Thanks, lioness, I have always been interested in nutrition because of growing a garden on the farm. Funny, I never played doctor a a child because I lived in the country . it was WWII, and I had no neighbors to play with. And I had no imagination. So I still study as an adult. I think my doctor just likes pills. I told him about my garden but he wanted me to give it up because of my back. Well, I rehabbed my back enough to grow beautiful tomatoes this year. Dorisena
Thanks, lioness, I have always been interested in nutrition because of growing a garden on the farm. Funny, I never played doctor a a child because I lived in the country . it was WWII, and I had no neighbors to play with. And I had no imagination. So I still study as an adult. I think my doctor just likes pills. I told him about my garden but he wanted me to give it up because of my back. Well, I rehabbed my back enough to grow beautiful tomatoes this year. Dorisena
I wouldn't advise you to get a new PCP, but this might be the time for a second opinion. Since telemedicine has become much more accepted during the COVID pandemic, you can have access to any doctor within your health care plan without the limitations of physical location. I had put off a physical for nearly two years (feeling just fine, thank you), but my new PCP insisted it was time. I chose a phone appointment, and she had no choice but to actually listen to me - a novel but very nice experience for me. For me at least, it also changed the doctor-patient dynamic, and I felt much more like I was speaking with a peer than being talked down to by a physician. With many people delaying doctor visits right now, many doctors outside the hospital are less busy and it is often much easier to get an appointment with a specialist.
I wouldn't advise you to get a new PCP, but this might be the time for a second opinion. Since telemedicine has become much more accepted during the COVID pandemic, you can have access to any doctor within your health care plan without the limitations of physical location. I had put off a physical for nearly two years (feeling just fine, thank you), but my new PCP insisted it was time. I chose a phone appointment, and she had no choice but to actually listen to me - a novel but very nice experience for me. For me at least, it also changed the doctor-patient dynamic, and I felt much more like I was speaking with a peer than being talked down to by a physician. With many people delaying doctor visits right now, many doctors outside the hospital are less busy and it is often much easier to get an appointment with a specialist.
@ginaquilts I can't help but be curious. How is a physical done over the phone? Obviously the physician cannot take your blood pressure, listen to your heart of any of the hands-on parts of a physical. I will be having a physical sometime in the near future so I am interested in hearing what can be done on the phone to make it a real physical. I have had other appointments on the phone.
JK
I am fortunate as I live in the country and can walk into the county squad house and get my blood pressure checked. They will write a report and then advise me to see my doctor and mark that I didn't need to go to the hospital. Years ago when my sons were volunteers, I could chat with the fire chief as well.
They would have their pot lucks at our place. Perhaps the local department will take your blood pressure. You could try. Dorisena
@ginaquilts I can't help but be curious. How is a physical done over the phone? Obviously the physician cannot take your blood pressure, listen to your heart of any of the hands-on parts of a physical. I will be having a physical sometime in the near future so I am interested in hearing what can be done on the phone to make it a real physical. I have had other appointments on the phone.
