Fast Food Medicine

Hal61
Hal61 Member Posts: 655
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I’m going to see my new medical oncologist in January. My original doc’s treatment center didn’t have their contract renewed with my group insurance provider. I’ll miss my old doc because he listened to what I said, didn’t seem in a hurry to get to his next patient, and wasn’t professionally defensive. A year from diagnosis, and after chemo-radiation-surgery, I don’t think it (doctors) gets any better than that. I fear my new doctor may require what Clearblue described in an earlier post as “politically correct gaming with conventional doctor’s egos.” I get enough of that from my sensitive ENT.

Like Clear, I just don’t trust them to get my order right anymore. For those of you just starting or currently receiving standard treatment, don’t lose heart. The current treatment model has saved, and is saving lives. It is for now, the best alternative for the largest amount of people covered by the biggest insurance companies. But make no mistake, we are all receiving alternative medicine whether it be allopathic, vitamin enhanced, or spiritually infused. Any or all may work, more or less, varying by individual. Until we know more.

So I hope my new doc is a good medicine man. I hope he cares about more than "just" keeping me alive, and that he can answer my fearful questions with selfless thought and patience. That’s my prayer for all of us this Christmas.
Hal

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi Hal

    You are so right doctors are not all the same, it took me going to see 4 ENT’s before one of them looked and seen I had and infection that was giving so much pain in my head. If you don’t like him try try again until you get a doc you feel you can trust .

    Take care my friend
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #3
    Same
    I had the same problem with insurance and changing doctor's.

    I went a different direction. I decided to have my follow up's with my org. doctor. If he suggested having scan's etc. done I would ask them to write the prescription and have anything done at a place that was covered by my insurance provider. They would forward any results to my doctor. Keep in mind that my follow up appointments were only 50 dollars and that investment was well worth the piece of mind four times a year.

    Keep in mind you could also visit your new oncologist and get a second opinion at the same time. Opens the door for more confirmation that your headed in right direction and more confirmation that you remain cancer free.

    John
  • Clearblue
    Clearblue Member Posts: 186
    #4
    listening and acting
    The more Docs are prepared to answer my annoying questions, the more i trust them.
    We have a surgeon doc, M. Orringer from Michigan, head of Thoracic surgery who saved my wifes life. He used to answer me by email even when he was on holiday hoping not to get my mails!

    His brilliance is his ability to strike the balance between his extra ordinary professional + medical skill on the one hand and his sensitivity and sense of humanity on the other. With this he remains assertive. All of these aspects involve just plain good listening.

    Hal,
    Go forward, be well
    Clear.
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #5
    Hal
    Here's hoping you find the perfect medicine man! You know best what you need.

    Deb
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #6
    Hondo said:

    Hi Hal

    You are so right doctors are not all the same, it took me going to see 4 ENT’s before one of them looked and seen I had and infection that was giving so much pain in my head. If you don’t like him try try again until you get a doc you feel you can trust .

    Take care my friend

    Painless
    Hi Hondo! I was very happy to follow your recent success in having a correct diagnosis for your head pains. You were smart to omit the fact that you had recieved cancer treatment--though I know, you had to come clean--with your last doctor. Good idea nonetheless, trick them into a correct evaluation if you have to. Sometimes they can't see the tree because of the forest.
    best to you, Hal
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #7
    fisrpotpe said:

    Same
    I had the same problem with insurance and changing doctor's.

    I went a different direction. I decided to have my follow up's with my org. doctor. If he suggested having scan's etc. done I would ask them to write the prescription and have anything done at a place that was covered by my insurance provider. They would forward any results to my doctor. Keep in mind that my follow up appointments were only 50 dollars and that investment was well worth the piece of mind four times a year.

    Keep in mind you could also visit your new oncologist and get a second opinion at the same time. Opens the door for more confirmation that your headed in right direction and more confirmation that you remain cancer free.

    John

    Excellent ideas
    Thanks for the input John. I hadn't considered either of your ideas. My brain stumbles a step behind my attitude sometimes. I'll go into my initial visit with your advice in mind.
    thanks, Hal
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #8
    Clearblue said:

    listening and acting
    The more Docs are prepared to answer my annoying questions, the more i trust them.
    We have a surgeon doc, M. Orringer from Michigan, head of Thoracic surgery who saved my wifes life. He used to answer me by email even when he was on holiday hoping not to get my mails!

    His brilliance is his ability to strike the balance between his extra ordinary professional + medical skill on the one hand and his sensitivity and sense of humanity on the other. With this he remains assertive. All of these aspects involve just plain good listening.

    Hal,
    Go forward, be well
    Clear.

    Plain listening
    You nailed it Clear. I think listening "skills" shouldn't be taught for patient care. Good listening isn't a technique.

    best, Hal
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #9
    D Lewis said:

    Hal
    Here's hoping you find the perfect medicine man! You know best what you need.

    Deb

    Medicine person
    Hi Deb, thanks. I know you had a medicine "woman" on your side during your treatment, so sometimes the best man for the job is a woman. My primary physician is a lady, and she's the best doctor I have.

    Hal

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