Doctors...They Don't Know Everything...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
October 31, 2009 5:46am CST
I finally got around to going to the doctors to have my diabetes checked. Talk about a nightmare. I have a pretty decent doctor but sometimes he can be a real butthead. So, I go to see him and tell him that I think I need to have it tested again b/c I’m having a lot of trouble with pain in my feet and my schedule of eating a small meal every 3 hours doesn’t seem to be working right anymore. First he tries to tell me that my chart says I am borderline diabetic (kind of like being borderline pregnant, you either are or your not), then he kind of blows off any concerns I have. Finally he half-hearted tells me that I have to go have a 4 hour glucose tolerance test done at the hospital lab. Oh joy, nothing to eat after midnight and half a day of starving and sickness.
So, I didn’t eat anything after 11:30pm and didn’t even have water b/c I didn’t know if it would affect the test. By 9am when we head out to the hospital, I’m already sick to my stomach, dizzy and have the start of a migraine. Once there they can’t find a vein…well, they can find one but can’t get any blood out of them…finally they do a finger poke and milk my finger to get the blood. Now I get to sit in the hall and they’ll bring me a cup of juice. For those that don’t know, they take blood once every hour for 4 hours for this particular test. So, finally the nurse comes out and tells me they canceled my test b/c my sugar was too high. She says it has to be under 100…mine was 269. So, we head back to the doctor who is now surprised that…GUESS WHAT…I’m diabetic…DUH, I told you that when I was here the first time. So, I have Type 2 Diabetes and I think medication is right around the corner.
Have you ever had a doctor not believe you when you tell him what’s wrong? Why do doctors always act like they know your body better than you do even though you live in your body? Do you have veins that are hard to hit or don’t give blood?
[b]**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]
18 people like this
46 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
1 Nov 09
What a darn pain! and I think I would have cussed the Doc out!
And you know meds are on the way what did he give you to get sugar down?
HE better move on this fast.
I also been told if yiou feel weird or hit the floor drink some pickle juice!
this is what my sons neighbor told him when he went to see what was wronbg withthe neighbor
3 people like this
@missybear (11391)
• United States
1 Nov 09
oh yeah, I keep asking my doctor to send me to an ear ,nose and throat doctor because my ears always hurt me and I always have a sore throat. He wouldn't do it.
I also think I have a sinus infection because I had one before I think I know what it feels like but he thinks I have Allergies so he gave me pills and nasal spray
. Needless to say my ears still hurt and the pills and spray don't do a thing for me.
. Needless to say my ears still hurt and the pills and spray don't do a thing for me.3 people like this
@mytwo_daughters (2663)
• United States
1 Nov 09
you are right, doctors don't know everything, but he has to test you to see how high your sugar is to see if hypoglycemics or oral meds are they way to go or insulin. I'm thinking maybe you were put on meds first? btw, water would not have effected the test that much, I know nothing by mouth for 12 hours, but....anyway, good luck with everything.....I am a nurse if you ever need anything.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111177)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Feb 20
It's usually the nurses who actually pay attention to the patient.
@Kowgirl (3490)
• United States
1 Nov 09
I just had to respond again to your discussion. I lost my best friend on October 17 2009 because three doctors were so sure they were right about their diagnose and did NOT run any test to be sure. The first said she had congestion and possibly the flu and gave her medication. When that didn't work he gave her more medication. So she went to another doctor who gave her medication for Bronchitis. When that didn't work he gave her more medication one for her sinuses and one for congestion. This went on for months. She even went to the hospital and got more medication from another doctor. When she didn't get any better her husband insisted they go back to the hospital. He demanded they do chest x-rays and a CAT scan. That's when they found out she had lung cancer. Six weeks later she passed away. If the first doctor had done what he should have and run test she may still be alive today. It wasn't the cancer that got her it was pneumonia that set in after the chemo and radiation. Most doctors give their patients a pneumonia shot before treatment, but I guess they figured it was too late. It took 4 doctors and over 7 months to finally get the test and all this time she was telling them that it wasn't congestion or her sinuses nor was it Bronchitis, she knew what those felt like and this was different.
