tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post5386995001264873315..comments2024-03-18T09:00:31.992-04:00Comments on Doctor Grumpy in the House: Living legends of medicineGrumpy, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09858110332436246760noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-89454624243473621992012-03-16T13:09:28.567-04:002012-03-16T13:09:28.567-04:00I completely understand your frustration. Until I ...I completely understand your frustration. Until I was sidelined by rheumatoid arthritis, I was a concert violinist. When I stopped concertizing, I began teaching and was constantly frustrated by how much the students and their parents trusted information more from friends, the internet(AAKK!),school music teachers who were not violinists,etc, etc. They really had no clue of my level of achievement, knowledge, talent, training and skill. Luckily, our interactions did not affect their health!<br />I greatly respect most physicians. I do believe as long as I research in reliable sources like medical journals, etc. that being well informed makes me a better patient. But, I am very careful to form a trusting, respectful relationship with a physician. I wouldn't dream of showing up in a new doctor's office with a pile of printouts from the internet! (Especially if it is a pile of CRAP!!) Before I have had several occasions where doing my own research has made all the difference in my care. The first instance was the diagnosis of my rheumatoid arthritis. I had been having progressively worse symptoms for 3 years and despite reporting them to my primary care doctor over many visits, had not gotten diagnosed. After doing my own research, I asked him for an ANA and rheumatoid factor test. I never heard back about the tests, and when I finally talked to him about it he told me that they were negative.<br /> I asked the office to send me a copy for my records and was shocked to find that the Rh factor and ANA (speckled??)was POSITIVE. When I asked the doctor why he didn't tell me he said it was because my ESR was not elevated and he believed that indicated the other tests were false positives (???). I demanded a referral to a rheumatologist who diagnosed me with a severe case of RA.By the American College of Rheumatology Classification for diagnoses which you need to have at least 4 or the 7 criteria, I had all 7 criteria. He was shocked my PCP missed my diagnoses for so long. He also withdrew an enormous syringe full of liquid from one of my knees. The other instance was when I had a problem with my feet which were badly deformed from the RA. My podiatrist told me I had to immediately amputate one of my toes due to a bone infection, and that there was no point in trying to reconstruct my feet because the bone was too "mushy"(?). My feet were so bad at the time that I was about to order a scooter (at age 45!). I did some research and found a surgeon at Mayo. They were able to do a special radioactive test that tagged my white blood cells and proved that I did not have a bone infection and did not need to have my toe amputated. He performed a rheumatoid forefoot reconstruction on both feet which has changed my life and has allowed me to dramatically decrease my pain meds.<br />Dr.Grumpy, you may be grumpy but I can tell you really care about your patients. Don’t let the patient's who are too stupid to respect your knowledge and training keep you from being open forming a partnership with patients who are respectful and want to take part in their own care. And when a patient start quoting Dr.Some Guy or Dr.Google, I think your best bet is to use GIFT FOR HUMOR! Good Luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-38678137822079553632012-01-02T17:29:41.331-05:002012-01-02T17:29:41.331-05:00Amazingly enough, Dr. Guy and Dr. Lady are apparen...Amazingly enough, Dr. Guy and Dr. Lady are apparently veterinarians as well, because my patients see them too! Of course, in our field they lose quite a bit of the business to My Breeder.Dragonesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04218489766251735211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-61650056930092501142012-01-02T10:25:13.604-05:002012-01-02T10:25:13.604-05:00Don't