General Medical issues thread

[blackcat20]

Pay by credit card and get points? Gotta find some joy in all this

They dont take Amex :shock:

 

[cove]

Better give a family member the chance to earn some points then Blackcat20.

 

[JohnK]

In spite of all this medical interventions the mortality rate of the human race is 100%

Not necessarily?

 

[Quickstatus]

Still died first. What happens after that nothing to do with any drs.

 

[JohnK]

Still died first. What happens after that nothing to do with any drs.

What happens when someone disappears? Assumed dead even though no body found.

Utopia?

 

[Pushka]

Getting into philosophy right now. No right answer there.

 

[Quickstatus]

What happens when someone disappears? Assumed dead even though no body found.

Utopia?

not necessarily maybe they don't want to be found?

 

[Hvr]

I could but I really like the surgeon and he can fit me in this year between trips, which is rather critical. It's just a little frustrating to be required to hand over so much money up front when insurance and medicare will cover most of it.

My surgeon told me the out of pocket costs and reminded me they would be due within 30 days of the invoice being sent. I asked and was able to pay immediately. The anesthetist's fee was also the out of pocket costs. Bill paid on the day it was received.


Both medical professionals claimed directly from Medicare and/or Health Insurance with me signing the applicable forms.

 

[QF WP]

What happens when someone disappears? Assumed dead even though no body found. Utopia?

not necessarily maybe they don't want to be found?

indeed, one of the clients from my previous business disappeared on the Sunshine Coast and his body has never been found - but they can be declared dead after a period of time. But one can accurately advise that after 123 years everybody is likely to be dead (according to Guinness Book of Records).

 

[JohnK]

Getting into philosophy right now. No right answer there.

I love philosophy but hopeless at it. We assume with our limited knowledge that death is the end of the line.

This is a medical thread but let's assume at some point they can transplant your mind into another body. That body may not necessarily organic but could be synthetic. No diseases. No faults. Live forever.

 

[Quickstatus]

Live forever.

I can just see QF making LTG simpler and fairer. "LTG will be limited to those in the original body"

 

[wandering_fred]

indeed, one of the clients from my previous business disappeared on the Sunshine Coast and his body has never been found - but they can be declared dead after a period of time. But one can accurately advise that after 123 years everybody is likely to be dead (according to Guinness Book of Records).

But only posterity will know...

Happy (temporary?) wandering

Fred

 

[suze2000]

Just because you pay more does not mean that you would get a better service/more experience etc....

I once got referred by my Dr to an ENT who basically tried to imply that there was nothing wrong with me and charged me $150 over rebate for the privelidge of hearing that. And this was for something that was seriously impacting my ability to live, work, sleep, everything. Only sitting quietly in silence resulted in no pain.

I went home, got angry, went back to my GP and demanded a referral to a different guy, telling him I did not appreciate being treated like a hysterical female. The second ENT actually sent me for an MRI, diagnosed and treated my problem quickly and simply. And bulk-billed the lot.

Sometimes the price you pay has no reflection at all on the result (though I do suspect the relative ages of the men in question might go some way to explaining it).

 

[bad]

Well done shows that you do need to be pro active and not give up with dopy doctors who don't care alot. Glad you are better this condition can impact your health profoundly.

I once got referred by my Dr to an ENT who basically tried to imply that there was nothing wrong with me and charged me $150 over rebate for the privelidge of hearing that. And this was for something that was seriously impacting my ability to live, work, sleep, everything. Only sitting quietly in silence resulted in no pain.

I went home, got angry, went back to my GP and demanded a referral to a different guy, telling him I did not appreciate being treated like a hysterical female. The second ENT actually sent me for an MRI, diagnosed and treated my problem quickly and simply. And bulk-billed the lot.

Sometimes the price you pay has no reflection at all on the result (though I do suspect the relative ages of the men in question might go some way to explaining it).

 

[whatmeworry]

I once got referred by my Dr to an ENT who basically tried to imply that there was nothing wrong with me and charged me $150 over rebate for the privelidge of hearing that. And this was for something that was seriously impacting my ability to live, work, sleep, everything. Only sitting quietly in silence resulted in no pain.

I went home, got angry, went back to my GP and demanded a referral to a different guy, telling him I did not appreciate being treated like a hysterical female. The second ENT actually sent me for an MRI, diagnosed and treated my problem quickly and simply. And bulk-billed the lot.

