It has been my experience that "nasty little weasels" are nasty because they are concealing their own inadequacies! IMO the more imperious, the more they are afraid someone will "find out".

When I started 40 yrs ago in my profession I was bashed by nasty weasels all the time...they were sooooo threatened by a woman with ability!

Now of course, that has changed quite a bit. But back then it was fight to survive for me most days. In fact one Pediatrician who dumped attitude on me every day (he was a popular doctor in the area for some mysterious reason), dropped dead at 45 in his driveway, one day of a heart attack. That was the path he created for himself with his stressful judgemental nasty behavior...it killed him!

And that conclusion doesn't strike you as judgmental (not to mention a bit of a stretch )? I don't/won't dispute the guy was a weasel/horrible to you, but I don't think I've ever heard of a death certificate or autopsy report giving as Cause of Death: "Nasty Judgmental Behavior"

My first PCP, whom I had from age 15 until my 40s was known for having the greatest number of patients, and assembly lined more through his office per day, than any other in the metropolitan area, yet the vast majority loved the guy. I think he was one of those guys in it strictly for the money. Always had a smile on his face, (no wonder why) and fast! Then one day out of the blue we got a form letter informing us he had retired and sold his practice to some guy we never heard of. (We learned about a year later that he had not, in fact, retired; he just moved his practice to Florida and went into Geriatrics along with the aging baby-boomers - he followed the money again.)

Before we ever got a chance to meet the new guy, he sold the practice to a third guy, who was a walking poster boy for the arrogant whippersnapper with a chip on his shoulder. For some reason we've still to fathom (we suspect it was because my wife had the audacity to question him about something) we got a form letter informing us that our "doctor-patient relationship was no longer therapeutic", and we had 30 days to find a new doctor. It was the best favor he could have done us, because we found (with the help of the internet - see below), and got, the best PCP for us that we've ever had or could ever possibly imagine (who also happens to be just a couple years younger than us, and on a similar wavelength, "so we've got that going for us, which is nice..." )

Funny thing is, our current guy will be the first to volunteer that patients either love him or hate him - no middle ground, and he's kind of a Will Rogers type with respect to most patients (met very few he hasn't liked).

In my lifetime, I've met more doctors than I would have cared to, and all kinds - nice, nasty, brilliant, incompetent, sharp, clueless, and just plain weird.... Enough to learn/realize that there are all kinds, and it's worthwhile.... (I am loath to say "shopping" because of the negative connotation, but essentially that's what it is - just not in that way) interviewing & trying them to find the right ones for our "team". The internet has made this process vastly easier. Not that long ago, the only way you could vet doctors was by recommendation or word of mouth, and there was very little in the way of background (education/certification) checks or ratings. Nowadays, there's very little you can't find out about prospective doctors before ever making that first appointment. I predict this will be a boon for patients and medicine in the long term. Doctors are being consumer (as well as peer & professionally) reviewed and rated, and they will have to sharpen their game much more than just having the sheepskin & shingle to hang. Points for charisma and performance.

Doc

No, I am not being judgemental when the facts of that situation, showed that the unpleasant, rude, and abusive personality of a doctor, who could or would not take care of his own health, met with an abrupt and early end. It was no surprise to me and many others who put up with his tantrums on a daily basis.

People receiving abuse are not being judgemental in reporting so. When doctors' egos get the better of themselves, they can pay a price ... and seeing it happen is not judgemental. What does one think when a male psychiatrist (this is a true story) drives his Mercedes Benz into a flooded area in broad daylight with barracades blocking the road? Is this because he thought he knew better? He drowned quickly as a result. Or the woman psychiatrist here, that refused to monitor her own diabetes, refused to take care of herself, and dropped on her porch of ketoacidosis and died? Was that some major form of denial? Arrogance? (I knew both her husband and his second wife).

These boards are filled with patients disappointed with their doctors, or who have been poorly treated, or caused considerable harm. They are not being judgmental in reporting it here or venting. There really is no place to go when someone in power goes on a "power trip" at your expense. Women receive this type of abuse more often than men, but times are changing.
I see men on these boards, being told by their doctors that their pain is all in their heads! emotional...etc. There is a thread going right now, about a cold, unfeeling neurologist, in fact, elsewhere on these boards.

Our PN forum has had several threads about arrogant, nasty doctors who dismiss PNers, or act in cruel ways, by withholding treatments, pain intervention and the like.

So it is no surprise to me that zygopetalum is describing her doctor the way she did. I found her description of him FUNNY and this is a thread about FUNNY MOMENTS after all. And I believe her description is not judgemental either, and that the doctor deserves it. I have a long list of similar personalities I've encountered in my professional career, as well. And sadly many are NOT funny at all.

I have read quite a few posts about doctors who do not behave very well. My opinion is to go to another town even if it is far away to have someone respond to you as you need. Our quality of life is involved. They have such power over whether we will have that quality or not. Not being able to communicate, or walking on egg shells around him, isn't the best thing for your well being. Doctors are suppose to be in your support team, not on the other team. You need better care than someone in opposition to you, or mean to you. I have no patience with doctors who are indifferent, or do not care to listen to you. My origional neurologist, told me he would not treat me unless I submitted to a test he wanted. I gave my reasons clearly, and he told me he wouldn't help me unless I did this particular test. I had known from my research there were other tests, not so difficult to endure. I left that doctors office, and never went back. My new neurologist did the other less invasive testing, and I had a wonderful relationship with him. I was able to tell him about my fears and he listened to me. He was supportive all the way through surgery and recovery. His disposition helped relieve my anxiety, instead of making it worse. Our health conditions are hard enough to deal with, without a doctor making us feel worse. I hope you consider moving on, even if it means travel. I don't want you to suffer, because of this physician, there are better ones out there if you care to look. I wish you all the best in this situation. ginnie

Whoa! I think there's been a miscommunication/misunderstanding here. I wasn't saying that people receiving abuse are being judgemental in reporting so. But even if I did, all "judgmental" means is "tending to judge or criticize the conduct of other people"* and that's exactly what people reporting others' conduct are doing. Truth/fact really have no bearing either way. It's not a dirty word or an insult. It's very human, and there isn't a sentient creature on this planet who has not, and does judge anothers words or actions - not one. We constantly evaluate, and judge, and are critical of things; that's part of decision-making, learning, and many many more processes.