They refused to listen.... You should Thank God your doctor recommended a test. It could have been something neither you nor him suspected.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85497)
• United States
2 Nov 09
I'm so sorry you went through all that. I've been through the ringer with doctors before. And nurses, and lab personnel...I'm sure you know what that is like. One woman stuck me seven times before she got a vein. Of course that was after she dug after each stick. There are a couple of people who get a vein right away, but for the most part it takes them a couple of times. One lady said if she couldn't get a vein in my arm or hand, she was going to try my neck. I said NO WAY.
2 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
1 Nov 09
I haven't been to a doctor since around my 18th birthday. I never did like doctor's that much, but I guess they weren't all that bad. I do like my old neurologist though as she sent a kind letter to the DMV and now I can get my license! lol!
Though, I don't like it if all doctors were to assume that you don't know what's going on in your own body. Maybe it had to do with money, maybe he just wanted / needed the money? idk.
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
1 Nov 09
Nothing anymore surprizes me when it comes to Doctors and their lack of knowledge, etc. especially when it comes to Diabetes. It often frustrates me in how many of them are lacking in this field and I have heard people who are Diabetic saying their doctor does not worry about them unless their sugar level is over 200 all of the time. Personally I would consider going and seeing someone else if I were you and get more done because being Diabetic is nothing to fool around with, and not the end of the world either, but if you are having problems now, waiting can often create many worse problems later. Wishing you the Best my friend.
1 person likes this
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
1 Nov 09
Well no, they don't know everything. A good doctor will admit that and send you to a specialist.
Do you ever watch the Dr. Oz show? He always brings on experts on topics that he is not an expert in. He is a heart surgeon.
Anyway, now that you know that you have diabetes type 2 (acording to your high blood sugar reading) you should insist that your doctor refers you to a specialist. The specilist will determine the right dosage and kind of medication that you need and adjust it from time to time. It is also time to monitor your blood sugar on a daily basis.
I also urge you to go to the website of the American Diabetes Association and the Canadian Diabetes Association.
I am also a diabetic, diagnosed two years ago. I see a diabetes specialist every two or three months as well as my regular phycisian. I also attend programs funded by the health care of the province in Canada where I live. These programs provide information sessions on cooking, usually demonstrations by a professional chef, there are information sessions on a regular basis given by a diabetes nurse, a dietician and a social worker. There are also free excercise programs, strenght training sessions, tai chi and swimming. So we have a choice to attend all of these, some of these, or none of these. It has been proven that regular physical excercise is vital to control Diabetes Type 2.
I urge you to find out what programs and support groups are available to you. Diabetes affects your whole life. You can become bone tired, depressed, hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic and overweight depending on what medication you are on. Look after yourself dear girl.
1 person likes this
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
1 Nov 09
P.S.
I forgot to comment on your experience in the lab. I am very sorry that this taking of blood caused you so much pain and discomfort. I know how you feel. I used to be deadly afraid of needles and my veins disappeared promptly as soon as someone wanted to take blood. Now that I am a diabetic the A1C value (the aaverage amount of sugar in the blood over a three month period) has to be determined on a regular basis. So now when I am in the lab and the technician approaches me I tell her that I am afraid of needles, and that my veins do not cooperate. Over the past two years I have had nothing but good experiences. The technician usually assures me she will use a very fine needle, she will keep in mind what I said and she will help me overcome the obstacle. All the technicians have been very friendly and taken their time even the last time when 4 vials of blood were required and there were 90 people in the waiting room. So please speak up next time someone needs to take your blood.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
1 Nov 09
A moderate amount of water would not have affected your sugar levels. It would have made it easier for you to give blood as well. If there is nothing circulating, nothing comes out. I have been fortunate, my doctors listen to me, and always have. They know I know my body.
@rebelann (111177)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Feb 20
You are lucky. I have yet to find a doctor who bothers to listen to what I try to tell them so I don't go anymore, I'll just wing it.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
31 Oct 09
I had a wonderful, caring doctor for many years. He delivered all my five babies and cared for them well. He gave a lot of advice and help and was happy to just sit and talk. He retired more than twenty years ago and I haven't been to a doctor since.
So ... no complaints with my doctor - except for retiring.
Veins? They can get blood but usually leave a big bruise. I never want to have a drip, because my veins tissue - and that is agony.
