Aa
disappointing primary care
so i went to see my primary care doc yesterday to ask her about first-level celiac testing that my neuro-ophthalmologist suggested i have done, and to also talk about some chest pain and heart palpitations i have been having on and off for a while.
she told me she would not order celiac testing because it would be a waste of time and resources and once again tried to prescribe me anti-depressants, pat me on the shoulder and said good luck.
i am trying to just let this roll off my back, but she really p*ssed me off.
binx
she told me she would not order celiac testing because it would be a waste of time and resources and once again tried to prescribe me anti-depressants, pat me on the shoulder and said good luck.
i am trying to just let this roll off my back, but she really p*ssed me off.
binx
Ah, binx, that's a very interesting summation of the issues.
Sicko was such a distressing film that I had to stop watching half way through. I'm sure Michael Moore did a good job in revealing the problems in the US, but he also romanticised other countries' nationalised medicine in an effort to support socialised medicine in the States, IMHO.
The monetisation and commercialisation of medicine is, of course the big problem. It's the same in the UK - except here it's far more well hidden, tracks are covered, most patients don't have a clue about big pharma involvement and PFI (Private Financing Initiatives - which drive so much capital and revenue services delivery). We never see the 'pharmaceutical groupies' hanging around in doctors' waiting rooms. Just hoards of chronically ill people - many of whom could have been healed far more quickly had the waiting times been shorter and had the doctors felt able to spend their budgets on actually treating people.
If you're middle class in the UK, you often go off quietly to private doctors (whilst maintaining the consensus fiction that we have a great public system, all the inequalities have been eradicated etc) otherwise you just wouldn't get treated for often years. Especially if you're over mid-40s.
My point is that if conditions were treated promptly there wouldn't be so much failure demand - that is patients who, through no fault of their own, represent a chronic drain on health, social and welfare£ systems because they naturally need to keep going back to try and get tests and treatment. Invariably, their/our conditions worsen to such an extent that by the time they/we get treatment the condition has galloped ahead very expensively.
These profit merchants (which includes many doctors) just don't seem to understand the merit of 'a stitch in time saves nine'. But then cheap, generic tests and primary care treatment does not a lucrative revenue stream make.
Whilst we're at it, I'm flabbergasted that the media hasn't made more of the latest research on most of the well-known anti-depressants that demonstrated that none of them actually have the benefits claimed for them by the pharmacos.
Sicko was such a distressing film that I had to stop watching half way through. I'm sure Michael Moore did a good job in revealing the problems in the US, but he also romanticised other countries' nationalised medicine in an effort to support socialised medicine in the States, IMHO.
The monetisation and commercialisation of medicine is, of course the big problem. It's the same in the UK - except here it's far more well hidden, tracks are covered, most patients don't have a clue about big pharma involvement and PFI (Private Financing Initiatives - which drive so much capital and revenue services delivery). We never see the 'pharmaceutical groupies' hanging around in doctors' waiting rooms. Just hoards of chronically ill people - many of whom could have been healed far more quickly had the waiting times been shorter and had the doctors felt able to spend their budgets on actually treating people.
If you're middle class in the UK, you often go off quietly to private doctors (whilst maintaining the consensus fiction that we have a great public system, all the inequalities have been eradicated etc) otherwise you just wouldn't get treated for often years. Especially if you're over mid-40s.
My point is that if conditions were treated promptly there wouldn't be so much failure demand - that is patients who, through no fault of their own, represent a chronic drain on health, social and welfare£ systems because they naturally need to keep going back to try and get tests and treatment. Invariably, their/our conditions worsen to such an extent that by the time they/we get treatment the condition has galloped ahead very expensively.
These profit merchants (which includes many doctors) just don't seem to understand the merit of 'a stitch in time saves nine'. But then cheap, generic tests and primary care treatment does not a lucrative revenue stream make.
Whilst we're at it, I'm flabbergasted that the media hasn't made more of the latest research on most of the well-known anti-depressants that demonstrated that none of them actually have the benefits claimed for them by the pharmacos.
thank you maria & sam for your replies, as well.
