Ignorant doctors

[nemra]

Among other brilliant nonsense, my HIV doctor claims that two of the Atripla components (she didn't say which) aim to reduce the viral load, and the last component is to boost the CD4+ T helper cell count, and that, she says, is the reason for combining several drugs...
If the doctor has no clue about basic information on how HIV meds work, something she could potentially read in the first paragraph of a wiki article on HIV management, how is she in any way an "HIV specialist" and how am I supposed to trust her? I have always told other people to listen to their doctors instead of playing doctors on the internet. Now I am thinking that trusting what my doctor (or any other doctor in that clinic for that matter, talked to several of them too, same story) says is the last thing I want to do. For now, when I have a working regimen with no apparent side effects, I don't need them that much. But when time comes when informed decisions need to be made, I am not sure what I will need to do... Are there any affordable online consultation options?

[bocker3]

Personally, I would switch doctors.  If you don't have other options in your area, I would go into my next appointment and ask why she thinks that an ANTIRETROVIRAL med would be doing anything beyond stopping a virus. 
Perhaps she is just trying to "simplify" things for you......    Show her that you want facts -- bring an article that talks about ARV's.

Good Luck

[Jim Allen]

Yeah I agree. Personally I would switch given this is a basic level info she should know  but I understand that might not be an option for you.

Look over the years I have heard doctors make some really stupid comments, normally I challenge them by showing them facts however depending on how bad it was I have been known to switch doctors. What I am trying to do more nowadays, is to keep in mind doctors are people and people do make mistakes.

Jim

[Wade]

I would look for another doctor if it is possible where you live, I know easier said than done in some places. I have also learned through the years you have to be an advocate for yourself and the more educated you are the better off you'll be.

You wouldn't believe the crap that would come out of some doctors mouths 25 years ago.

Sometimes you can fight better for you than anyone else.

Best,

Wade

[CaveyUK]

Sometimes doctors try to pass on information by 'dumbing down' complex things to patients, presumably on the basis that the overall message is more important than the details. I've heard some crazy things over the years (non HIV related).

Not heard anything too bad from my HIV doc, although once or twice I have challenged something she has said, where she then said 'You are absolutely right' and then delivered the more complex definition. It's nothing that has called her overall competence into question however.

And thats the big distinction. If my GP (who is generalist by nature) says something stupid or passes some obviously dodgy info regarding some non-significant health issue, I just shrug it off to some extent, but HIV is a different kettle of fish and it is a complex area of medicine which needs specialist info to be passed down. If I felt my HIV doc was not aware of fairly basic facts then I would want to change them without question.