Incompetent doctors!!!!

Rant:

Went to see local ENT today, who did throat scope. Found 'arytenoid edema' and 'mucus pooling in esophageal inlet'. So, nothing too serious i guess, damage-wise, at least not yet. I was diagnosed with LPR.

However, doc could NOT: Pronounce 'endoscopy' correctly (or know what it entails); tell me how PPIs work (I had to tell her) (even though she prescribed them); understand how we might aspirate mucus/acid/pepsin into our lungs, amongst other things.

Me: "Why should I go on a PPI, when it only treats the symptoms and are not good long-term"?
Her: "Well, I'm not sure how they work, but our patients only stay on them for a month, then we wean them off'.
Me: What's the point in doing it at all, then?
Her: Well, if they work, then we know you have LPR.
Me: But you already said I have it...?
Her: Well...

If it were being prescribed due to damage to airways, fine. But what's the point, anyway, if one needs to get off them after a month? I know they're not safe long-term. My point is, after you go off them you'll have the same symptoms/issues with reflux, right? So what's the point in going on them at all??? Argh.

I will see another ENT at some point, but I'm going to work on diet right now. Maybe try to figure out the pepsin thing.

"You" are the best Dr. you'll ever have, because you care about making you better the most. That's why I saw _three_ Gastroenterologists and then _I_ decided which one of them sounded like they actually listened to their professors in medical school. (And I put up with the grumblings of the third one for seeking 3 opinions.. so what? We have 1 life - It's ok to be thorough). It sucks specially with LPR because the diagnosis, with our insanely primitive science of medicine, requires a long guessing game of ruling things out.

I firmly believe we have a greater responsibility than the medical professional for the outcome of our treatment because it's our responsibility to do the research and find the right Dr. and right medical center. Mediocrity and careless-ness is bountiful in this world. So in your situation, I would never see that Dr. again :-( (mainly because they have no idea how PPI works).

Post Edited (PrivatePrime) : 10/22/2014 2:53:25 PM (GMT-6)

You have to be your own advocate. Doctors should have a well rounded approach instead of throwing pills and they should try the least restrictive treatment first (like an H2 Blocker) before just giving out PPI drugs. But they are not always this way. That is why this forum is such a helpful tool. I was on PPI drugs for 8 years and I felt ill. Turns out those drugs gave me IBS. I now take Pepcid AC and I have learned to manage both conditions.

After all, it is the "PRACTICE" of medicine. The more you practice, the better (hopefully) you get by lots of experience.

One of the professors told us that when you visit a physician, he has just these choices: 1. Refer to a specialist, 2. Refer for tests, 3. Prescribe medicine, or 4. Do surgery. He said it's as simple as that.

He also said that the doctor will ask you a series of questions. He's trying to match the symptoms to a disease he is already familiar with. They stop listening to the patient. Usually within 5-10 minutes. As soon as the match is completed in his mind.

When done in this manner, a disease is nothing more than a set of symptoms, based on his experience and education. His diagnose has been made without hearing it 'all.'

While there are truly wonderful docs out there, my experience has shown me that they need an understanding of health on the body as a whole and listen to concerns beyond the "match" They are missing too much. What are your thoughts?

Thanks for listening to my rant too. BTW, I love my doctor. He listens!
electracat, I understand. Wish you well. Kindly regards. Pat

Thanks electracat. I've been told to leave the Internet as it's not accurate. I feel it is helpful to read other opinions, options etc. I've had to explain rebound to a GI doctor. He wasn't familiar and said he never had a patient experience it. I told him it was all over the net including medical journals. Several months later he was telling us about it. Wonder who educated him!

Same thing with LPR. 'No such thing' hah! Not a real diagnosis.

I know you can't know everything in the medical field. I see unopened/unread medical journals in the waiting room and restrooms. The assistant said when they are delivered they just put them out on the table.

Maybe what we need is a physician who had (in the past and cured) his LPR or GERD. then they would be able to empathize some and listen 'outside the box'. And fix us too. My best to y'all too.