starfish81
10-17-2007, 09:51 PM
:mad: Well, I saw the endocrinologist today. And I'm steaming mad:mad: . He went over all my blood/urine test results and said they were normal (which I knew), then he went on for a couple of minutes telling me what a fool I was to have tried human growth hormone Tx because "those age-management clinics are a money-making scam" and if I would have done my homework I should have known that a blood test cannot diagnose growth-hormone deficiency:confused: . I told him I sought Tx options in the USA because I was dissatisfied with the options available in Canada and he came down on me for that too.
Then he wanted to know why I was there. So I said because my density levels keep plummeting, and I want to know if there is any biological reason why. He said there was no explanation for my case. I asked about strontium and he said he didn't recommend it. I reminded him it's now being used in Europe, and he said Canada has recently approved it but he doesn't prescribe it because "we don't know the long-term ramifications". I told him I was taking it anyway, and he said, sarcastically, "where do you get this, from some naturopath"? I said no, you order it on-line and then he came down on me for using "improper websites to get information".
The kicker was his closing statement "The drugs we offer are Fosamax, Actonel, and Forteo. If you're not willing to take any of them, I can't help you. Goodbye". And he showed me the door.
Boy, I guess the pharmaceutical reps gave him lots of perks:mad:
Then he wanted to know why I was there. So I said because my density levels keep plummeting, and I want to know if there is any biological reason why. He said there was no explanation for my case. I asked about strontium and he said he didn't recommend it. I reminded him it's now being used in Europe, and he said Canada has recently approved it but he doesn't prescribe it because "we don't know the long-term ramifications". I told him I was taking it anyway, and he said, sarcastically, "where do you get this, from some naturopath"? I said no, you order it on-line and then he came down on me for using "improper websites to get information".
The kicker was his closing statement "The drugs we offer are Fosamax, Actonel, and Forteo. If you're not willing to take any of them, I can't help you. Goodbye". And he showed me the door.
Boy, I guess the pharmaceutical reps gave him lots of perks:mad:
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montesflus
10-18-2007, 01:20 AM
Fire him. There's plenty of other fish in the sea;)
peppurr
10-18-2007, 04:43 PM
Wow Starfish - unbelievable. I say good riddance to him. And what are the long term "ramnifications of Fosamax? My doctor tried to explain that and basically all he said was that it might work and it might not. Is he young? There's something about some of these specialists. Some of them even look down on GPs nevermind Naturopaths. They think they're walking on water. I had a young orthopaedic surgeon a year ago and he created a whole new definition of arrogance. My husband almost punched him out before he settled down.lol
phylwill1152
10-19-2007, 07:36 AM
Hi starfish, sorry to hear the endo gave you such a hard time. I agree with the others, its time to find a new endo. I also agree that specialist tend to be of the "my way or the road" thinking. When we deal with "our" bodies we have to do what we feel is best for us and the drs. who will help us acheive that. I'm lucky that our family dr. is open to my new ideas about strontium. He admits he doesn't know much about it, but i'm educating him. Besides, he's seen the results i've had with it. I'll see him next month and discuss it with him.
Don't let the jerk get you down, there are plenty of drs. out there willing to work with you. It might takes some trial and error in finding one, but the rewards will be peace of mind and care you can trust. take care...phyllis
Don't let the jerk get you down, there are plenty of drs. out there willing to work with you. It might takes some trial and error in finding one, but the rewards will be peace of mind and care you can trust. take care...phyllis
Piano0105
10-20-2007, 01:01 PM
Starfish81,
My rheumatologist basically said the same thing last week. I was forced to switch because my old doc retired. This guy is in his 40's I guess, but he as much as told me that if I didn't take the standard treatment he didn't see the point in my coming back. At least my old doc used to keep seeing me regardless of whether or not I agreed with him. I've tried many doctors, but because I'm hyper-sensitive to medication, they don't want to be bothered.
My rheumatologist basically said the same thing last week. I was forced to switch because my old doc retired. This guy is in his 40's I guess, but he as much as told me that if I didn't take the standard treatment he didn't see the point in my coming back. At least my old doc used to keep seeing me regardless of whether or not I agreed with him. I've tried many doctors, but because I'm hyper-sensitive to medication, they don't want to be bothered.
sunny47
10-20-2007, 01:27 PM
I had the same thing when I went to the rheumatologist. I never went back. Am sticking with my pcp who understands me and my drug sensitivities.
sunny47
sunny47
starfish81
10-20-2007, 06:22 PM
Thanks Ladies, for your supportive replies. Definitely not going back-I've been shown the door so I'm not welcome back anyway, but even if I was I wouldn't. This guy was younger, but I'm not sure age matters. My very first experience with a specialist for BMD-it was an old rheumatologist a few months from retirement-wasn't good either. At the time, I only had osteopenia, and he shoved a script for Fosamax at me without even addressing any possibilities why my BMD was low. When I questioned it, he said something to the effect of "don't worry your pretty little head about it, just be a good girl and take your Fosamax". Can you believe it? I tore the script up!
This arrogant new guy I saw did give me a couple of tidbits though. For one, he likened a T-score to a high cholesterol reading; i.e. just because you have high cholesterol doesn't mean you'll have a heart attack, but it's a factor. (translate: low BMD doesn't mean you'll break a bone, but it's a factor).
