At 74yo I need a dr who will listen to me

Posted by codered032 @codered032, 6 days ago

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

True- it’s hard to find a ‘team’ but that is what it takes. GO for overview and specialists for particular. I have been told by several snow that there is nothing they can do for me. My pain dr. Tries to keep me comfortable - I take as little as possible. But at 78 with my muscle atrophy it’s up to me to PT as hard as I can and try to hold on. Bravery is essential! Yup

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@vgen

I am 75.. I have found a great Nurse Practitioner who is in my primary care physicians group. She’s wonderful and ran additional tests when my primary care doctor thought my condition was a result from covid. Sent me to a rheumatologist and found my pain was from Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Never heard of it before my diagnosis. My POINT is don't think your getting less if you consult with a Nurse Practitioner or a Physicians Assistant. They have more time to consult and are very knowledgeable.

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The only person who was kind and diagnosed me right away was a nurse practitioner. I have post herpetic neuralgia and I live a life of chronic pain. It is a condition caused by the shingles. He's retired now and doctors aren't familiar. I'm treated like a crazy old lady.

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I’m not sure of an answer. You can ask local people who they prefer as a primary. I have a great one. I can send him a private message at anytime through the portal. He responds within hours.

I normally select my own specialists within a large system that has a patient portal. There, I can view my tests results, notes, and communicate with my doctors. They respond promptly, often the same day and address my question, prescribing at times, or scheduling me to be seen if necessary. The specialists happen to be with Duke Health. Not sure if you are in central NC. I find them all extremely attentive and afterwards encourage me to rate them on how they were and how they could better serve my needs.

What type of arthritis do you have?

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@gravity3

This is not specific to my doc. It is indicative of medicine in the u.s. today. This is not a criticism of the individual providers but of the insurance companies and their stranglehold on medical care.

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u r correct. I feel the same way you feel I will keep far away. from. docs

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@petrullo

u r correct. I feel the same way you feel I will keep far away. from. docs

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Want to be clear that it is the system itself is my worry.

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@petrullo

u r correct. I feel the same way you feel I will keep far away. from. docs

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I feel same way

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