I'm a veteran of the U.S. Army who is using the VA Healthcare System due to my benefits:
Just wanted to update everyone on my new doctor and the first visit I had with her in late July. It was great! I was able to get my yearly pap smear and do my yearly physical exam all in the same visit. She was really nice, was very personable and friendly, listened to me, and she properly referred me to podiatry. There was a female intern there during my visit who helped out a bit, I didn't mind, I'm very patient, and hey, we all have to start somewhere.
She ordered the usual fasting blood test to check my cholesterol, blood sugar, white/red blood cells, electrolytes, etc. I asked her if I could get my vitamin D levels checked (it's a separate test), and I was starting to explain to her that I stay indoors a lot, but she said, "Yes, you should get it tested," and put that order in too! My last doctor (who I "fired") said that vitamin D is the lastest "fad" and she didn't think it was necessary and refused my request! Read more about how terrible she was (I'm sorry, but she was!) if you haven't already: http://www.thedoctorstv.com/GreenFish/posts/14328-Changed-my-doctor-and-feel-great-about-it-
I'll keep you updated on my results, which I have a f/u appointment in late September. But during my chiropractor visit last week, she was able to look at my results and tell me my vitamin D levels looked fine and that my overall cholesterol level was 164...that's GREAT...my LDL (that's the bad kind) was low 90s and my HDL (that's the good kind) was 50 something...I'll get more details on my September visit.
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I've done the same thing, and glad I did it with them.. But there was one who wrote in my chart I was DR-hopping for one who will give me what I want (I had requested my chart and read this). And this DR is one who would let other DRs know what HE believes.
Melissa.
Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Elaine is trying to look what they've written in her chart, because her new doctor immediately gives her a look as though she's a troublemaker and treats her differently! It's not fair for a new doctor to judge you!
When I was in the Army, I saw a mental health "specialist," and the orthopedic surgeon I was seeing for foot pain treated me so different, as though I'm mentally deficient or a hypochondriac (all my records can be seen by any and all docs, just like the VA system I'm in now). When I see in the news about the increase in suicides by military, I know it's because of the stigma of mental health issues, they don't want to see a mental health specialist because it's perceived as weak, or "there's something wrong with you."
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