A Good Medical Professional Makes all the Difference

[tednlou2]

I've made a previous post about doubts I have in my doctor.  To remind you, he only works with HIV on Monday afternoons.  He didn't know about new treatments guidelines, testosterone issues with HIV men, anal dysplysia, etc.  I just found out he is not an MD, rather he is a D.O.--which is doctor of osteopathic medicine.  I also made a post about having a lot of fatigue lately.  I called him and he never got back to me. 

So, I got an appointment with this woman at the clinic who is a physician assistant.  At first, I thought here we go again.  I couldn't be more wrong.  She was probably the best "doctor" I've seen.  She took so much time with me.  She asked me so many questions about my family history of illnesses.  She actually listened to my lungs, heart, etc--something my regular doc rarely does.  She checked my mouth, felt for lymph nodes, felt around stomach and liver.  She actually took seriously an issue I've been having in my bottom.  I thought it was a hemorrhoid.  She thinks it looked more like some kind of yeast infection.  She gave me prescription for it--guess P.A. can write prescriptions.  After learning about 6 family members have had colon/rectal cancer, she got me an appointment with a colorectal doctor.  My doc kept saying he would do it, but never did.  She spent a long time with me discussing depression/anxiety, how I feel, what other issues I've had.

The biggest thing that told me this woman is on her game is that she realized I was mistakenly given another Hep B vaccine for my 2nd shot in Sept.  Evidently, it should have been Hep A or the Twinrix thing.  I may have that backwards.  Anyway, it showed me she really evaluated my medical history and was on her game.  They gave me the correct vaccine today.  She also gave me a tetanus vaccine shot.  She ordered bloodwork for CBC, liver, thyroid, testosterone, and syphilis.  She said it is usually routine to check for syphilis. 

She just took her time and listened.  I gave her a hug and told her I wish she was my doc.  She told me I need to be more assertive in my healthcare and that I'm the customer.  The only negative thing I could say about her is that she must have thought my butt was loose..lol.  She could have eased her finger in a little easier, but no big deal. 

I'm not sure how much more school she would have to do to be a doctor.  It is a shame she is way more qualified than the doc I have.  I got to thinking tonight they must have allowed her to see me, because she wasn't technically managing the HIV and prescribing meds for it.  It has given me the resolve to talk with them about switching docs.  I know the real HIV expert doctor at the practice is very busy with HIVers in really bad shape and who need more focused care than I.  The main HIV doc also sees prisoners with HIV.  I suppose they let my doc see the newbies thinking he can't do much harm.  While I want good care, I can understand that there aren't enough HIV experts for all the new HIVers coming in. 

Anyway, I just wanted to share this story.  She was just awesome.  If all my labs come back good, she and I had a long talk about managing depression and anxiety and how they can cause physical symptoms.  It was just good that she didn't write it off as depression and anxiety and wanted to check things to make sure.   

[Matty the Damned]

Twinrix is a combined HAV/HBV vaccine. It's the preferred option for those who are not immune to either.

MtD