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At 74yo I need a dr who will listen to me
I am new to this group so I will try to keep this short. I am 74yo, have been relatively stable health. I have arthritis and have had joint replacement surgery which has been successful. I was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease in 2019 and treated with a nephrologist. I have been in remission for over two years. Medical treatment has become so specialized. The doctor will only address his area of treatment. Nobody looks at the patient as a whole person. Office visits are limited to 15 minutes and I am lucky if I speak with the doctor for five of those 15 minutes. I am currently on no prescription medication for chronic illness. Last year I attempted to establish a relationship with a gerontologist who never examined me. She reviewed my health history, that was obtained by the nursing assistant, asked a few questions, ordered routine labs, and never scheduled a follow up visit. Recently I called to ask for pain management because I was having an arthritis crisis and her only suggestion was Tylenol. I attend warm water therapy 3-4 X week and Tylenol was of little benefit. She showed no concern for my current condition. I have never asked for pain medication nor have I ever complained about my arthritis. I got the impression that she thinks that at 74 I am going to have pain and that I have to adjust to it. I know that at this stage of my life I need a trusting primary physician who is willing to listen and be interested in my overall health. Any suggestions for finding a doctor who is interested in providing care for aging patients?
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Thank you for recommending red light therapy. I will definitely research it. I have never liked taking medication on a regular basis. My previous experience with pain management provider was disappointing. I participate in warm water pool activities regularly. I live in a cold climate and sometimes Tylenol isn’t enough. Red light is something I will research.
Thank u foryour KIND reply toMY comment.
I have RA and pulmonary fibrosis and am supposed to have a team. I can't get that worked out. I have constant inflammation and other difficulties. But no one seems to be together in caring for the conditions, or for my issues for that matter. As a 78 year old woman, I often think it is my age. Or maybe I have a personality that bothers others. In any case, I do keep blaming myself for one thing, but the other is a choice to consider the others uncaring and inadequate. I hate to think a team simply doesn't care enough to even discuss or do a referral. But it does seem to me that I am not getting proper care. It is painful and hard and I am left to all my own devices in trying to help myself. Anyone else going through such conflicts with their illnesses?
Continued: Like ColoRed, our docs have 15 minutes to spend with us.
However, what I do have is a pain med. dr. who spends time with me on my pain and genuinely seems to care. I feel so fortunate in that regard and hope CR finds the same help. 15 minutes is less time than brushing your teeth.
Do you live near a teaching hospital? They will have a Geriatrics Internal Medicine clinic. I go there and see specially trained Nurse Practitioners who check in with the attending M.D.s. I think it is the best setup for senior health.