forget that Dr. Some lady and This guy o...Don't forget that Dr. Some lady and This guy often went to the prestigious Google University. <br /><br />I have so many people I know who will first Google YOUR symptoms and then tell you what you should do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-3307624669635895212011-12-30T21:17:12.775-05:002011-12-30T21:17:12.775-05:00When I was in medical school, Dis Dude and Dat Dud...When I was in medical school, Dis Dude and Dat Dude were the most notorious crime family in town. Drs. Guy and Lady spent their days sewing their victims back up in the trauma room.History Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359304564761950649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-16785703165336814602011-12-29T06:20:33.241-05:002011-12-29T06:20:33.241-05:00I think I know "Dr. This Lady." She neve...I think I know "Dr. This Lady." She never makes me pay co-pay since I'm a student. Never had that happen before. And she's a specialist at that.<br /><br />She also diagnosed me (I already knew what it was) based off symptoms and not touching me, instead she used my medical records from my physical exam that I had earlier that year.Nekurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13086210133384287472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-72914101375185770372011-12-29T02:33:25.550-05:002011-12-29T02:33:25.550-05:00We hear reference to Dr. Wikipedia a lot where I w...We hear reference to Dr. Wikipedia a lot where I work, as well as "dr." sumdood who recently graduated from Google University School of Medicine. Top honors too, I might add.Kaylanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-81026585795595063772011-12-28T19:01:44.324-05:002011-12-28T19:01:44.324-05:00They must be related to the ubiquitous Two Dudes t...They must be related to the ubiquitous Two Dudes that have been randomly attacking and beating up all the fine, upstanding, non-swearing, teetotalling, bible-reading victims I used to see in Triage all the time. The vics were always minding their own business on the way to take their grandmas to church (at 3 am, that's how dedicated they were) when those damn Two Dudes showed up at the bus stop (that happened to be outside a bar) where they were waiting and beat the crap out of them for no reason whatsoever.Trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443723155860833396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-58048741012213706442011-12-28T12:19:32.726-05:002011-12-28T12:19:32.726-05:00Oh, you forget to mention that these wonderful doc...Oh, you forget to mention that these wonderful doctors have NO PROBLEM with callin in Rx's for antibiotics or Percocet at two am on a Sunday to save you that boring and expensive trip to the ED for any and all self-diagnosed illnesses and injuries.<br /><br />This is consistent with their philosophy of HELPING patients with nice things, like drugs and surgery and bed-rest and diagnoses of disbablity. They never EVER tell THeir precious patients to lose 50 lbs, exercise, stop smoking, cut down on alcohol, or tolerate PT and mean treatments like that!<br /><br />Pattie, RNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-76834680919264815822011-12-28T09:18:09.066-05:002011-12-28T09:18:09.066-05:00Don't forget, if you have a pet. Drs Guy, La...Don't forget, if you have a pet. Drs Guy, Lady and Google are also well versed in veterinary medicine. They can also fix your pet painlessly for free.<br /><br />As a group, they're unbelievable. They are my healing mentors. I hope to be that good someday.<br /><br />well, off for more CE....Dr. Crankyvetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-45146218691024023422011-12-28T04:06:00.508-05:002011-12-28T04:06:00.508-05:00Get a life...get a Real Doc!
(Artisanal, Watson!)Get a life...get a Real Doc!<br />(Artisanal, Watson!)cliffintokyonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-989816809385535012011-12-28T01:09:04.655-05:002011-12-28T01:09:04.655-05:00Actual story from my intern year, many moons ago.
...Actual story from my intern year, many moons ago.<br /><br />Neuro prof on rounds in a private ward with a patient rehabilitating from a stroke. Obligatory irritating relative. "I read on the in-flight magazine about *magneto-therapy* for stroke in Japan; apparently they are doing great work, blah...blah...blah..."<br />Prof politely says he has never heard of it, tries to examine patient. The dude takes out a notepad and reads *relevant parts of the article* from it! After about 2 or 3 minutes of this crap, prof calls out to the nurse, "Give me the chart please!"<br /><br />"Referred to Japan for magneto-therapy..."Plastic Tolstoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09131718225370446841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-44735773960660242982011-12-28T00:04:26.263-05:002011-12-28T00:04:26.263-05:00As a Paramedic I can really appreciate your commen...As a Paramedic I can really appreciate your comments about the doctor patient relationship. I am constantly asked by patients, friends, and acquaintances, "I went to the doctor the other day and he/she said I have X. What's the best way to treat that?" or "The doctor prescribed fukitol for me. What is that for?" My answer is always the same, "Did you ask the doctor?" "No, he/she's really busy, I didn't want to bother them", they say. <br />PEOPLE...... Do you not realize that is the reason you are visiting the doctor? You are paying for their expertise and time. Ask them questions and take their advice. If what they are telling you doesn't sound right then get a second opinion. Don't go back home and ask your neighbor, the retired plumber, for advice and then take the little pink pill that he gives you, that his doctor prescribed for his lumbago. Yeah, that'll really help your blood pressure.<br /><br />Pestered ParamedicAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-28688801222073703402011-12-27T22:09:24.505-05:002011-12-27T22:09:24.505-05:00While I do approve of doctor google for difficult ...While I do approve of doctor google for difficult to diagnose things (after going to multiple doctors and having them say "I don't know, good luck")...<br /><br />There is a woman I work with who is always trying to be "this lady MD" and telling me why I'm having my problems. Example: Evidently I have lower back pain because my pants waistband is too tight and I should start wearing pants with an elastic waistband... I have learned to not bring up anything close to a medical problem with her.Lauranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-45175611730680942132011-12-27T20:21:02.500-05:002011-12-27T20:21:02.500-05:00Uh, oh! I hope to goodness they didn't give su...Uh, oh! I hope to goodness they didn't give sumdood an uptown name and let him practice medicine (clutching pearls)!<br /><br />Yes, I would have thought Dr. Google would have gotten at least an honorable mention.<br /><br /><br />He always shows up at the Hotel, in conversations like, "Well I read on Google that I really don't need to restrict my fluids at night" or "Why should I take stool softeners if I'm a quadriplegic? I didn't see that on Google?"<br /><br />(Or maybe Dr. Medical Ad...thought of that with the word verification=spreba...made me think of Spiriva, the wonder inhaler)RehabRNhttp://rehabrn.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-51284426565193355022011-12-27T19:58:37.434-05:002011-12-27T19:58:37.434-05:00Dr. Grumpy, you do not need to post this, but I DO...Dr. Grumpy, you do not need to post this, but I DO page Dr. Google all the time and here's why. I page this fine doc at reputable sites such as the NIH, Mayo, Slone Kettering, Johns Hopkins, Ohio State and many others. I had nearly died from Grave's disease and yes, diagnosed myself at a difficult to use site called Wrong Diagnosis.com. Ended up with no insuracne for a time, ugly but was not diagnosed when I had said insurance. TSH of .0009, yeah that IS accurate, three zeros and was sick and tachycardic. Guess what? I also had MS at the same time and that only took several years to be figured out. It was my co-worker who told me that I had it (becasue she has it and knows all the symptoms) and it was later confirmed by a super nice neuro at local large teaching hospital. Even had a nice ER visit follwing an eye surgery and STILL the MS wasn't figured out until I had to ASK to see a neuro. Then I got booted to an MS subspecialist who thought it was neuromyelitis optica (which yes, can kill within 2 to 5 similarly to an ALS kind of thing) vs. primary progressive MS and said he would do NOTHING for me at all, NOTHING. OK, so PP has no FDA approved treatment, but I am classified as a transitional person as I have had ONE big time attack and so have MANY Primary Progressive patients, even though we may not have a totally typical presentation. Many neuros thus DO put their primary progressive patients on disease modifying drugs and yes, mine have helped a ton in terms of symptom management. even if not really slowing down the degenerative process. I work in health care and our system is BROKEN, broken, broken. People are booted from the hospital (including intensive care) and then end up back in the ER that same day and are readmitted. So it drives docs crazy that we have to page Dr. Google. I live where there is excellent medical care (for those fortunate enough to be insured) and still have not found many docs who are decent diagnosticians. A resident told me that I DID NOT have thyroid eye disease, when I DID and I already knew that I did. Can you hear my frustration? Three diseases and not ONE of them was diagnosed until I had to ask and plead to see specialists and had already figured it out for myself. AAAAAACCCCK. Do not blame patients who read continuously. I am far from the only person who feels that in todays health care system, we have to tell the doctor what is wrong with us and all without benefit of medical school. I get about eight minutes TOPS with my PCP. MANY people on my International MS forum are extremely grateful that they do not live under the United States health care system. Try being on the patient side of the fence, it isn't easy there either. I could write a book. wiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-27799754918374216842011-12-27T19:48:19.175-05:002011-12-27T19:48:19.175-05:00And please don't forget Dr. Oprah!And please don't forget Dr. Oprah!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-23462541746128105132011-12-27T17:33:50.974-05:002011-12-27T17:33:50.974-05:00I am with Carolyn. Yes, I do Google whatever is th...I am with Carolyn. Yes, I do Google whatever is the Dx du jour, but only to understand What Is Going On better. I go to the NIH site, Mayo clinic and WebMD. NOT some "Ihatelittleredpills" site. <br /><br />If I have questions I bring them up at my next appointment or place (and I tell the office people this) a non-emergency call. <br /><br />I figure my doc has seen me through some awful s*&t, she generally seems to know what she is doing and I trust her. <br /><br />BTW, Ibee, it took three or four visits before I absolutely trusted her, so you are one of Those Guys.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-43891439213449245682011-12-27T17:25:04.602-05:002011-12-27T17:25:04.602-05:00OMG, Carolyn, do you have cats? Let me give you m...OMG, Carolyn, do you have cats? Let me give you my card....dvmflynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-24020590878860919912011-12-27T16:18:22.338-05:002011-12-27T16:18:22.338-05:00You know, this really brings into focus why my doc...You know, this really brings into focus why my doctors goggle when I give them a complete and honest rundown of whatever I am experiencing and - gasp - trust their diagnosis and - FAINT - follow the prescribed treatment. If I have an issue with a prescribed treatment I - sit down now - discuss the issue I have to see if their is an effective alternative or if I have to bite the bullet and do what I don't wanna do (unreasonable hatred of nasal sprays, I'm looking at you!)<br /><br />I never could understand people who don't trust their doctors ... why are they your doctor if you don't trust them?Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191934136558101400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-34992162744054675632011-12-27T12:58:47.406-05:002011-12-27T12:58:47.406-05:00lol, I love your blog. What about Dr. Google, he ...lol, I love your blog. What about Dr. Google, he helps the patient diagnose themselves!Just Lori!https://www.blogger.com/profile/00321219435039498475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-50768521801796674252011-12-27T12:31:37.824-05:002011-12-27T12:31:37.824-05:00You forgot Dr. Google!!!!!You forgot Dr. Google!!!!!bobbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14353836074794786357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-23849287245235354122011-12-27T12:29:55.468-05:002011-12-27T12:29:55.468-05:00I've heard of both of them as well as the prev...I've heard of both of them as well as the previous comment mentioning Dr. Google. I think they moonlight as pharmacists too because people come in all the time telling us how "some pharmacist guy/lady" told us what we told them was wrong and what they really needed to take instead of their prescribed drugs.Mad Pharmacy Techhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14549684101773050874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-46594065142295501422011-12-27T11:31:20.121-05:002011-12-27T11:31:20.121-05:00I think you also need to add Dr They to the list. ...I think you also need to add Dr They to the list. "They" say this, "They" said that. " they "recommend that... that's what I hear every day. Someone will ask me what I recommend and when I do I am always debunked by the comment " Oh? what about this ( grabbing something else) THEY say this is good..." I wanna meet THEY. and punch him right in the mouth.Pharmacy Chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12849199915573009720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-14760708903969888482011-12-27T10:35:32.099-05:002011-12-27T10:35:32.099-05:00No room for Dr. Doit Yourself on that list.
We sa...No room for Dr. Doit Yourself on that list.<br /><br />We saw a lot of him this year.Packerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10790343423937405624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-16826283375112122682011-12-27T09:11:47.541-05:002011-12-27T09:11:47.541-05:00But, @dvmfly, to me the most remarkable thing abou...But, @dvmfly, to me the most remarkable thing about this pair of geniuses, which Ibee forgot to mention, is that they are in addition to being physicians, also practicing veterinarians. I mean, I hear about their feats of wonder all the time - don't you?webhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05938934194973454729noreply@blogger.com