1 person likes this
@manong05 (5027)
• Philippines
1 Nov 09
I think that doctors being humans are also prone to committing mistakes in their practice of their professions. This perhaps is the reason why we are sometimes asked to go for a second opinion. Medicine is never an exact science and it continues to evolve. Some doctors may act as if they know everything there is to know about the human body and its reactions to sickness but they may be wrong and are wrong sometimes. Human body is a complex mechanism and can exhibit different symptoms.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
1 Nov 09
I like my doc because he knows that I'm not there because I want to be. I've been called a hypochondriac because I'm sick a lot, but he says that I'm not, I do always have something wrong when I go in.
Its like my vets know that I'm not bringing the cats in because I'm not sure, that I know there's something wrong if I'm taking them in.
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
31 Oct 09
i had one doctor ask me snidely "when did you get your MD?" when i questioned his assessment...and he was so fired.
i have many examples of how they messed up on me-but i'll give you one.
when i was a teenager-and they don't listen to teens anyway-i couldn't stop coughing.and i mean 24 hours straight.
he couldn't find the problem,and i thought it might be allergies.
he declared it "psychosomatic" (doctor speak for damned if i know).
5 hours later i'm in the hospital,they had to cut my clothes off me.
the shirt i thought was acrylic was wool(no tag)-and the fibers were in my lungs.
my skin was all rashed.
did he apologize for being rude? hell no.
@rebelann (111177)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Feb 20
Too many of them are not nearly as smart as they'd have you believe
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
1 Nov 09
Hi twoey68,
I think that is so terrible, after you waiting all that time, I have a lovely doctor who always have time for me when I go to see her and yes they do have trouble getting to my veins but manage to get it from my right arm rather then my left.
Tamara
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
4 Nov 09
I believe he just didn't want to do the paperwork..and change things..as long as they say things haven't changed then they don't have to do anything. It is hard to find a doctor that spends more then 2-5 minutes in the room at any given time..most the time you see a nurse or no one while waiting..then they are always in a rush and try to brush everything aside. My parents and grandparents and great grandparents are/were diabetics. It is not a disease to laugh about..or look over as nothing..if you had concerns about it he should have immediately wanted to do something about it to see..hard ot find a good doctor anymore that takes the time to really get to know you as a person not just a name on a file..I begin to wonder if some docs would even know their patients in the outside world of that small office..like a store..most wouldn't.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
3 Nov 09
Yes I think it is common practice to not listen to the patient or take them serious, my sister who is also diabetic has the same problem.. and also who gets to pay for the tests that aren't really needed in those cases, is something I think about.. (It's not the doctor!)
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
5 Nov 09
My doctor is always really vague, and only asks a few questions. Surprisingly he has not been wrong yet. He usually pin points what is wrong with me right away. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a couple of years ago, and was put on meds. I was told however that if I lost 10 pounds I would be fine and not need any meds, but I did lose a few and nothing happened. I work out but when I work out I have to be really careful. Your doctor should have been able to tell with a urine test if there was too much sugar in your system. I am surprised he did not get concerned by that.
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
8 Nov 09
I don't know how many times I've had to diagnose myself, I always knew what was going on with me, but for some reason the doctor didn't, and he wouldn't listen to anything I had to say, then when it was done and over with his diagnosis would be exactly what I was trying to tell him in the first place, I could be my own doctor..lol. I too have diabetes, and sometimes its hard to keep it controlled and to know what and how you need to eat. I hope you get it figured out soon. I have veins that are hard to get blood from too, I hate it, they usually end up poking me four or five times before they get it.
@kprofgames (3091)
• United States
13 Nov 09
Oh Pye that just pisses me off. Yeah I went to a quack and he told me to take anacids for 2 weeks then call him back. I lasted about 4 days was in pain up to my eye balls so went to get a second opinion. I talked to another doctor for 20 minutes, he never even touched me and he said come back tomorrow because he's bringing in a surgen. Came back talked to the surgen he wanted an ultra sound done on the spot. I had a cyct the size of a small mellon that had burst - I was in surgery shorly after
QUACK
QUACK
QUACK
but you know, every once and a while you find a good one.
@scififan43 (2434)
• United States
12 Nov 09
I have viens that are hard to hit in my right arm. Howver blood can be given in my left arm. I have been giving blood all my life but recenlty stoped becase I am started to show too much scar tissure in my skin.. I do not deal with doctors too much and I have not seen one in a while. but I do supose they can act like they know everyting. they say medicne is more an art than exact science.
