Bad Times in the Doctor’s Office

I am not someone that needs my doctor to have perfect bedside manner. Some of my best doctors have been a bit on the serious side, but have provided excellent ideas and care. Fortunately, it's been a while since I have had to see a specialist for my stomach issues and have been stable enough under the care of my family doctor. He was also with me since the beginning as he was the one that first diagnosed me with IBS and sent me for my first colonoscopy and endoscopy for my ulcers.

Finding a new doctor for my IBS

Well, last month he picked up and left me. Oh, the heartbreak. That meant the dreaded ‘find a new doctor that understands’ journey. It’s funny, when you get comfortable with a doctor or set of doctors and you finally get that really great support team, you take for granted the fact that it usually doesn’t go so hot in the beginning. I was looking back at some of the first articles I wrote for this site, and realized how much trouble I had finding a doctor to help with the IBS.

Unfortunately, my very first try with a new physician turned into a huge hassle and has put me on the path to find the "right one" again. I share this in hopes that some of you can relate and feel comforted that you are not alone.

I tend to look at an appointment with a new doctor, whether it be general practitioner, specialist, therapist or psychiatrist, to be a time to summarize the illnesses and maladies that you struggle with and the treatment you have already received in the hopes that the new practitioner will be able to help you maintain a course towards your best possible health. Hopefully, they may offer new ideas that can be even more helpful.

Facing issues with my new doctor

Let’s just say that neither thing was accomplished with my new doctor. First issue was that they didn’t introduce themselves. I knew I was in trouble when she sat down and just started going over my chart and blood pressure numbers. Fine, but then we went in to the negatives like my mental health and prior substance issues. Next, my blood pressure, stomach problems and finally, IBS. Her attitude towards all of these things seemed to be that I was simply an unhealthy person with psychiatric difficulties and even chuckled when I tried to talk about the IBS and stomach problems. She proceeded to try to "sell me" on the fact that IBS didn’t really even exist and it was just my nerves causing all of my issues. NEXT!

I’ve been through this before, but because of my long history with support people, I know what appropriate treatment is. I also know what I believe about my illnesses and for the most part, generally how to go about treating things. The fact that she dismissed anything that I felt was important at all, let alone ignored the fact that the chart must have indicated a long history of treatment should have been enough to, at very least, help to start a constructive dialogue. I hope no one has had to deal with anything that bad in a while, and I will be sure to keep you up to date with my further trials and tribulations.