Sometimes the price you pay has no reflection at all on the result (though I do suspect the relative ages of the men in question might go some way to explaining it).

Well some Male Docs of a certain age have a God/Superiority Complex.

 

[drron]

I've been around doctors for a long time.I have seen the God complex in doctors of both genders and of all ages.Does tend to be more likely in procedural specialties but probably because of the personality types that are attracted by those fields.

 

[Pushka]

Well done suze2000. I had exactly the same experience with a specialist (am still considering reporting him in the NY) and was about to give up but my SIL (specialist nurse) wouldn't let me.

I think drron is on the mark about certain specialities attracting some kinds of people. Also think perhaps many don't keep up to date with current research so a younger Doctor MAY have more knowledge than the older Doctor. Not always of course.

A friend, an anaesthetist is stirred by friends saying he doesn't like talking to people.

The specialist (Rheumatologist) who abused his trade in my eyes was a guy in his '60's with zero communication skills. I've seen a couple of his open Facebook comments and he is downright nasty and I would have thought libellous. In my appointment he called the other specialists I had seen as stupid and incompetent (internal medicine consultants/haematology at our major public hospital). I am of the belief you never diss your own (medical) trade with a patient you have just met. And openly discussed the client just before me whom I had seen in the waiting room and thus knew his name. Yes, he was of the 'I am God' kind.

The one I am now seeing is female and I'd say in her forties. Brisk and efficient but became much more communicative as her examination progressed and would be an ongoing patient.

Is there a kind of hierarchy in Medicine? I know my sons partner is currently at St Vincent's as a qualified Dr but needs additional work to become a GP. My GP and even Dermatologist both defer to the Rheumatologist.

 

[Quickstatus]

When you are in training as a junior dr, its difficult not to treat senior drs with some deference.

So who is the best doctor?. Easy : there is no such thing as the best doctor in the world.
There are drs with the best bedside manner (for some reason very important to patients) but cant fix the problem
Then there are drs with no bedside manner but are amongst the best in fixing problems. (I sent my wife to this category)
There are ones who charge like a wounded bull but provide less service than those who bulk bill. There are those who bulk bill but are no good etc etc you get my drift.

The combination I guess is where the most appropriate dr will be.

People often ask me why dont some drs have good bedside manners. I always ask then whether the problem was fixed. Invariably they say yes.

There is a female gynaecologist who is very popular. Her patients say she spends a long time with them and say she is amazing. But female gyno complains to me she gets all the "fruit-loops and nervous wrecks (her words)". I told her thats because she is too nice to patients and too amazing and therefore a magnet to those patients.

 

[Pushka]

I would like Doctors (probably talking specialists here) to listen to all symptoms, ask questions, do their own examinations, order tests if required and then if possible make a diagnosis. I am perfectly ok if they are matter of fact, brisk.

In thinking about what really bugged me personally about the other specialist was that he made incorrect assumptions because he did not ask relevant questions and consequently he dismissed incorrectly important symptoms.

As an example. I have had Hashimotos since my twenties and have very little Thyroid function since my late twenties. My TPO antibodies were >1600 when reference range is <100. And TSH over 30 when it should be <4. T4 around 5 and should be between 9 and 25. So both clinical and symptomatic.

He didn't ask me when I developed it (30 years ago) but just that it was an issue that OLD WOMEN get and was clinically irrelevant. Every joint issue he put down to old age. So to him, women in their fifties are easily dismissed as OLD WOMEN.

Thankfully the second Rheumatologist found otherwise after a full examination that included asking many many questions.
I also see she is on the organising committee for the International Conference on SLE and APS in Melbourne. Has had many publications. I wouldn't say she is the least bit warm and fuzzy. She isn't which suits me. She will not accept everyone as an initial patient (she will review the referral first to determine if it is in her field); her waiting list to be seen privately can be up to 6 months but if there is a cancellation you may get an earlier appt (I did) and now my niece in her twenties is also a patient.

 

[Quickstatus]

[Flippant]Your body is full of antibodies. [/Flippant]

But sounds like the first Doc either had a bad day or prejudged by putting you into a certain category, or actually bad.

I had a Professor colleague - wrote many books, articles, and chaired many conferences, committees. but no good clinically. I guess you get all types doing all things.

I think you hit the nail on the head- the good ones get booked out