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Emergency, normal care, my situation

Last post 02-16-2010 12:32 PM by mybodymyself. 2 replies.
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  • 02-15-2010 2:51 PM

    Emergency, normal care, my situation

    Want to know this because forgot the answer to this and way too lazy to do a search for this.  At the same time results for the search are complicated to follow.

    Want to know how long does a midwife (all types of midwifes) spend with her patients compared to doctors?

    Had my yearly GYN exam, today with my OB/GYN.  Time spent with her was less then 5 minutes and she hardly looked into my chart.  Especially after getting BRAC Test done (8/09) and getting positive result back.  That means I have a chance of getting breast cancer because of that positive result.  By the way my fraternal twin sister got that test done (around the same time as me) because our mother was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer (almost 2 yr ago, 6/08).  Thats a long story and prefer not to get into on her.  My mom gone though several rounds of chemo, surgery to remove it, and maintence rounds of chemo as well.  In my opinion she gone though more chemo then she should had to and etc.  Then, my sister and my friend's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer (9/09 or 10/09), but forgot what stage it was in.  After founding a lump in one of her breasts and she already had the surgery to remove it.  Shes also undergoing rounds of chemo and radiation theraphy as well.  At the same time left parts of our friends mom story out as well.  My OB/GYN a new mother (shes was pregnant with it when I 1st saw her, last yr).  She worked though the pregnancy, had the baby, and was back at work after being on maternity leave for the minium amount of time.  As know of she didn't didn't or intend bf it because of her work and etc.  By the way her father is also is OB/GYN as well, but mainly GYN now.  Unsure when he stopped with OB part of the practice.

  • 02-16-2010 6:49 AM In reply to

    Re: Emergency, normal care, my situation

    There's a lot going on in your post! I'll try to address some of those.

    Insurance companies control how much time a doctor and most CNMs spend with their patients/clients.  Unfortunately, this is the case in the US.  There is no reason, however, that you have to accept shoddy care from anyone.  You are well within your rights to say, "Hey, wait a minute. I have some questions" and you have the right to have your questions answered or to be able to reschedule a consultative appointment to go over those questions.  If you feel that this particular MD does not have the time for you, you can shop around for another, more attentive doctor.

    What a physician's personal life is like and how s/he chooses to juggle work and personal life is different, however.  Some folks may want to choose a doctor who's personal life fits with their own style.  However, it's difficult to know a doctor's personal life and it's difficult to know why someone chooses what s/he chooses.  It's rare to find someone who is able to take off work while pregnant unless the pregnancy is complicated and work is out of the question.  Whether the doctor breastfeeds or not may be important to someone, but one doesn't really know the entire situation unless you walk in the doctor's shoes.  This may be a deciding factor on choosing a doctor for some women and for others it's not. You've got to remember that most physicians have enormous financial obligations with school loans and also obligations to the practice if they are in a group practice.  (Another plus for health care reform. ??) These kinds of obligations put pressure on MDs to have to return to work quicker than maybe they'd like or maybe you'd like.  Our idea of mothering may not be the same as the physician's.  Does this mean they are not a good physician?  Maybe it does for some people and maybe others don't think it's relevant to their personal situation.

    If you feel you were not treated as you wished or if you feel that you have more questions for this doctor, if you feel anxious over your situation, then you have every right to get another appointment and go back in and go over these things with the doctor with your clothes on, sitting across a desk and not in an exam room.

    Some women choose to have their annual exams done by a specialist (gynecologist, for ex) and some choose a family practice doctor, internist  or a certified nurse midwife.  Some women choose both a gynecologist and an internist.  The internist (internal medicine, not to be confused with a medical student) or family practice MD can do PAP smears, breast exams, etc.  However, they will refer out to a specialist if they find the situation needs that.  Some women find that an internist or family practice doctor spends more time with them, explains things better, and is warmer than a gynecologist.  However, there are some find gynecologists out there who are "warm and fuzzy", too.  Finding a doctor who clicks with you isn't always easy, especially if you are limited by an insurance company.  Some people feel that paying out of pocket is worth it; others just can't afford that.

     

    Susan
    Moderator

    I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult. --E.B. White
  • 02-16-2010 12:32 PM In reply to

    Re: Emergency, normal care, my situation

    Brlnbabies:

    There's a lot going on in your post! I'll try to address some of those.

    Insurance companies control how much time a doctor and most CNMs spend with their patients/clients.  Unfortunately, this is the case in the US.  There is no reason, however, that you have to accept shoddy care from anyone.  You are well within your rights to say, "Hey, wait a minute. I have some questions" and you have the right to have your questions answered or to be able to reschedule a consultative appointment to go over those questions.  If you feel that this particular MD does not have the time for you, you can shop around for another, more attentive doctor.

    What a physician's personal life is like and how s/he chooses to juggle work and personal life is different, however.  Some folks may want to choose a doctor who's personal life fits with their own style.  However, it's difficult to know a doctor's personal life and it's difficult to know why someone chooses what s/he chooses.  It's rare to find someone who is able to take off work while pregnant unless the pregnancy is complicated and work is out of the question.  Whether the doctor breastfeeds or not may be important to someone, but one doesn't really know the entire situation unless you walk in the doctor's shoes.  This may be a deciding factor on choosing a doctor for some women and for others it's not. You've got to remember that most physicians have enormous financial obligations with school loans and also obligations to the practice if they are in a group practice.  (Another plus for health care reform. ??) These kinds of obligations put pressure on MDs to have to return to work quicker than maybe they'd like or maybe you'd like.  Our idea of mothering may not be the same as the physician's.  Does this mean they are not a good physician?  Maybe it does for some people and maybe others don't think it's relevant to their personal situation.

    If you feel you were not treated as you wished or if you feel that you have more questions for this doctor, if you feel anxious over your situation, then you have every right to get another appointment and go back in and go over these things with the doctor with your clothes on, sitting across a desk and not in an exam room.

    Some women choose to have their annual exams done by a specialist (gynecologist, for ex) and some choose a family practice doctor, internist  or a certified nurse midwife.  Some women choose both a gynecologist and an internist.  The internist (internal medicine, not to be confused with a medical student) or family practice MD can do PAP smears, breast exams, etc.  However, they will refer out to a specialist if they find the situation needs that.  Some women find that an internist or family practice doctor spends more time with them, explains things better, and is warmer than a gynecologist.  However, there are some find gynecologists out there who are "warm and fuzzy", too.  Finding a doctor who clicks with you isn't always easy, especially if you are limited by an insurance company.  Some people feel that paying out of pocket is worth it; others just can't afford that.

     

    Susan,

    Thanx for your response to my latest thread.  Sorry, for having a lot of things going in this post.  It was interesting for sure and do intend to stay with this OB/GYN while I'm in this area still.  Have done doctor shopping.  Its worth it, but then its not because its found the right one and etc.

     

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