Why I hate my Doctor....(Rant, if you couldn't guess. Sort of long)

[BiggJawn]

Almost 10 years ago, when I was first diagnosed with Hypertension, my doc down in Indy and I worked out a treatment plan that was doing a great job. We had to try quite a few things like ACE-inhibiters ("Doc, *cough* I don't *cough* think these *cough* pills are *cough-cough* working..." and I asked about Beta-Blockers ("No, You're just starting your life over, and you and some woman are gonna thank me for NOT putting you on Beta-blockers...") so we finally settled on a CCB, which I was taking as generic Verapamil ($3 a month).

I relocate and use the scientific method of "Eenie, meenie, meinie, mo" to pick my new doctor. He contiues the Verapamil, and when I turned up Diabetic 4 years ago, he put me on Glucophage. That was working good, My numbers were good, I was losing weight at a controlled pace, and we tried a summer off the pills. Come the winter and the numbers were edging up again.
So, do we go back on the tried and true treatment plan that worked so well for me?

Hell, No.

Seems almost like this guy has a policy of "never prescribe a generic when an Experimental Drug might do..." And since Glucophage went generic, he had to go with something else. $135 amonth out of MY pocket's worth of "something else"(don't ask how much the Ins. co. has to pony up, it's scary!)...To make a long story less long, he had me on a thiazide piss-pill that had me up every hour all night long, and "This won't cause impotence? "No, it shouldn't..." which was a fuckin' LIE and if he'd read the PDR instead of the sales brochure the drug rep left behind, he'd know that. and now that I've gained over 40 Lbs. since I went back on meds, I found out yesterday that 2 of the THREE diabetic meds he has me on cause "moderate weight gain" and he NEVER told me about that, just let me get fat and think it was because I eat too much. (I eat less than 2500 calories a day)

Would YOU prescribe a med that causes weight gain to an obese patient? I bitch about the cost of all these pills and he ignores me. When I ask why this one and not a cheaper one, its "Because this one has certain benefits..." yeah, another "entry" in the Sales rep's weekly drawing for a "training semminar" in Curacao, I'll bet...

I told him that I was considering taking up bicycling after 20 year's lay-off, and it was "Hmmmm....that's good, that you want to exercise" No concerns about my heart, no suggestion that maybe I should have a stress test, nothing. So, I go out and see how high I can push the heart rate monitor. I got no guidelines, I just "Go for the BURN"...At least I was able to quit smoking with his "help" (he wrote the script for Zyban)

I'm "auditioning" doctors now. any suggestions as to what I should be asking these guys besides the obvious questions like "has your license to practice been suspended?" and "how many pharmacuetical company 'contests' did you win last year?"

Grrr....

[Mistress Quickly]

1. google google google

Here are some sites listed that you can check on doctors with.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=checking+on+doctors

Aside from that, ask around.

I would google the specific doctor's name though, stuff that happens in one state may not be known in another.

[BiggJawn]

2. Ill try that search term

I went to one of those sites that charge you $5 for a report on everything your doctor has on file anywhere, and it was less than satisfying. Guess Indiana doesn't make that info available or they don't track it.

[supernova]

3. Get thee to a big research medical center

a teaching hospital type place. They have the latest info and can confer with their colleagues about the viability of differnt treatment options.

Or keep you on your current treatment plan if you are comfortable.

[PVnRT]

4. I can only think

that he mihgt have been participating in some kind of clinical trial, but he would have had to tell you, and you would have signed something.

[FunBobbyMucha]

5. Interview them

using all the above info as a litmus test. If they begin to rationale Doctor 2 or question Doctor Indy, you know where they stand. It's long and cumbersome, but...

Also, see where Doctor Indy went to school, and/or if he can recommend a colleague in the area.

And dude, INSIST on a stress test before you start exercising much! You're loaded for a bad incident, from the sounds of it. Stick to walking for now, and use some common sense as far as how far, emergency numbers, etc. Utilizing the better-safe-than-sorry card here.

Good luck.

[bmbmd]

6. I'm not sure you need a doctor at all.

With your wealth of knowledge and pre-conceived notions of what is best for you, you should just treat yourself. As for "knowing what is current", that seems to be what is causing the trouble for you.
Your doctor made some changes that were in keeping with his understanding of current theory, you had some untoward side effects, and now you won't go back. Diuretics are still first line therapy for many hypertensives, particularly those with fluid retention. New generation oral hypoglycemics such as Actos and Avandia have potential life-prolonging benefits but are expensive. Metformin? Still a good drug, seems to lose its' punch after thirty to thirty-six months. Verapamil? Not usually a first line drug, lots of side effects. Okay as a drug.
My recommendations for choosing a physician are simple-board certified, no substance problems, community accepted. I prefer American trained just because.
I don't thing you can blame your doctor for your obesity, your hypertension, and your sexual dysfunction. Look for one you can consider as a partner in health care and not an enemy. I wouldn't mouth off about winning pharmaceutical sales contests-that is harsh and certainly untrue. Good luck.

[BiggJawn]

7. Are you a doctor, or do you play one on TV?

Believe me, If I could get a source for meds, I WOULD treat myself. at least I read more info than the drug company's sales brochures.

OK, so you're taking the side of the doctor. Fine. Care to explain to me the ethics of telling a patient "No..." when he asks about a SPECIFIC side effect of a medication? How ethical is it to prescribe 2 meds that will cause "moderate" weight gain (like everything in the medical world, that probably is an understatement) to an obese patient who is motivated for losing weight and actually WAS reducing?

As for "mouthing off" about winning sales contests, give me a fucking break. They have to pay for all those "Ask your Doctor" TV spots,somehow, and if they have to offer "incentives" to make sure plenty of scripts get written.....

No, I don't blame the doctor for my hypertension. The obesity, yes, and why? because if I had been told up front that I was going to put on weight, we could have worked on a plan to counter that. Instead, all I get is "My, but you've put on some poundage since you were last in here, haven't you?". and as for the E.D., I have TOLD him TIME and TIME again that I'm NOT taking anything that may cause impotence. and I ASKED him about the Thiazide, and he said "No, it shouldn't." OK, so "Shouldn't" is his out, right? "Weasel-word medicine", is that what I should expect?

Sorry, no "Oh THANK you, dear Dr. Gillespie" looks from this end.