditation, stress relief, psychotherapy, probiotics... she doesn't ever mention diet as a method of controlling UC symptoms. Not sure why.
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