[tiggerella]

This may sound totally strange, especially as I suspect I know the answer, but I'd like the opinion of anyone who has any medical background on this one...

I'm a 47-year-old female who has always been fairly healthy with the exception of an ovarian cyst that caused my doctor to remove my left ovary in 1993, and a bulge in my disc between L5 and S1 from repetitive motions I made while working as a janitor in 1997.

The family doctor I had been seeing was very aware of my history, including the fact that my grandmother, father, aunt and one of her sons (all from the same family) passed away from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Because it's not 100% certain how this form of cancer comes about, he always did blood tests when I went in for my annual exams to insure that all was right with me. Unfortunately, he went into a deep depression last winter and committed suicide.

When I called into the office where he used to practice earlier this year concerned with the fact that I had suddenly gained 20 lbs without changing my food intake or activity level, the doctor who has taken his place didn't seem at all concerned. She told me to go on a diet and increase my activity, but she told me I didn't need to come into the office to be checked for anything, as I had no other symptoms other than the sudden weight gain.

I switched to low fat yogurt for snacks, eat healthy, low calorie breakfasts and lunches, and then eat whatever my husband has made us for supper. Using an online calculator, I figured I was eating about 2500 calories per day before the weight gain, and for the last 5 months, I've been eating only 1500 calories per day. Because of the bulge in my disc that has never gone away, my back specialist has limits on what I can do for exercises, but the ones he sanctions have been increased so that I should also be burning more calories. The few places I had fat deposits have shown improvement - but I haven't lost a single pound when I climb onto the scales after 5 months of the new regimen.

When I recently called and reported everything from the last paragraph to the new doctor, she still insists that I don't need to see her because I still haven't had any symptoms apart from the initial weight gain (and, naturally, an uneasy feeling that something more is going on, because I've NEVER had this much trouble losing weight). Much as I hate the idea of having to go to another town for medical attention (especially as the office where we've been going is within walking distance of my daughter's high school, so it's easy for her to walk or get a ride there if she's not well or injured), I can't help but think that I need to seek a second opinion - BEFORE any other symptoms manifest.

So what are YOUR thoughts on this? Should I get pushy with this new doctor in the old office and insist that she needs to see me and run tests like my former doctor would have by now, or should I just have my records transferred to another facility and hope that another doctor will show a bit more concern for my welfare?

[JudyKayTee]

Much as I hate the idea of having to go to another town for medical attention (especially as the office where we've been going is within walking distance of my daughter's high school, so it's easy for her to walk or get a ride there if she's not well or injured), I can't help but think that I need to seek a second opinion - BEFORE any other symptoms manifest!

So what are YOUR thoughts on this? Should I get pushy with this new doctor in the old office and insist that she needs to see me and run tests like my former doctor would have by now, or should I just have my records transferred to another facility and hope that another doctor will show a bit more common sense?

My husband was very ill for a very long time - I learned very early in the game that if a Doctor wasn't hearing what he was saying, didn't hear his concerns, it was time to find a new Doctor. He ended up with a wonderful team of specialists - I can't say enough about them - but it took some work on my husband's part.

No one likes to keep running back and forth to the Doctor but in my mind a patient who is concerned should be seen and the appropriate tests run. I've investigated more than a few medical malpractice cases and I am astounded at the number of Physicians who simply brush off concerns - such as you are experiencing - when the patient just "has a feeling" that all is not well.

I'd either demand an appointment or switch Doctors - although I don't know that I'd want the same song and dance every time I had a concern.

[liz28]

You should see another doctor. Even if you to into the office requesting things to be done like your old doctor she might feel like your telling her how to do her job and some doctors don't like this. Then they look at you as a patient that likes to cause problems. Some feel that they been to school and you haven't so why are you telling them what to do.

I worked with a doctor that was arrogant I had to leave. A patient came in there requesting that he perform a test on her son but he wouldn't do it. He argue with her in front of other patients and give her a rundown of his schooling and remindered her who was the doctor. In the end I left his practice.

You can always switch doctora and find out the procedure how to do so with your insurance carrier because some how guidelines when you can do so. For example, can change my only at the 1st of the month and they give you up until the 5th of that month. After that I am locked in with my current doctor and have to wait until the following month to change.

Also, go to the doctors office before making the switch and you can call the board to find out if there have been complaints or lawsuits against them. This is best to do get the history of your doctor. Good Luck!

[J_9]

I agree with everything everyone has said. As a personal example... I was 32 and found a painful lump in my breast. 6 doctors told me I was too young, no family history of breast cancer, and breast cancer is not painful... The 7th doctor, who I found on my own, did a biopsy. Guess what he found. Yup, breast cancer.

It was that doctor who then told me that we, as patients, know our bodies better than the doctors do, and that if we feel something is wrong we need to reach out for a proper diagnosis.

I don't know where you live, but if you are in the US, you can find out if doctors have had any action against them online. Going to their office can create problems for you.

Again, we know our bodies better than the doctors do... it would be wise to just make an appointment with the doctor, and let her know your concerns face-to-face. Don't let her leave the room until your concerns are addressed. You are your best advocate, and the doctor is actually your employee, if you don't like what you hear, fire the doctor and get a second opinion.