(the following is my opinion, based solely on my own observations and research. i always welcome a healthy debate with anyone who disagrees with me.)
part of the problem here in the u.s stems from the fact that healthcare is a capital-driven industry with both the insurance and pharmaceutical industries dictating much of what physicians can and cannot do. for example, pharmaceutical sales reps woo and court physicians with expensive meals and other luxurious perks in exchange for the doctor's promotion of the medication of the hour by way of handing out samples and overprescription. my husband and i have begun to refer to these people as "pharmaceutical ******" when we see them lurking around my doctors' offices in their mini-skirts and high heels.
furthermore, insurance companies tend to reimburse at a notoriously low rate, with some being worse than others. this practice discourages some physicians (e.g., my most recent primary care doc) from providing adequate care. appointments are short, certain tests are deemed "a waste of time and resources"--you get the picture. ultimately this results in appointment times that are ridiculously short, anesthetizing patients with anti-depressants, unwillingness to think outside of the box, etc.
i have barely scratched the surface of this issue. for a much more detailed and informative explanation of this problem, i highly recommend you watch michael moore's film, _sicko_. he really did an amazing job addressing this issue in the u.s.
there has been a recent trend--at least in my part of the country--where physicians have stopped taking insurance altogether and patients pay out of pocket for services, and then seek reimbursement from their insurance companies. this allows the doctors to spend as much time as they want to with a patient and not be accountable to some money-hungry corporation. unfortunately, this kind of service is not an option to most people--myself included--since we don't all have $189.00 (give or take) to shell out and wait for a percentage of that to be returned to us by our insurance companies--or not. what it does say, though, is that there are doctors out there who really want to practice medicine and help people. i just wish that the insurance and drug companies could be reined in somehow to allow people to have access to the care that they need. unfortunately, at this point in time, the almighty dollar still reigns supreme.
binx
(the following is my opinion, based solely on my own observations and research. i always welcome a healthy debate with anyone who disagrees with me.)
part of the problem here in the u.s stems from the fact that healthcare is a capital-driven industry with both the insurance and pharmaceutical industries dictating much of what physicians can and cannot do. for example, pharmaceutical sales reps woo and court physicians with expensive meals and other luxurious perks in exchange for the doctor's promotion of the medication of the hour by way of handing out samples and overprescription. my husband and i have begun to refer to these people as "pharmaceutical ******" when we see them lurking around my doctors' offices in their mini-skirts and high heels.
furthermore, insurance companies tend to reimburse at a notoriously low rate, with some being worse than others. this practice discourages some physicians (e.g., my most recent primary care doc) from providing adequate care. appointments are short, certain tests are deemed "a waste of time and resources"--you get the picture. ultimately this results in appointment times that are ridiculously short, anesthetizing patients with anti-depressants, unwillingness to think outside of the box, etc.
i have barely scratched the surface of this issue. for a much more detailed and informative explanation of this problem, i highly recommend you watch michael moore's film, _sicko_. he really did an amazing job addressing this issue in the u.s.
there has been a recent trend--at least in my part of the country--where physicians have stopped taking insurance altogether and patients pay out of pocket for services, and then seek reimbursement from their insurance companies. this allows the doctors to spend as much time as they want to with a patient and not be accountable to some money-hungry corporation. unfortunately, this kind of service is not an option to most people--myself included--since we don't all have $189.00 (give or take) to shell out and wait for a percentage of that to be returned to us by our insurance companies--or not. what it does say, though, is that there are doctors out there who really want to practice medicine and help people. i just wish that the insurance and drug companies could be reined in somehow to allow people to have access to the care that they need. unfortunately, at this point in time, the almighty dollar still reigns supreme.
binx
Oh binx, that was a needlessly horrible reaction from your GP. I can so understand how crushed you could feel.
These tests are relatively cheap and simple to do. I know how much of a shlep it can be when you're already feeling so physically beset, but can you go elsewhere? Change your GP? Pushing anti-depressants at you seems to me to be an indication of failure on many levels.