JK
@contentandwell. My last checkup was virtual, and I hope to find a new pcp (hopefully, a geriatric pcp) before my next checkup is due. Thought it rather silly to have a virtual checkup because of the risks of the virus but I had to go to the same medical center for my precheckup blood work. I then had a in person checkup five days later with a specialist. An AP took my doctor's place, and it was clear she really didn't quite know how to proceed. Perhaps if you're used to communicating this way with family with Zoom or whatever, you'll be more comfortable, but I was extremely uncomfortable. Think body language and small things one can only pickup in person are necessary, particularly when you are elderly - I have now a long list of chronic conditions, some of which I forget temporarily. These include skin conditions - a visual. No bp, no listening to lung and heart, no feeling for lumps and bumps. Hope for others it is good, and I can see a benefit when your "coming down with something," and need a quick check. I'd be interested in hearing what others think - I hope I'm not just being an "old fuddy duddy"
@contentandwell. My last checkup was virtual, and I hope to find a new pcp (hopefully, a geriatric pcp) before my next checkup is due. Thought it rather silly to have a virtual checkup because of the risks of the virus but I had to go to the same medical center for my precheckup blood work. I then had a in person checkup five days later with a specialist. An AP took my doctor's place, and it was clear she really didn't quite know how to proceed. Perhaps if you're used to communicating this way with family with Zoom or whatever, you'll be more comfortable, but I was extremely uncomfortable. Think body language and small things one can only pickup in person are necessary, particularly when you are elderly - I have now a long list of chronic conditions, some of which I forget temporarily. These include skin conditions - a visual. No bp, no listening to lung and heart, no feeling for lumps and bumps. Hope for others it is good, and I can see a benefit when your "coming down with something," and need a quick check. I'd be interested in hearing what others think - I hope I'm not just being an "old fuddy duddy"
@trishanna Of course you are not being an old fuddy-duddy! We all have our preferences. We zoom a lot with family so I am used to it, and I have had virtual appointments with a different method and will be again this month.
My mind can't quite figure out right now, what is an AP?
You mention planning to go to a geriatric doctor. I have been wondering about that a lot. What is the advantage of a geriatric doctor over a regular doctor of internal medicine? I will be 73 in September but feel the care that PCPs give is probably as good as geriatric doctors.
JK
@trishanna Of course you are not being an old fuddy-duddy! We all have our preferences. We zoom a lot with family so I am used to it, and I have had virtual appointments with a different method and will be again this month.
My mind can't quite figure out right now, what is an AP?
You mention planning to go to a geriatric doctor. I have been wondering about that a lot. What is the advantage of a geriatric doctor over a regular doctor of internal medicine? I will be 73 in September but feel the care that PCPs give is probably as good as geriatric doctors.
JK
@contentandwell. An AP is an Assistant Physician. My pcp assigned me to her for unknown reasons. I've been thinking about a geriatric physician for a while, but I'm using the term loosely cause we have none in our area. I plan to ask for a referral from my gynecologist to a doctor who thinks like a geriatric doctor. My reason, other than I do not want the AP, is that I have multiple problems now, and my pcp seems to zero in on what he considers important and ignores others. One of my lifelong problems is polycystic ovaries, a condition I now know can cause diabetes. He should have been monitoring me and given me some kind of warning. Neither happened and now I have diabetes. Luckily, I've been able to keep it under control. Told my gynecologist that I'd like to invite all my specialists for coffee; he said I couldn't afford that much coffee!! 😉 Somebody, it seems to me, needs to look at coordinating all these specialties so everyone is as near as possible on the same page. If you've an excellent pcp, I would stay with him/her. Apropos of nothing, while I appreciate the role of technology in modern medicine, there's still room for the talents and experience of our doctors. As an example, don't know how many of those multiple-page forms I've completed prior to an initial visit which the doctor totally ignores. It seems to me a common complaint I hear is doctors don't listen. So happy for kamama94 who has accomplished so much with a very supportive medical staff! Thanks for letting me ramble on.....
@ginaquilts I can't help but be curious. How is a physical done over the phone? Obviously the physician cannot take your blood pressure, listen to your heart of any of the hands-on parts of a physical. I will be having a physical sometime in the near future so I am interested in hearing what can be done on the phone to make it a real physical. I have had other appointments on the phone.
JK
My new PCP had me to do some homework beforehand I had my BP measurements at the ready, and before the visit, my husband assisted me with looking for any lumps, bumps, or weird patches of skin - none found I do not have a history of heart disease and my BP is in the low-normal range with no meds, so she wasn't worried about that for now, but does want to have a listen to my heart and lungs when we finally get to meet. I did ask how she would have assessed any lumps and bumps, and she said we could have had a video chat using my phone where I could maneuver the phone to give her a close-up view. Most of the information she got from me through careful questioning and taking the time to listen. The phone appointment lasted nearly 30 minutes, about twice the time of a normal visit, and I felt she was very thorough. It was much better than my previous visits at my HMO where I was rushed through and my concerns were ignored. This virtual visit was much more relaxed and put us on a more level playing field.
