Hi everybody. I really needed to come on the board and read some of the writings here. I get joy that way. I also want to ask for some advice about how to get a doctor to listen to you.

I just got home from a doctor appointment. As usual, I had to listen to his agenda before we could address mine. I think mine is why I went in the first place. I'm not complaining - really, I'm not. I guess that is just the way doctors are now. I want to ask if anyone has any clues about how to get their point across without the doctor jumping right in with a litany of reasons why medications are the only way to go.

I had my list of topics I wanted to cover and he saw it. I always take one. I stated what I wanted to talk about when he asked why I was there. Things went downhill from there. I can't take meds without severe reactions (he has a list of those on his computerized file for me and had it in front of him and showed it to me). He disagreed with anything I told him or skipped right over it. I left with two prescriptions and a sheet for the lab of some blood work. I guesss it might be useful. But, not what I talked about needing.

I guess since he did provide orders for my bone density test and my mammogram (I did ask for those), I should be happy. I'll keep researching on my own for answers for my food allergies, etc. on my own.

So please, if you have any advice about how to get a doctor to pay attention to the patient's wants without jumping into a lecture on why medication is the only way to go, I would love to hear it. Thanks for listening and I hope this didn't come off as complaining. I reread this and deleted what sounded like that to me. :)

I think your concerns are totally valid. I also think you need to find a new doctor. Is this guy an allergist? If not, I'd be for finding one.

While doctors aren't there to tell us what we want to hear, but instead to diagose and treat, they still need to listen to their patients. What good does it do to write scripts for a patient that won't take the medication anyway?

I had this happen to me and I changed doctors. This was the advice given to me by my growing up family doctor as he was retiring. It is your life and you should be heard. IMHO.

He should listen to you. You are paying him to listen so unless you really, really like him, maybe try a new doc next time. If that one doesn't listen either, maybe it is just the way they are now.

The answer is to find another doctor. They are all human and have their ways and quirks just like the rest of us but for your own good you need to keep seeking the one that you can work with. I've been to scores of them seeking answers and help and if they can't give me what I need I keep looking without a single pang of guilt. I have a neuropshychologist who helps me with all of my pain issues and he says the same thing. Find someone else who will listen and try to help. You don't have to take any crap off of anyone!!

If you feel as though the doctor is not listening to you, make an appointment just to touch base & tell your feelings about it. Make sure that they understand that the appt is just for that. If he/she is still not listening to you, then very calmly tell the doctor that you appreciate the time, but you will find another doctor.

Please keep in mind that the doctor is also stressed out & probably having to meet a certain quota of patients every day just to make ends meet.

In the end the body you are discussing belongs to YOU. There are plenty of doctors who will listen.

my doctor listens to why i am there and addresses those issues. when i call for an appointment, they ask why i'm coming and make sure to book enough time for all to be covered. this is one reason i say that medical care is so much better here in minnesota that what i received in florida.

I understand completely! I am looking for a new doctor. I went in last week because food is getting stuck painfully in my throat when I eat. I explained how this has been going on for 3 years, but it is getting worse and more frequent. The appointment was only 10mins? And the first 5 was spent re explaining (after telling the nurse in detail) to him that I didn't have strep throat or throat pain except when I ate something and it got stuck. Dang! What a waste of money.

I agree with the others who suggested changing doctors. You know your body best. I'm fortunate in that my doctor listens to my concerns. He'll also spend as much time with me as needed.

Sounds just like my GP doctor. I think he is so busy reading my file that he does not listen to the reason why I am there. Last year, an office person called me to say he was perscribing a blood pressure medication. My blood pressure always goes high when in dr's. office as I can't get my point across & get agitated when having to wait more than an hour. My blood pressure is extremely low when I wake up in the morning, so I'm afraid to take any medication. I tave problems with any medication they try to give me. I think I have a food allergy as well, but can't pin it down. What else would cause numb/tingling lips for almost 2 weeks now?