As you say, "this is a thread about FUNNY MOMENTS after all." and I found your statement funny (as you found zygos statement funny) and a bit ironical in that it was judgmental about someone who was judgmental. Deserving/justified/true, it was still judgmental.

I think it's good to (be able to) laugh at ourselves.

Doc

*Encarta Dictionary: English (North America)

I mentioned early on that that would have been my preferred suggestion, but zygo had preemptorily stated it was impractical.

I know what you mean about invasive testing. We have the right to refuse medical care of any kind. The flipside to that is that doctors have the right to refuse to treat us (except lifesaving emergency treatment - in this state anyway - probably most everywhere?)

A few years back I got sent to the ER because I blacked out behind the wheel (without incident). They prudently held me for 24 hours and performed about every cardiac test they could (justify to my insurance company.) One of them was a cardiac stress test that involved injecting me with a radioactive isotope, which they "assured" me was completely safe because the ppb were so low. "Less than an x-ray" they said. I read their pamphlet and noted, "I've had x-rays before, and x-rays expose a person for a second or less, and don't require the necessity of carrying a letter to have on my person for a MONTH lest I be stopped at the border for being a "terrorist" because the isotope was enough to set off their nuclear bomb threat sensors."

I gotta confess, I broke down & cried over that decision (I was so upset they even offered me valium, but I declined), and I've regretted it (allowing the test - not declining the valium) ever since, especially because when I asked if the test was absolutely necessary, the said, "If you want to be sure, it is." They did/would not inform me that there was an alternative test that would not require being injected with an isotope. It wasn't the safety issue (though it was a factor) that had me upset so much as the fact that I've been a lifelong opponent of nuclear energy since learning what I did about it in college.... Radioactive isotopes for anything other than life-saving procedures (like cancer) just go against every fiber of my being. (Can you tell I'm a child of the 60s?)

Doc

I too am a child of the 60's. I can relate to you. The isotope test is one I would not want eithor. It goes against what I think should be put into my body. I would have a strong reaction against it, if it were ever requested of me. I am against the neuclear things all but in the most serious of conditions. Seed plants and such, I would have a problem with that too. The test they wanted me to do that I didn't want, was to put needles in me and then turn on the electricity. No thank you, I am not a cow, and do not need cattle prods. I considered that test a kind of torture, and I don't react too well to the pain I already have!
I have known two people now both in their 80's and did that stress test. Neithor recovered well. It took months for them to feel better. It makes me wonder for sure just what that isotope does to a person. I have had so many x-rays, MRI'S and CT scans, I had the dentist protect my neck since I have thyroid nodes now. Who knows what caused them. I think it was due to all the exposure I had of my cervical spine, and too many of these tests.
Lately, I do the research like you do, into everything that is asked of me, including all my medications. I have been called a problem patient because I guestion all tests and proceedures. I want to be informed like you do. Sorry you had to go through the stress test at all. ginnie

Sounds like an EMG/Nerve Conduction Study. I didn't like the idea either (and I had one many years ago that I had after-effects from for several days). I actually wound up having two for PN; one from each of two different neurologists. I wasn't terribly confident in the first test (or the neurologist for that matter) so a second test was done at the PN Clinic of the Neurology Dept. of a major Medical Center. Neither test was pleasant, but I felt more confident about the reasons for them being done, so I tried to relax and got through them.

There were some funny moments during the second test. It was administered by a young woman technician, and being the way I can be when I'm trying to relieve stress with humor, my wife was kinda split between falling out of her chair laughing and trying to keep the tech. from running out of the room...

It wasn't terribly different than using a TENS unit set to pulse & turned up too high...

Doc

Yes Dr. Smith it was the EMG they wanted me to do. I was already in such pain that I refused any more pain. I had gone with a friend while she had this test and listened to her scream. Well that turned me off that test! Nice to know you had some funny moments in your second EMG. Now that I know someone who got through it OK and kinda what it is like, maybe I would submit to it. I know the feeling of the Tens unit, but don't care for that much either. My second Neuro surgeon, said I didn't have to have that particular test at all, that there were others he could do. I was sure happy to hear that! I think the doctor who first asked me to do the EMG was not addressing my fears, or anxiety. He was curt and allowed me no say in the matter. He also did my first surgery that didn't turn out well at all on C6-7. I was going back to him because I was still in so much pain. I found out reading my records, that he did not address several other conditions in my neck. nor did he tell me about them at all. My second neuro surgeon couldn't figure out why he did not do all the surgery that needed to be done the first time around. I was kept in the dark about the true condition of my cervical spine. I was not told there was anything else wrong with me. I had to get my records to find out. Then I realized what was going on, and sought out the second neruo for my second surgery, C3-7, having to have C6-7 re-done. I lost alot of faith in doctors from that experience, and learned I must question everything and learn first hand what is in my records. That is also when I found neuro talk. I learned more here, than anything the doctors said. If you want the truth, you find it right here among those who have experienced similar conditions. I am glad you are around this site Dr. smith. ginnie

Did a EMG recently and neuro said this may hurt and I laughed and told him to turn it up all the way because nothing will compare with the 10,000volt electric shocks in my feet that Im getting at the moment.

I think with the EMG its the anticipation that hurts the most