I am little depressed at the moment. I was really working hard on trying to lose weight and get my numbers right but it didn't work and my numbers are terrible. I lost another 10lbs and down a total of 85lbs. I am going to take the next step and see a dietitian because obviously I'm doing something wrong. My doctor is now gonna put me on jardiance☹️. I feel like they tell us lose weight and exercise, eat right and you can reverse diabetes and high blood pressure. It's not happening. My brother has no more weight to lose and is on his way to being under weight and his numbers are terrible. He is taking so many pills and now it's happening to me not to mention that I am going bald from the meds. I wish I never started taking meds to begin with and did it myself.
I am little depressed at the moment. I was really working hard on trying to lose weight and get my numbers right but it didn't work and my numbers are terrible. I lost another 10lbs and down a total of 85lbs. I am going to take the next step and see a dietitian because obviously I'm doing something wrong. My doctor is now gonna put me on jardiance☹️. I feel like they tell us lose weight and exercise, eat right and you can reverse diabetes and high blood pressure. It's not happening. My brother has no more weight to lose and is on his way to being under weight and his numbers are terrible. He is taking so many pills and now it's happening to me not to mention that I am going bald from the meds. I wish I never started taking meds to begin with and did it myself.
Hi @m12281515, I wanted to take a moment and welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry to hear that your numbers are terrible despite your current weight loss. I think that 85 pounds is incredible though! That is something to be very proud of. A lot of the diet and exercise regimens for type 2 suggest a very physician controlled increase of intensity. Is this something that is being regulated by your doctor? How long have you been diagnosed with type 2?
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Thanks, lioness, I have always been interested in nutrition because of growing a garden on the farm. Funny, I never played doctor a a child because I lived in the country . it was WWII, and I had no neighbors to play with. And I had no imagination. So I still study as an adult. I think my doctor just likes pills. I told him about my garden but he wanted me to give it up because of my back. Well, I rehabbed my back enough to grow beautiful tomatoes this year. Dorisena
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Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI wouldn't advise you to get a new PCP, but this might be the time for a second opinion. Since telemedicine has become much more accepted during the COVID pandemic, you can have access to any doctor within your health care plan without the limitations of physical location. I had put off a physical for nearly two years (feeling just fine, thank you), but my new PCP insisted it was time. I chose a phone appointment, and she had no choice but to actually listen to me - a novel but very nice experience for me. For me at least, it also changed the doctor-patient dynamic, and I felt much more like I was speaking with a peer than being talked down to by a physician. With many people delaying doctor visits right now, many doctors outside the hospital are less busy and it is often much easier to get an appointment with a specialist.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@ginaquilts I can't help but be curious. How is a physical done over the phone? Obviously the physician cannot take your blood pressure, listen to your heart of any of the hands-on parts of a physical. I will be having a physical sometime in the near future so I am interested in hearing what can be done on the phone to make it a real physical. I have had other appointments on the phone.
JK
I am fortunate as I live in the country and can walk into the county squad house and get my blood pressure checked. They will write a report and then advise me to see my doctor and mark that I didn't need to go to the hospital. Years ago when my sons were volunteers, I could chat with the fire chief as well.
