POLL: How Many Doctors Do You Have ?

[mbkjad]

I am 41. I have a primary physician who is absolutely awesome (to the point that I usually don't ask for referrals to specialists as she is usually on top of the various things I have going on). I also have the sleep doctor she referred me too though she puts in all of the insurance requests for items related to OSA (CPAP, supplies, etc.). That will change after 1 May when I retire from the Navy. At that point, the insurance company will accept requests direct from the sleep doctor and DME.

My DME is American Home Patient and they have been above average in my opinion (although they are very expensive). The rates the insurance company pays them are reasonable but if I were to buy anything from them the charges are outrageous.

Mike

[sleepingatlast]

I am 36 and have a pcp, allergy/asthma doc and I guess a sleep doc. Love my PCP and I think he is going to take over my allergy/asthma issues. I say I think I have a sleep doc because although I have never seen her, I see her name on EOB's. Either that or she is committing insurance fraud using my insurance member number.

[tapeworm]

Primary
Cardiologist
Foot Doctor
Gastroentronologist
Gynecologist
Pulmonologist
Psychiatrist
General Surgeon

I don't see all of these doctors regularly, though.

[early2rise]

Hi everyone,

I am 34 with 35 coming up fast. I have a new and wonderful Primary doc who suggested a sleep study during my physical, a allergy/asthma doc and a gynecologist. New to the forum but I've been lurking for a few weeks.

[mars]

Hi early2rise

Welcome to the Forum, and I hope you will find everything you need re: Cpap here, or if not you can always ask.

That is a beautiful avatar you have

cheers

Mars

[early2rise]

Thank you Mars, and yes I am learning tons from all the wonderful people here. My avatar is a pic from an old southern home that was converted into a restaurant. These flowers adorned the walkway and were intoxicating. Had to leave with pics

[JDS74]

Just in the last 10 years - not counting the ones I fired:

01) PCP - Internist ***
02) Oncologist ***
03) Pulmonologist / Sleep Doctor ***
04) Neurologist
05) Endocrinologist ***
06) Opthalmologist ***
07) Dermatologist ***
08) Surgeons - 2 currently, 1 just retired
09) Endocrinologist - second opinions ***
10) Neurologist - second opinions ***
11) Neurologist - second opinion / sleep doctor ***
12) Pulmonologist - second opinions ***

Specialists not normally counted:
01) Radiologist
02) Podiatrist
03) Cardiologist

Edit 6/14/ 2011 Update to show the ones I seen in the last 7 months (***). I'll be seing #4 and #8 this summer.

My wife and I just keep busy trying to make sure the machinery stays in good repair.

[JayC]

Under 55

*PCP (I just see a resident for 3 yrs at a time at teaching hospital....I am overdue for checkup, although have no specific issues right now....although just aged into the colonoscopy need!)
*Sleep Doc (was seeing every 6 months, but cannot afford co-pays right now so we are communicating by email as needed and he'll see me on the side if I have specific problems!)
*Psych MD (not on meds at this point, but need the input...see about monthly)
*Derma (for regular skin checks since my risk is higher for several reasons; yearly at this point)
*Neuro (not seeing currently, but he did the referrals for several things....I got documentation I needed to further other things, but I am not seeing actively currently)

I am generally healthy, although carrying some extra weight and not fit in terms of endurance/exercise at the moment....I don't need a doc to work on that. Got some subtle brain things that have confounded docs in the past....Depression is prob secondary to brain issues and sleep issues and not being treated for too many years. With CPAP and improvement, many things are settling down slowly.....

[Audge]

I am coming up 52. I have a GP, a rheumotologist, and gastroenterologist , an internist and currently seeing a general surgeon. I have had need of a urologist and a neurologist in the past year. Sounds awful doesn't it. It is sometimes. But I have never had a sleep doctor only a respitory therapist.

[shelly56]

Im 54 years old and went for years not seeing a doctor now see 4 of them

Primary doctor

Neurologist(sleepDr) and for headaches

Othamologist for glaucoma

Pshcyatrist for Bipolor, anxiaty, and paranoia

[cowlypso]

Depends on how you define "having" a doctor...

I said 3, because I have my primary care doc, my allergist, and my sleep doctor. Those are the only 3 doctors who I see regularly, who prescribe me medications I take regularly, and that I see for ongoing treatment.

But I've also seen the gastroenterologist, who then referred me to an even more specialized gastroenterologist, but I haven't seen either of them in over a year since I had surgery to fix the problem. I've seen the orthopedic surgeon, but I've been discharged from his care and it's been a few months since I've seen him following my surgery in December. I had a one-time visit with an ENT after the apnea diagnosis, but he declared me normal with no reason to continue seeing him.

So there's a difference between how many doctors are currently overseeing your care, and how many doctors have ever overseen your care, or overseen your care in the past 2 years.

[Kiralynx]

My husband observes that "The warranty's expired, so of course everything is breaking down."

I consider myself fortunate: a GP, a GYN, and an oncologist who dismissed me and said my labs could be done by the GYN, that I didn't need her unless something came back positive.

[jared555]

If you count doctors I am not actively seeing the list is fairly long for my age. (22)

General practitioner and eye doctor (cataract surgery not long after birth) are the only two I see on a somewhat regular basis and I guess I also have dealt with the sleep doctor who read the sleep study results although I have never actually met him/her.

Then I have history with at least one neurologist, two general surgeons, foot doctor, another general practitioner (never actually transferred records), ENT and a psychiatrist. My records are currently spread across 8 different facilities and no one has a complete record.

[mars]

If you count doctors I am not actively seeing the list is fairly long for my age. (22)

General practitioner and eye doctor (cataract surgery not long after birth) are the only two I see on a somewhat regular basis and I guess I also have dealt with the sleep doctor who read the sleep study results although I have never actually met him/her.

Then I have history with at least one neurologist, two general surgeons, foot doctor, another general practitioner (never actually transferred records), ENT and a psychiatrist. My records are currently spread across 8 different facilities and no one has a complete record.

Hi Jared

Yes, it is a long list.

One thought might be to get a copy of your medical records from all your different Doctors, put them in a useable order, and then take a copy when you visit a Doctor that does not have all your details. Looking after yourself in this way will make sure you do your part in keeping your Medical Practitioners up to date.

cheers

Mars

[nanwilson]

I only have 1, my GP. I only go to see him when I have too (and I try to duck out whenever I can). He has gotten wise to me though and makes me go every 3 months by only signing my meds Rx for 90 days . Smart Ass Doctor!!! By the way I am 68.