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Have you ever been "fired" by your doctor?

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Dec 22, 2019 | Replies (7)

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@kathyhg

I agree with you about attitude and willingness to listen. The first respirologist I saw was very confident in his approach to treating Mac and prescribed the big 3 to me. I was not familiar with the disease and started doing my own research and joined this forum.

I realized after a little while that he knew very little about Mac. I asked for a referral to a specialist for another opinion but he said I didn’t need another opinion because my illness was so straightforward. He was inaccessible when I had concerns and he would not work with my GP when I went to her with concerns. I found that I had to double check everything he prescribed or told me about the disease because of oversights. He discounted my concerns re side effects. I could go on and on.

At any rate, my GP referred me to a specialist and, when I told the respirologist, he was visibly angry with me and my GP.

I have sinced changed doctors and my new respirologist works with the Mac specialist to develop and monitor a very different care plan that is working much better than the previous one.

I guess my point is get second opinions and different doctors if you need to, do your own research and advocate for yourself if/when you have concerns. I don’t mean to carry on here but I really learned this the hard way.

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Replies to "I agree with you about attitude and willingness to listen. The first respirologist I saw was..."

@kathyhg You are so right! Back in the 1950’s doctors were like God. Nobody would think to question anything they said or did concerning patient care. When I started having symptoms my doctor said I must be depressed because I retired! I retired because I wasn’t feeling well!!! My son in law who happens to be a gynecologist found my MAC because he sent me for a chest CT. When I started having serious uterine issues several months back, that PCP told me my MAC must have spread to my uterus and insisted it be biopsied for MAC when I had my surgery. Good grief. Of course it was negative! Disseminated MAC is rare! She is retiring, and I have a new PCP, but honestly my old PCP is not knowledgeable about MAC - but thinks she is! I am so glad I have a new PCP here and a pulmonologist and an ID doctor at UMass. The best advice I have received is “ listen to your body and its infinite wisdom.” Then you will be the best self advocate. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Wishing everyone good health and all good things in 2020! (irene5)