Finding The Right Dance Partner
Perhaps I am old fashioned, but over the years I come to the conclusion that it’s a requirement to like my physician. I used to think that it didn’t matter, that one person could conduct a pap smear just as well as the next, but nowadays, I’ve turned the corner on that old ideology. I think it’s completely necessary to like your doctor.
Around 8 years ago, I got my first job that had employer sponsored health insurance as part of the benefits package. I hadn’t had regular health care since I was a kid, so when it was offered, I researched to find the best doctor I could. I asked all my friends, did some Google-ing and eventually settled an M.D. who was voted People’s Choice winner for “Best Doctor in Western Washington.”
Over the years I tried really hard to like her, but I didn’t. I wanted my daughter to like her, but my daughter really didn’t. After years of feeling like she wasn’t listening, I was the one who checked out. I had reached my limits. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when she prescribed me Ritalin as a way to diagnose me for ADD: “If it works, then it’s likely that you have ADD, if it doesn’t work and you feel like you’re on speed, then you probably don’t have ADD.” I never went back to her again. Sadly, I never took the time to find another doctor, until recently.
Today I saw my new doctor for the first time. Let me start by saying that I love Dr. Duke. She didn’t rush me or try to fix me right away. She didn’t attempt to pump me full of pills. She didn’t look at me like I was crazy. She didn’t pretend like she knew everything. I felt comfortable, like I could debate the efficacy of resveratrol with her over a glass of pinot. And let me tell you, it feels awesome to have someone that you believe will be your healthcare advocate, your champion of well-being. It finally dawned on me – THIS IS THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD FEEL.
So if you aren’t getting what you need from your current doctor, don’t wait another minute – SWITCH DOCTORS. Don’t do what I did, which was spend years waffling and complaining about how I didn’t mesh with my M.D.
So here’s the good news about today’s appointment. My blood pressure is down. Last August or September, I was told that my BP was high … 140/90 and it was suggested that I start medication. But I refused and asked to have some time to lower it through making some lifestyle changes instead. I am happy to announce that my BP is now 105/70 – which according to this chart is excellent.
The bad news is that I have several symptoms that point towards PCOS. If anyone knows more about this, shoot me an email or send me a link of some good, credible information. I have already looked at the site called SoulCysters (which by the way, is the worst name for a website) and want to know if there are sites out there that don’t conjure up images of two engorged sister cysts.
I know, immature.
PS. Good week for health. Marginal week for weight loss.
This entry was posted on Monday, May 18th, 2009 at 8:55 pm and is filed under Weight Loss, Weight Updates. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
21 Responses to “Finding The Right Dance Partner”
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Congrats on lowering your BP. That is a big achievement! What did you do because I am in the same position and do not want to go on medication if I can help it. Yes, and I agree you have to really like your doctor and be on the same wavelength. So glad its worked out for you with the new doc. Do not know about PCOS at all sorry.
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i would say you are fine..i am the lady of everything that could go wrong, went wrong…and researched the heck out of it…email me if you want…make it a great week…
I too cringed at the name of that site (!?) and wish I had PCOS info for you—-if you dont find what you seek lemmie know and Ill happily ask my readers!
Excellent work on the BP, that’s a huge change.
I couldn’t agree more about the importance of finding the right MD, it’s well worth the hunt that is sometimes required.
I sent you an email with some links to PCOS info, hope they help.
Talk about a bad website name – I looked around on ‘Hister-sisters’ right before my hysterectomy. It was just depressing.
I agree that the connection between patient and doctor is important. I love my OBGYN and wish he could be my regular practitioner. He just listens.
I’m a strong advocate for informed consent, and I’m pleased to hear that you’ve found a doctor who’s not opposed to hearing your opinions on medications and treatments. That’s an excellent quality for a doctor to have — one that’s very hard to come by. I must reiterate my twitter comment: I’m jealous!
Great job lowering your blood pressure! That’s excellent news. =)
So glad you found a good doctor. I have a new one as well and I LOVE her! She’s my age and really “gets it.”
Sending you an email with some info on PCOS.
That is great about your BP! and the PCOS thing? Hand in hand with the weight struggle, I imagine.
This was a very timely post for me, trying to find a new ped for daughter right now…
Hi Giyen,
PCOS and I go back. I was diagnosed when I was 22, just as I was graduating college and my parent’s health insurnace coverage on me was running out. I was terrified.
I’ve always been in and out of doctors offices, and since I’ve been diagnosed with PCOS I’ve talked to a handful of doctors about it. The most insightful was when I met with an endocrinologist, and what he told me is this:
1. They don’t really know what causes it.
2. They don’t really know how to cure it.
3. It’s something you can live with.
4. They can treat the symptoms with hormones (I’ve been on birth control for YEARS).
5. It can affect fertility (I’ve been told to get reproductive help when I want to get pregnant).
I’d offer to give you the Doctor’s info, but he’s in NYC.
When I first found out I had PCOS I read up on it, looked at sites, did a lot of research. But then I stopped, it’s really a case by case thing, and reading some people’s stories got me paranoid. So what I’d like to relay to you is that PCOS isn’t as scary it might seem at first. Just feel it out.
