Progress!

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:18 pm

I "got" to see (yes, that is how I look at my appointments) my internist today! He listened to my heart, and LOVED the way it sounded. Mind you, he has never disliked anything about it, but commented that this time it sounded as if it were lower in pitch and working with less strain? I'm not able to recall his exact words, but that is what I thought he meant, anyway.

He was impressed with the information I shared about cpaptalk.com, mouth taping (he had no problem with it--at least not for me, as he knows I cannot EVER aspirate very much), and the APAP.

Since he serves many poor and disadvantaged people, I thank everyone here who has taught me enough about xPAP beyond my own straight CPAP experience. I know that he will use this knowledge to help his patients. He prescribes xPAP for some of them.

It was nice to be able to share information with a doc who has ALWAYS supported and helped me through thick and thin. It is even nicer that he listens to my contributions!

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:25 pm

Thanks for sharing that, Birdshell!
Your doctor sounds like a real GEM!
He sounds very conscientious and caring.
You two are a good pairing. .

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:56 pm

Yes its always nice when you get a Dr. who will talk to you and not at you.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:01 pm

Agreed. His first comment EVER after hearing my problem was, "What are we going to do about that?" Then, he presented my options. He even listens to my opinions about treatments.

I am definitely sticking with him as my primary care physician.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:44 am

Birdshell:

I too am very fortunate to have a primary care physician who truly cares about her patients. She's my 'lifeline'!
She hand-picks the specialists to whom she wants me to see.
She readily admits whenever she doesn't know something, and tells me everything I want to know about everything else. I've had other doctors tell me that "She cares..." In addition to the Dr.-Patient relationship, there is an undertone of friendship that is so rare.

I wouldn't move from here, solely due to her.
And luckily, she's just enough younger than I, so we'll "be around together".
She is in family practice because she WANTS to, and it shows!

Birdshell - aren't we so very lucky?!
The 'wheel' of medical help/maintenance is no stronger than its "Hub".

ldemmery · Post by **ldemmery** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:54 am

I too now have a very good doctor (my family doctor), she listens and doesn't lecture (god I had lectures, especially about weight), she tells me what is going good and explains everything that I don't understand and waits to hear me back on my take of what she just said to me. I had another doctor for years but retired, then the guy who took over ended up losing his liscence (he was the one that actually sent me on the sleep test). I looked forever to find another one, but family physicians in Ottawa are hard to find and aren't always ready to take on new patients. My husband had been seeing her for years and she agreed to start seeing me.

When my husband was diagnosed 5 years ago with cancer, she called us at home and gave us the news personally after her office hours, telling us that she had made an appointment right away with the urologist for him within a week of the diagnosis. She has since supported him through what could have been a very rough road. Luckily, they got it all through surgery and here we sit 5 years later and he's considered cured, all because she got it so quick and started the ball rolling quickly.

She's wonderful.

Lynne

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:19 am

ldemmery:
birdshell too:

I have to add this: The doctors are human, and the relationships they form with certain people who happen to be their patients are also due to the PATIENTS! It's a two-way street.

I don't mean to take away anything from any doctor, but point out that WE also contribute to that relationship - and sometimes luck out when it 'clicks'.

Great news for your husband and you. What a terrific doctor-friend you have!

Continued wellness to you all.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:01 pm

A word to everyone. I did lose my second doctor about a year ago. And he lost his liscence for a reason, I can only speculate. Anyways, I found out that his practice was closed by getting a call from a Medical Records Storage facility. It was going to cost me $219.00 to get a photocopy of my records for my new doctor, can you believe it? Anyways, I emailed the "College of Physicians and Surgeons" who oversee doctors in Ontario as well as the Ministry of Health for Ontario. I was told that My Medical Records actually belong to the doctor. And its up to him whether he shares for free or not. Many doctors will transfer records for a minimal fee or for free if they are closing their practice. According to the doctor's group he was with, the storage place showed up with no notice and just carted them away (he had obviously given them the authority to take them). Leaving ALL his patients high and dry (I contacted them to find out what happened). My brother and sister and mom were also contacted for their records as well, it was going to contact them upwards of $50 to as high as mine.

So, everyone, GET A COPY OF YOUR RECORDS so you don't have the same problem. My Sleep doctor was good enough to share what records he had with my new family physician. And so we did all the blood tests again and I had a physical. Which by the way, if I didn't have high blook pressure and wasn't over weight, I'd be healthy as a horse. Everything else is perfect.

Just a little shareing.

Lynne

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