Getting nowhere with current Hematologist

Based on what I read here from so many patients is that ET patients need oncology clinics to provide some info about HU to patients newly prescribed before they start taking it. Discuss nausea, diarrhea, hair loss, skin changes, dosing strategy, importance of blood monitoring, proper handling and storage of pills, alcohol and smoking risks, need for condoms, long term effects and how those could be addressed. My original oncologist told me the chemo nurse would do a phone consult. She never called, so I phoned in. She just about laughed in my face. "We don't counsel for HU. Just go get your pills and start taking them." I get that a 60 year old with an indolent chronic cancer doesn't need as much hand holding as a teenager with acute lymphoma. But geez! I got more info and reassurance from the Rite Aid pharmacist when I picked up my HU.

Thanks, Lori. I’m OK with the Connections I have for right now.

As another 77 year old I appreciate your comment. I’ve lost several friends because they could not get their heads around speaking up when they disagreed with their doctor and get second opinions.
Time has taught me there is very little that is perfect in this world. I consider myself lucky that there are so many more innovations, treatments and cures for diseases than there were years ago.

One of the Doctors I respected the most during my 40 year career was The Chief of the Medical Intensive Care Unit. Not only was he an excellent clinician he was very insightful. He would always say, "don't look at the numbers only.....look at the patient!" How very true! And witnessed it many a time. He was so comfortable in his role as a physician clinically, morally, ethically. He would even speak with his patients even if intubated....the eyes can say so much, questions answered by hand squeezes! A true physician......BTW not trained in the USA...trained in the Netherlands.

You know I have to remind myself that medicine is not an exact science. Drs are human. However, I hold them to a higher standard. They might be having a bad day, or whatever. This is yet another reason to be advocates for ourselves & our loved ones. I speak kindly & respectfully to them, but then go home & get mad after the fact. So in my 70 years, I have hopefully learned to speak up when feeling uncomfortable.

Doctors and all medical staff deserve the respect they’ve earned. Of course they have bad days. I’ve asked everyone in surgery just before I go “under” if they all had a good night’s sleep, fought with their significant other and had their caffeine “fix” and that’s always been greeted with a laugh and reassurance they’re all ready to go!
But, I’ve also told some providers that they need to remember you usually go into a medical facility because you’re not feeling well and they need to put aside their troubles and treat patients accordingly, from receptionists to the doctors. Sometimes they need to be reminded of that.
It’s too bad that even now, as opposed to many years ago, a justified comment might be considered unkind or disrespectful.
I lost two friends too early because they considered it rude to question their kindly, “pat you on the head”
because he knew better MD. So, if it makes no sense confront it, even if it’s a MD speaking. And, if they think you’re rude or too assertive to question then get another MD.