-Kat
I had a transplant a couple years ago and I was very lucky to find the perfect cardiologist. He doesn’t know everything, but perfect for me. An appointment with him is at least an hour – he loves to explain as much as I need a full explanation. He’s engaged, bright, thoughtful and a kind man. I wouldn’t be here without him – so I know the importance of searching and finally finding a good doctor.
I completely agree with you on changing doctors. Having a doctor you like and respect is so important.
Congrats on the low BP!! That is awesome, as is the 10 inches you’ve lost!
Keep it up!
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Totally agree with you on finding a doc you like. My OBGYN is excellent, but I have NEVER NEVER NEVER found a PCP I could respect. I once went in because I was experiencing vomitting and unexplained dizziness – and she started off by telling me how must carry all my weight in my legs and other non-related issues on my physical appearance. And before even letting me go further on my other symptoms, she snapped at me that it’s nothing and all in my head and wrote me up as a psych case BEFORE I even got checked out with what was truly going on. Unfortunately, this has caused me to NOT visit my PCP for years. I don’t even remember the last time I went in for a “regular” checkup — maybe over five years ago? Need to go though … got too many wierd symptoms going on. So the search is on for someone new.
I am so glad you wrote about this. I recently made the decision to change doctors and I can’t believe the difference in having someone who is actually present when you come and see them. My new doc actually comes out into the waiting room to get his patients….I know! I have recently gone through some medical issues that have involved specialists etc and the one thing I have learned is that you have to be your own advocate for your health. Trust your gut and always get a second opinion if you are not satisfied with a doc’s assessment. Good luck on your PCOS – never heard of it but i hope it’s not too serious.
I completely agree with you on the whole doctor thing! I moved to the Washington, D.C. area 3 years ago and did not go to the doctor for 2.5 years. I finally had to after horrible migraines and went through a couple doctors that were just there to diagnose, medicate and take my money. I loved my doctor back home, she was my gyno and my general doctor and she would talk to me about options or other possible diagnoses.
It’s crazy how many doctors are just in it to give you drugs. Sadly, it does take awhile, sometimes, to find a doctor you are comfortable with. Glad you have found one, but sorry to hear about the PCOS.
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Was diagnosed with PCOS 10+ years ago, and been living with it. It does have a list of symptoms and because it’s a syndrome you don’t have to have all the symptoms on the list. e.g., I don’t have amenorrhea, I just have periods ALL the time, and I am not hairy but I struggle with infertility. And I am not obese, but I am definitely overweight and it is harder for me to lose weight. Etc., etc.
There are ways to treat PCOS. Get yourself to a Reproductive Endocrinologist. Lots of doctors SAY they can treat it, but get yourself to an RE or an Endocrinologist, they’re the specialists. Diagnosis is through blood tests (hormone levels and insulin levels) and/or a vaginal ultrasound (my ovaries look like pomegranates from all the unpopped eggs!)
You can go on birth control, but most likely if you are not NOT trying to ahve a kid, they will put you on metforming/glucophage (diabetes medication) to break the insulin resistance. The prevailing theory is that we have insulin resistance which then causes us to gain weight which then causes us to have more androgens/testosterone than the average woman which then leads to insulin resistance (well, some combo of that, I may have the order wrong). The metformin is supposed to break the insulin resistance, and therefore teh whole cycle.
The metformin can cause weight loss. It’s amazing. I love that drug (for me, anyway).
There’s more…but hopefully this will help.
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Excellent work on your blood pressure, and your overall health (mental too) in the last year!
And your post reminded me to schedule my own check-up. It’s been a couple of years (oops). Combination of crappy health insurance and not being able to see the right dance partner. She is only seeing preggo women these days and I don’t think I can fake it just to get in for a paps smear.
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Have you looked into blackstrap molasses? It’s a wonderful natural remedy!! I’ve been taking it for anemia and it has stopped my menstrual cramps completely! I mention it because I think when I was researching it online I saw some people refer to it for PCOS. Two sites I found are: http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/blackstrap-molasses.html and http://www.earthclinic.com/.
Hope this helps!
Your post could not have come at a more opportune time. I too am ready to check out from my current care physician. Thanks for the kick in the bum.
Hey, i did my master’s thesis on PCOS. Basically what everyone else has written is correct. It is the leading endocrinological disease in women of child bearing age (5-10% of this population). Some basic important facts of the syndrome:
(1) insulin resistance
This seems to be inherent to the syndrome. However, overweight/obesity will worsen this, and can lead to diabetes. Control of blood sugar is very important.
(2) ammenorhea
This is usually what gets women into a doctor’s office in the first place, and how PCOS gets discovered in a woman.
(3) lifestyle modification (like what you are doing)…helps immensely. There have been many peer reviewed studies (citation if you want) that compare lifestyle modification with pharmacological intervention. They generally find the two are equal, but there are no side effects (or trips to pharmacy and copayments) for lifestyle modification.
(4) Different counsels have different diagnostic criteria, but it is generally diagnosed if patients have high levels of androgens in their system/high insulin levels. It is true that it is a mystery how PCOS begins, but prevailing thought now is that insulin resistance leads to high insulin levels, which basically wreck havoc on the pituitary gland, which begins a cascade of signal proteins/hormones ending in high androgen (testosterone) levels.
Good luck with everything. Let me know if anything else you need.
I usually don
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