The other, which I found interesting, was the rationale for having all BMD's on the same machine. He said something about the angle of the beam passing thru the vertebrae being different with each machine. My thought now is: if the angle must remain constant for comparison purposes, and a different machine uses a different angle, what about a person who gets on
the same machine but changes the position of their spine? Wouldn't that affect the angle of the beam and possibly produce a different reading:confused: ? Of course, I didn't ask that-I figured the whole visit was going down the toilet when he made the sarcastic comment "well, since you seem to know more than me about this subject..."
This arrogant new guy I saw did give me a couple of tidbits though. For one, he likened a T-score to a high cholesterol reading; i.e. just because you have high cholesterol doesn't mean you'll have a heart attack, but it's a factor. (translate: low BMD doesn't mean you'll break a bone, but it's a factor).
The other, which I found interesting, was the rationale for having all BMD's on the same machine. He said something about the angle of the beam passing thru the vertebrae being different with each machine. My thought now is: if the angle must remain constant for comparison purposes, and a different machine uses a different angle, what about a person who gets on
the same machine but changes the position of their spine? Wouldn't that affect the angle of the beam and possibly produce a different reading:confused: ? Of course, I didn't ask that-I figured the whole visit was going down the toilet when he made the sarcastic comment "well, since you seem to know more than me about this subject..."
montesflus
10-20-2007, 11:02 PM
Hi Starfish,
This specialist may very well have the relevant letters after his name, but that DOES NOT give him the right to be rude, or sarcastic, to you.
If you had the sense to do your own research, well, that's one up for you:D And while it's true that ''SOME'' docs have a problem when patients bring them
printouts from websites, or give them advice on relevant books to read - ''The Myth of Osteoporosis'' - by Gillian Sanson, for example, they should realize that you're trying to help yourself and making use of all the info out there in order to do so.
This guy, instead of talking down to you, should have admired your interest in your condition and your desire to find out all the possibilities on treatments that are available to you. And even if he didn't agree with you about what course of action to take, he should, at least, have listened to you politely, then given his own opinion, and THEN been more flexible, by telling you to try what YOU had in mind - see how it worked - and then come back, after your next DEXA scan, or if you wanted to change course in your treatment.
JUST FIRE HIM - SOONER, THE BETTER:D
This specialist may very well have the relevant letters after his name, but that DOES NOT give him the right to be rude, or sarcastic, to you.
If you had the sense to do your own research, well, that's one up for you:D And while it's true that ''SOME'' docs have a problem when patients bring them
printouts from websites, or give them advice on relevant books to read - ''The Myth of Osteoporosis'' - by Gillian Sanson, for example, they should realize that you're trying to help yourself and making use of all the info out there in order to do so.
This guy, instead of talking down to you, should have admired your interest in your condition and your desire to find out all the possibilities on treatments that are available to you. And even if he didn't agree with you about what course of action to take, he should, at least, have listened to you politely, then given his own opinion, and THEN been more flexible, by telling you to try what YOU had in mind - see how it worked - and then come back, after your next DEXA scan, or if you wanted to change course in your treatment.
JUST FIRE HIM - SOONER, THE BETTER:D
starfish81
10-21-2007, 08:41 PM
Montesflus, I'm curious: how do you "fire" a doctor? Is it the same as just not going back, or does it involve something else? My husband thinks I should tell my primary care MD (who has been great about all my requests and trying new methods) that this specialist is rude. And I'm going to!:D
montesflus
10-21-2007, 10:34 PM
Nah - it just means ''don't go back''. Same thing that you'd do with a lawyer who left you in the lurch, for example.
You could, I suppose, mention what happened, to your regular MD. Just remember that doctors have a way of sticking up for each other. Better choose your words carefully:p
I do hope you can find a more sympathetic endo. Perhaps your regular MD could recommend someone. Otherwise, go by word of mouth, checking with friends etc.
You could, I suppose, mention what happened, to your regular MD. Just remember that doctors have a way of sticking up for each other. Better choose your words carefully:p
I do hope you can find a more sympathetic endo. Perhaps your regular MD could recommend someone. Otherwise, go by word of mouth, checking with friends etc.
peppurr
10-21-2007, 11:16 PM
Montesflus, I'm curious: how do you "fire" a doctor? Is it the same as just not going back, or does it involve something else? My husband thinks I should tell my primary care MD (who has been great about all my requests and trying new methods) that this specialist is rude. And I'm going to!:D
Absolutely! Tell him. Like Montesflus says, he probably won't say much because of ethics. I had a similar situation when I took my son to a neurologist many yrs ago. The guy was very curt - no bedside manner so to speak. I marched back to my doctor and said I wanted a second opinion. My doctor didn't even comment but referred us to another. Got the nicest guy and one of the best too. He even ordered at CT scan which the first wouldn't bother with.
Absolutely! Tell him. Like Montesflus says, he probably won't say much because of ethics. I had a similar situation when I took my son to a neurologist many yrs ago. The guy was very curt - no bedside manner so to speak. I marched back to my doctor and said I wanted a second opinion. My doctor didn't even comment but referred us to another. Got the nicest guy and one of the best too. He even ordered at CT scan which the first wouldn't bother with.