They would have their pot lucks at our place. Perhaps the local department will take your blood pressure. You could try. Dorisena
@contentandwell. My last checkup was virtual, and I hope to find a new pcp (hopefully, a geriatric pcp) before my next checkup is due. Thought it rather silly to have a virtual checkup because of the risks of the virus but I had to go to the same medical center for my precheckup blood work. I then had a in person checkup five days later with a specialist. An AP took my doctor's place, and it was clear she really didn't quite know how to proceed. Perhaps if you're used to communicating this way with family with Zoom or whatever, you'll be more comfortable, but I was extremely uncomfortable. Think body language and small things one can only pickup in person are necessary, particularly when you are elderly - I have now a long list of chronic conditions, some of which I forget temporarily. These include skin conditions - a visual. No bp, no listening to lung and heart, no feeling for lumps and bumps. Hope for others it is good, and I can see a benefit when your "coming down with something," and need a quick check. I'd be interested in hearing what others think - I hope I'm not just being an "old fuddy duddy"
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@trishanna Of course you are not being an old fuddy-duddy! We all have our preferences. We zoom a lot with family so I am used to it, and I have had virtual appointments with a different method and will be again this month.
My mind can't quite figure out right now, what is an AP?
You mention planning to go to a geriatric doctor. I have been wondering about that a lot. What is the advantage of a geriatric doctor over a regular doctor of internal medicine? I will be 73 in September but feel the care that PCPs give is probably as good as geriatric doctors.
JK
@contentandwell. An AP is an Assistant Physician. My pcp assigned me to her for unknown reasons. I've been thinking about a geriatric physician for a while, but I'm using the term loosely cause we have none in our area. I plan to ask for a referral from my gynecologist to a doctor who thinks like a geriatric doctor. My reason, other than I do not want the AP, is that I have multiple problems now, and my pcp seems to zero in on what he considers important and ignores others. One of my lifelong problems is polycystic ovaries, a condition I now know can cause diabetes. He should have been monitoring me and given me some kind of warning. Neither happened and now I have diabetes. Luckily, I've been able to keep it under control. Told my gynecologist that I'd like to invite all my specialists for coffee; he said I couldn't afford that much coffee!! 😉 Somebody, it seems to me, needs to look at coordinating all these specialties so everyone is as near as possible on the same page. If you've an excellent pcp, I would stay with him/her. Apropos of nothing, while I appreciate the role of technology in modern medicine, there's still room for the talents and experience of our doctors. As an example, don't know how many of those multiple-page forms I've completed prior to an initial visit which the doctor totally ignores. It seems to me a common complaint I hear is doctors don't listen. So happy for kamama94 who has accomplished so much with a very supportive medical staff! Thanks for letting me ramble on.....
My new PCP had me to do some homework beforehand I had my BP measurements at the ready, and before the visit, my husband assisted me with looking for any lumps, bumps, or weird patches of skin - none found I do not have a history of heart disease and my BP is in the low-normal range with no meds, so she wasn't worried about that for now, but does want to have a listen to my heart and lungs when we finally get to meet. I did ask how she would have assessed any lumps and bumps, and she said we could have had a video chat using my phone where I could maneuver the phone to give her a close-up view. Most of the information she got from me through careful questioning and taking the time to listen. The phone appointment lasted nearly 30 minutes, about twice the time of a normal visit, and I felt she was very thorough. It was much better than my previous visits at my HMO where I was rushed through and my concerns were ignored. This virtual visit was much more relaxed and put us on a more level playing field.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI am little depressed at the moment. I was really working hard on trying to lose weight and get my numbers right but it didn't work and my numbers are terrible. I lost another 10lbs and down a total of 85lbs. I am going to take the next step and see a dietitian because obviously I'm doing something wrong. My doctor is now gonna put me on jardiance☹️. I feel like they tell us lose weight and exercise, eat right and you can reverse diabetes and high blood pressure. It's not happening. My brother has no more weight to lose and is on his way to being under weight and his numbers are terrible. He is taking so many pills and now it's happening to me not to mention that I am going bald from the meds. I wish I never started taking meds to begin with and did it myself.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi @m12281515, I wanted to take a moment and welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry to hear that your numbers are terrible despite your current weight loss. I think that 85 pounds is incredible though! That is something to be very proud of. A lot of the diet and exercise regimens for type 2 suggest a very physician controlled increase of intensity. Is this something that is being regulated by your doctor? How long have you been diagnosed with type 2?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction