Author Topic: Do you like your Infectious Disease Doctor? (Read 5147 times)

milker · « **on:** March 13, 2007, 10:11:55 pm »

My turn to start a vote

I love my IDD for now, but i'm a newbie and maybe i'll change my mind later? So far i'm extremely pleased with the way he explains stuff, the exams he asked me to take, he doesn't seem in a hurry to take the next patient, the team around him too is great, am I a lucky chappy? What's your experience?

Ihavehope · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2007, 10:16:03 pm »

I like mine. He has cerebral palsy but he is one of the most popular doctors in my clinic and even a waiting list to get an appointment to see him.

He talks slow, gives me high fives when I get the right answers to his questions, gives me thumbs up when I tell him how I am taking care of myself and adherent to the meds and gives me the "say no to drugs" speech which I desperately needed to hear. So overall, he is cool.

puertorico2006 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2007, 10:18:37 pm »

i go see my new doc tomorrow for the first time :-) (so he/she can give me a perscription for my labs).....

we will see....

i didnt like the last arrogant DR

Blixer · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2007, 10:21:18 pm »

Actually I have two right now. One is a nurse practitioner that specializes in HIV. I find her very easy to talk to and very caring. She actually takes the time to answer all my questions and is very approachable. She also takes care of all of my other general health issues. The other one is very professional and is with the clinic where I do the clinical trials. I probably don't need both, but for now it works and I like the idea of having the "research" connection too.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2007, 10:22:13 pm »

I really, really like my current one. I go to a clinic with 3-4 ID's on staff, and my first one was the n00b of the place and a funding cut made her go elsewhere about 10 months ago, but they assigned me to the head honcho. He's been delightful and I'm very comfortable with him. He may even be gay though I didn't think so until my last visit when he called me "dear" in some part of our conversation.

allanq · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2007, 10:24:20 pm »

You are an extremely lucky and fortunate chappy!

It is so important in dealing with this disease to have a doctor whom you like and trust. It's great that you found one right off the bat. The qualities you describe (explaining stuff well, not rushing you, and having a great team around him) are not likely to change, so just enjoy your good luck in finding such a good doctor. It took me a few tries before I found a doctor that I feel very good about.

Good luck. You're off to a very good start.

Allan

bravebuddharich · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2007, 10:29:51 pm »

i am literally IN LOVE with my ID Doctor!! (:

Seriously, he's an HIV specialist, and he's also the medical director at my health center - he's incredibly knowledgable and up to date, he answers my questions, is internet savvy, so I don't play endless phone tag the way I have with past doctors, he genuinely cares about his patients, and has been very patient with me - he's also adorable, which helps. The difference between this doctor and past ones is huge.

Namaste,
Rich

david25luvit · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:31:47 am »

I have two as well although my newest one has yet to prove himself. My usual ID doc is a cutie and he seems to know his stuff.
The new one and I are off to a good start..........and I don't have to travel near as far to see him.
Thanks for asking

sweetasmeli · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:35:20 am »

Mines ok, when I actually get to see him. He's worth the visits alone just to get to listen to his Irish accent. Melia's a sucker for an Irish accent.

Plus every December I get my Christmas pressie of a cervical smear from him...so the accent soothes me during that delightful procedure! It's also fun getting into debacles with him about the ifs and buts of me never wanting to start meds. Just one of the many ways I've discovered how to wind him up...

Melia the Minx

ndrew · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:47:01 am »

My primary care dude takes care of me. The infectious one sucked. My doc makes good decisions and I trust him. He's gay as well, which is important to me, and has a lot of HIV+ patients.

I just wish he was closer...

Drew

BKNYLivin · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:07:47 am »

My ID Doctor is now my primary physician and he's the best! He pretty much saved my life and he listens, which is very important to me - I actually look forward to seeing him. My previous doctor sucked big time and in my opinion, has no business near anyone with HIV/AIDS.
It makes all the difference having a good doctor!

Cliff · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:58:37 am »

I like my doc. He's very knowledgeable and great at explaining issues to me.

mjmel · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2007, 04:39:56 am »

My doc has a degree in internal medicine yet practices family healthcare as well as the HIV+ patient load in the area. He is black, gay and the only physician who deals with HIV'er with integrity as well as wonderful bedside manners. He isn't an infectious disease specialist by degree but has the knowledge of one. He's up there at the top of his league because he cares and is willing to go the extra length to help people. Kudos to my doc. He's amazing.

indyguy · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2007, 07:54:28 am »

Mine is also both. He is also gay and gives me a hug before I leave the office. That hug helped me more then anything else I have had so far.

Peter6836 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2007, 10:07:29 am »

My ID is great he is personable he talks to me explains things and is concerned about me. He will call me at home to see how I feel. He returns my calls quickly and he calls not one of his nurses or fellows. Dr. Johnson is recognized as an HIV and AIDS specialist. One of the things I really like is when we first talked and I started meds. He was very positive he told me he had a patient who had numbers worse than mine, but after being on meds and taking good care of himself he was doing well. In fact his exact words is you should see him he is beautiful!!! Well I have never heard a doctor refer to his patient as beautiful it made me feel good! This doctor works with my primary care physician as well as the psychiatrist that I see, together they have met and set up a plan for me. I like the fact that they work together and are not disjointed, my meds coordinate everyone knows what I take and I am not afraid of interactions or crossovers. I am lucky when I was diagnosed my primary care aligned my care with all of these people, I have been seeing him for over fifteen years, so I was comfortable with his suggestions.

northernguy · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2007, 12:21:19 pm »

My GP handles all my health care and he is great! He has a large HIV practice and firsthand knowledge. He has spent a couple sessions of close to an hour with me helping me get through this 1st year (when I'm the last patient of the day). He's amazing.

Coffeechick88 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2007, 12:42:10 pm »

I liked my first Infectious Disease doctor the best, but then the insurance changed and I could no longer afford him. He got a kick out of me and he cared enough to harass me when I wasn't doing what I should. The doctor I went to after that was a real bitch and I hated her. Now my current doctor is okay, but he always lets the students or residents have a shot at me first. I admit it takes some getting used to, since it is a teaching hospital, but I've found that the little kiddies studying to be doctors are fun to mess with. I made one kid blush when I asked him if they got as much action as the doctor's on Gray's Anatomy. It's really hard to take them seriously--some of them make me think of my little brother in a white coat.

Ann · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:50:14 pm »

Technically, my doc is an hiv specialist/pharmacologist, but I love him anyway and my nickname for him is the Wizard of Poz.

I had an ID doc while I was being treated for my hep C coinfection and I love him to bits too. I feel really lucky to have such competent docs with wonderful bedside manners as well. Priceless!

Ann

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2007, 05:07:15 pm »

Matty the Damned has only seen an infectious diseases specialist on one occasion. Marvellous Marcel managed to misdiagnose Henoch-Schoenlein's Purpura as Erythema Multiforme when I was in hospital with suspected meningococcal disease in August last year.

It is on this basis that I consider all ID's to be incompetent hacks who are no better than homeopaths.

My primary care physician is my GP Lady Jane, but my HIV is managed by my sexual health physician, the famed Frau Eva. HIV is generally managed in sexual health (VD) clinics in Australia. Particularly in rural and provincial areas.

Occasionally (when I'm being especially intractable) I'm sent to see the Felcher, an immunologist. I don't care for him, he has all the charm of roadkill and he's based in Westmead which is a really yucky part of Sydney. So sometimes, I don't keep my appointments with the Felcher but I tell Frau Eva I did. She always finds out, however, and then she yells at me.

MtD
(Who is used to being yelled at)

racingmind · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2007, 05:29:54 pm »

I like my ID doc, he's a very nice, caring guy who seems genuinely interested in ALL aspects of my health. He asks questions about my mental health, my sex life, and things like disclosure issues. He will go over my labs over the phone if I can't make it into the office (it's usually a pretty long wait for an appointment). He's everything I want in a doctor. He knows that HIV care is a 2 way street and wants my input on everything.
He's also pretty cute!

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Do you like your Infectious Disease Doctor?

Author Topic: Do you like your Infectious Disease Doctor? (Read 5147 times)