Some of us are lucky enough to get good care - too many aren't.
samx
These tests are relatively cheap and simple to do. I know how much of a shlep it can be when you're already feeling so physically beset, but can you go elsewhere? Change your GP? Pushing anti-depressants at you seems to me to be an indication of failure on many levels.
Some of us are lucky enough to get good care - too many aren't.
samx
Hi Bin goodness we moan about our health care in the UK but I am starting to realise that we have GOOD HEALTH care.
I cant understand why your primary care would not allow this test. Isnt it just a simple blood test, you can get them at the chemist and do them yourself. IF you cant in the USA I can buy one and send it to you.
Its madness. xx
I cant understand why your primary care would not allow this test. Isnt it just a simple blood test, you can get them at the chemist and do them yourself. IF you cant in the USA I can buy one and send it to you.
Its madness. xx
thanks kristin & jib, for your empathy.
i was really reluctant to see my doc yesterday since during my last appointment with her in september, she insisted that all my other symptoms are an "atypical response" to my cervical disc problems, and was really pushing the anti-depressant meds on me. a month later when my eye pain was becoming unbearable and my pupils spontaneously dilated in ambient light, i self-referred to the neuro-ophthalmologist who was the one who finally saw that i had abnormalities in my optic nerve arteries and sent me to the rheumatologist. i have pretty crummy insurance, but i am grateful it is not an HMO and i don't need referrals. needless to say, i am on the hunt for yet another primary care doctor which is a drag, but it has to be done. i refuse to subject myself to this one's patronizing manner again.
i will call my neuro-ophtho on tuesday and tell him my doc refused to order testing and ask him to do it for me.
and kristin, thanks for the tip about avoiding a gluten-free diet prior to testing. i guess that means i can load up on pizza and chocolate croissants for a little while longer!
as ever, i appreciate the support more than you know.
best wishes,
binx
i was really reluctant to see my doc yesterday since during my last appointment with her in september, she insisted that all my other symptoms are an "atypical response" to my cervical disc problems, and was really pushing the anti-depressant meds on me. a month later when my eye pain was becoming unbearable and my pupils spontaneously dilated in ambient light, i self-referred to the neuro-ophthalmologist who was the one who finally saw that i had abnormalities in my optic nerve arteries and sent me to the rheumatologist. i have pretty crummy insurance, but i am grateful it is not an HMO and i don't need referrals. needless to say, i am on the hunt for yet another primary care doctor which is a drag, but it has to be done. i refuse to subject myself to this one's patronizing manner again.
i will call my neuro-ophtho on tuesday and tell him my doc refused to order testing and ask him to do it for me.
and kristin, thanks for the tip about avoiding a gluten-free diet prior to testing. i guess that means i can load up on pizza and chocolate croissants for a little while longer!
as ever, i appreciate the support more than you know.
best wishes,
binx
I'm not sure if you know this or not, but do not try a gluten-free diet just to see how it affects you if you plan to have the blood tests done. If you do have celiacs and you do not eat gluten prior to the blood tests it may not show up. that's what I was told prior to testing.
I just didn't want you to end up with a false negative...that would just extend your stay in limboland!
I just didn't want you to end up with a false negative...that would just extend your stay in limboland!
Hi binx,
I feel so badly that you were treated that way..I think (I know) I would be p***** off too.. I think Kris may have a good idea..anyone else you can ask to order the test?
Be Well JibJen
I feel so badly that you were treated that way..I think (I know) I would be p***** off too.. I think Kris may have a good idea..anyone else you can ask to order the test?
Be Well JibJen
Oh, I'm sorry!! How frustrating is that?! My orthosurgeon suggested I was just overwhelmed and stressed and his nurse suggested that perhaps I should not be taking classes right now that maybe that should not be my "priority right now". Like that is the source of all my problems. I'm sorry, I didn't know that stress caused burning leg pain and finger numbness!
I get how you're feeling, I really do.
Is there another doc that would order the test for you?
I get how you're feeling, I really do.
Is there another doc that would order the test for you?
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