We've all been in the position of having to find a new doctor haven't we? Your current provider retires, moves, quits to become a veterinarian, dies . . . whatever, and there you are - left without a primary care giver. it sucks!
This recently happened to me. I had finally found a magnificent provider - caring, competent, friendly, we were in sync, the whole ball of wax. Then she accepted a teaching position at a local university which allowed her more time with her young children. I was thrilled for her . . . not so much for me.
Thus began my quest. I will share it with you here:
Doctor number one was the replacement that come in for my doctor who left. She seemed okay and might have even worked out, except she changed the way they billed my insurance company which resulted in my treatments for my chronic condition no longer being covered. I polite requested help, more forcefully requested a review, pitched a huge fit about the whole thing - all with the same result - nothing changed. Sooooooooo . . .
On to Doctor number two. This one was a older man with a wonderful bedside manner. He was gentle, caring, he listened and did everything he could to ease my discomfort and pain. unfortunately, and the office never mentioned this. He was retiring that month! Damn!
This brings us to Doctor number 3. Made an appointment, had to wait six weeks to get in. Fine. two weeks out the office called and rescheduled so I needed to wait an additional 2 weeks. Appointment rolled around and I arrived 15 minutes early. 3 hours went by and finally, after complaining several times, I was told I would need to reschedule as the doctor had had an emergency. Fine, another 3 week wait. Day of appointment the office calls and cancels the appointment due to illness. It would be 6 more weeks before they could get me in. Never mind, let's move on.
Doctor number 4. This one was a doozy! She swept in, my records in hand. Took one look at me (sick, shaky, unhappy) and the notation showing where I was from and decided I was a drug addict. She cut off all my medications and practically screamed at me in response to my attempted answers to her question. She immediately ran a series of the most expensive drug tests out there, checking for every drug known to man. (It came back perfectly clean, by the way). At the follow up appointment she screamed at me for stopping my medications cold turkey as it could have killed me (!). I explained that she had cut me off of them. She yelled at me again like I was stupid. All this and she never checked my heart or lungs or even examined me in a cursory way. By the time I was done with her my anxiety was through the roof I was crying and so ashamed of myself I was afraid to seek another doctor.
After a few months I knew I need help so I tried Doctor number 3 again and accepted an appointment 6 weeks out. Guess what? Yep, day of the appointment the office called and cancelled the visit. I lost it!! I called back and between hyperventilating and voice shaking explained that I was very sick and need to see a doctor, any doctor, NOW, not in a few days or weeks or months. The receptionist took pity on me and sent me to another office where they would fit me in as soon as I could get there.
Doctor number 6!! I arrived, they took me back and the nurse asked me how I was doing. I started sobbing uncontrollably and couldn't even answer. they went and got the doctor who came in grabbed some tissues and sat down and took my hand in his. He sat there talking soothingly to me until I calmed down and then began to gently ask me questions. He spent 45 minutes with me that day just taking care of me. It was such a relief. I have now been seeing him for nearly 8 months. I have found my new doctor and I am thrilled.
Now if he just sticks around!!
