I'm dumbfounded. Today I was actually ALLOWED TO TALK to a doctor!

I went to a new PCP because I got on Kaiser insurance, and he actually ASKED me about my dizziness and achiness! What a change from the last three or four PCPs, who immediately made dismissive comments if I mentioned anything. I thought doctors (PCPs, at least) didn't ASK patients about their symptoms anymore.

I think I made the right choice in choosing a family practice doctor; my last three were dour internists, who carefully stayed very far away and didn't want ME to talk--only THEY were allowed to. When they looked at me, all they saw was their holy trinity of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Nothing else was worthwhile.

I also chose a fresh young doctor, too young to be jaded and cynical. The young 'uns are still interested in their job.

It's also amazing to see Kaiser's up-to-date system of having a computer in the room--he just types everything in very expertly, my history, meds, everything. No filling out a paper history form, and the pharmacy instantly has my prescriptions! My old doctors' offices seem Stone Age by comparison. Kaiser also sends you home with a summary of your visit and a printout about your next appointment. I love it!!

Amazingly, too, he listened to my heart and lungs (which in two years my internist never did), and when at the end of the visit I mentioned the difficulty walking (severe strain in my upper leg/hip area from walking continuously more than a block) as an aside to my weight-loss scheme, he said right away that he wanted to see me again in three weeks to do a further exam and discuss musculoskeletal issues. I was flabbergasted!!

I'm really glad someone will actually check that out--the rheumatologist last year, without really examining me, dismissed it as "trochanteric bursitis," which didn't make sense to me. I knew I was in trouble when I recently went for a short walk with my 78-year-old severely fibromyalgic mom who doesn't normally go for walks. She said, "I can walk faster if you want, Nancy," and I had to say, "Oh, no, I'm fine, Mom!" because *I* wanted to slow down--I couldn't even keep up with her!

Five years ago I (thought overweight even then) could easily outwalk my normal-weight husband and vigorous stepdad, making them huff and puff to keep up with me. I KNOW something's wrong with my leg/hip muscles, though not necessarily MS.

I feel like a MIRACLE has happened! I had totally given up on ever expecting a doctor to listen to me about this stuff again. I had only intended to talk to him about weight loss and an ENT referral (I want to get a type of hearing implant that my other insurance doesn't cover), but he actually ASKED! And LISTENED!

I feel like tomorrow I'll wake up from this impossible dream!

Nancy T.

Nancy, that's so great. My PCP has been very important in helping to put the puzzle pieces together for me. If something is amiss, he makes sure WE get to the bottom of it!

I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship!

That's wonderful Nancy it's something when you actually find a doctor that listenes to you and lets you talk too. That's why I love my Doctor.

You found a doctor who actually listens?
I'm kidding..There are still good docs out there..Sometimes they're hard to find, though. Nice to hear a positive story!

Thanks, guys! Glad to hear everyone else has good PCPs, too. I thought I was jinxed, truly. Perhaps the curse has lifted after all these years!

I still can't quite believe it!!

Nancy

Woohoo!!! That's great, Nancy!

That's fantastic, Nancy! I'm so happy for you! I haven't even tried to find here in FL since I moved here 2 years ago. You've given me hope!!

Nancy, I gave you a *Thanks!* because it's cool when people have something good to say about docs and say it!

I'm SO happy for you!

I picked an *old school* doc who did not go to the same college as every other doc around here. I worried "He's old, he's probably sick of people" but I figured his first name was that of my fave uncle - that had to be a sign, right?

Well, he didn't have to ask what I was there for - he TOLD me!



"Why you so tired? You off balance. Too young to feel like that. We gonna fix that. You'll see!"



He's sharper than I have ever been on my best day, and ten times nicer.

He knows all the things his grandma did when you were sick, (and a lot of them worked) and he keeps up on all the latest medical news too.

He takes his time too. And when I leave, he says "You need anything, anything at all, you call me, okay?"



You feel like everything is going to be okay just knowing somebody is there to take care of you, don't you?