In defence of the good doctor...

[Old Dominion Heather]

After reading the sad stories in the other thread, I thought I would post our wonderful experiences with the team of doctors who have helped my son. Medicine is not the same as a miracle. I am amazed at the bravery and optimism of those who choose to go into medicine as a career.

 

It has been nearly 11 since I took my son in to the doctor suspecting that something was wrong with his vision. I knew something was off, but figured at worse, he might need strong glasses, something like that...

 

No. Not so much. He was blind. Full cataracts, both eyes. He had us all fooled since light was the only thing he could see, he would always look toward any light around. His pediatrician was young, inexperienced, and my son's vision was the very first major health problem that he had ever caught. He had my son seen by a pediatric neuro-ophthalmologist within 24 hours. My son was diagnosed on a Thursday and was in surgery on Monday morning. His PO called in every favor she could and had the hospital rearrange surgery schedules to work my son into the schedule first thing. She came in to do post op on her days off and gave us her home phone number. She did everything in her power to make sure my son had a good outcome.

 

A few years ago, my son was suspected to have developed glaucoma. His PO, the same one who did his first surgeries, again pulled in favors and got my son in at Duke University Hospital with one of the top pediatric glaucoma research surgeons in the country.

 

My son has had two further surgeries in the past year. After the first one, he had major complications and could have lost his vision that night. His glaucoma specialist met us at the hospital in the middle of the night TWICE, in order to take care of my son. Both times she had to draw fluid off his eye to release pressure using a hollow needle. She called to check on him, gave us her home and cell numbers and texted back and forth with us whenever we have had questions.

 

If it were not for her, his local PO, and his pediatrician, my son would be blind.

[Remudamom]

Wow! That is quite a doctor. I'm so glad she was there when your son needed her.

 

I can't profess to hate all doctors either, I make an exception for my dad and my brother. And dh's lyme doctor too.

[praisefor3]

I, too, must share. Our second baby, in spite of wonderful doctors, died in utero at seven months. The day that we went in for the last ultrasound and learned she died, was supposed to be our doctor's last day before flying to Texas the next day for his wedding. We went to the hospital to induce the delivery. She was born early the next morning. Our doctor had told the staff that if she delivered before he had to leave for the airport to call him and he would come to the hospital. So early on the last day before his wedding he was awakened by the staff and came to the hospital to deliver her and be there with us and stayed with us for over an hour. We were very touched by his compassion.

 

We have long understood that doctors are not God. Yes, we expect competency, skill and careful decisions. We are careful what doctors we go to. But, still, doctors are not God. And while there are most certainly some bad doctors who are certainly at blame - (My mother was killed by a resident who mistakenly ruptured her pulmonary artery when attempting to insert a swan gans catheter so I don't discuss this lightly.) -there are still others who are blamed for what only God could have prevented...and for whatever reason in that situation, He chose not to.

[Classical Country Mama]

Love that story. What a great save--so glad he caught that!

 

I haven't read the other thread, as dh has done AV at professional medical conferences for years and has told me enough horror stories already, but I second the plug for good docs.

 

I've had several surgeries in the past few years, including, most recently, getting my heart fixed--but the one that most changed everything for me was the surgery three months before my wedding. I had been in such agony I couldn't even walk without crying. After years of pain, and months and months of doctors, this surgeon immediately recognized the problem and did surgery that same week. Recovery was long and difficult, but by the time my wedding rolled around, I was walking without pain.

 

And I've been pain-free ever since. I can't thank the doctor enough; he liberated me from years of pain. I still write to him occasionally to thank him. He absolutely, truly, changed my life, and I will be grateful forever.

[gratefulmother]

Thank you, thank you for this post! My dh is a physician and way too often in hsing circles I feel like his work is underappreciated. He doesn't make an outrageous income compared to many doctors, because his speciality is not procedure dependent. He is consulted and uses the knowledge that he gained during his years of training in med school, residency and fellowship to make a recommendation of treatment. Years that our income was quite a bit less than most people we know, by the way. Most often his diagnosis does not require an expensive procedure for which he would be reimbursed greatly, but he does it because he really does care about his patients and about finding ways to relieve suffering in their lives. His practice driven by his faith and yet, so many times in the circles we are in, he is seen as the enemy for recommending vaccines or being a part of a profession whose knowledge base is quickly disregarded when people don't like what they hear or feel they aren't getting the right amount of attention. I know there are uncaring physicians out there, but I would hope that homeschoolers who love learning would respect the knowledge of a professional who has devoted themselves to a discipline, like medicine, and actually realize that they do know what they are talking about more so than those of us who have not received the same training. Internet research does not count as an education!

I have needed to say that for a long time! Thanks!

[Liz CA]

Even though I often speak out in favor of naturopathic medicine, my life has been saved by good surgeons. After the surgery, I thanked them profusely and then went to the naturopath for follow-up care.

 

In my opinion, one has to take the best of both worlds. Nothing can compare with a skilled surgeon when you need surgery! A naturopath will help you avoid disease and keep you going and feeling healthy on a day-to-day basis.

[Virg]

I adore our ped! After all my kids have gone through she is always there when we need her and always listens to me and accepts that, as their parent, I know what is going on with them :)

[cjbeach]

Yay for GOOD THINGS and great docs. They really do exist. Medicine has come so far, but there are still limitations.

[Alyce]

I have been a patient of my psychiatrist for about 22 years. He has always been there for me. I had some very rough times getting my bipolar in control with multiple hospitalizations within several months and lasting over several years. He was always willing to look out of the box and never turned me away even when I gave up on myself. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be here today. He has given me his email, his pager number and his home phone number. If I call him he calls me right back. I had a couple of psychiatrists before him and as soon as I started having trouble they bailed on me. There was one night when I was sitting in admission in a complete meltdown that one of my old psychiatrist came up to this one and told him, within my hearing distance, "I knew she wouldn't last long". Believe it or not I'm a psych nurse and have been a medical nurse. I know there are horror stories and I've seen incompetent Drs but there are some very good ones out there. They have the same problem we do. Because people have had bad experiences with Drs and thats usually what the rest of us hear about, people look down on them. This is the same thing that happens to us in the homeschooling community. There are ones that really know what they are doing and are great in what they do but we don't hear about them all we hear is the bad. Sounds just like what public school teachers and the public says about us. I do think you should check your Dr out and ask questions but as the other poster said, the internet is not everything and sometimes we think we know so much because of what it says, then it turns out to be something completely different. I have seen cases of people waiting to see a Dr because they checked out their symptoms on the internet and it was nothing to worry about. By the time they finally came in they were in bad condition and some have even died. Yes it's good to search the internet but it doesn't tell the whole story. Like I said there are bad doctors yes, but many who are very good. Don't look down on Dr's just because someone has had a bad experience you may not know or understand the whole situation.

[Old Dominion Heather]

Medicine has come so far, but there are still limitations.

 

 

I think the hardest thing for people to deal with is that sometimes you do have a medical recovery that seems miraculous. But even the most innovative medical advances are still amazingly "earthy" if you know what I mean.

 

My son has, in the past year, had two lens replacement surgeries, one of those combined with a glaucoma valve surgery. At the end of the day, it is still just him and his surgeon, standing there with a tiny scalpel and some microscopic lenses, trying to stretch his iris to accommodate a replacement lens without doing too much damage. Thank God she has nerves of steel!

[cjbeach]

I think the hardest thing for people to deal with is that sometimes you do have a medical recovery that seems miraculous. But even the most innovative medical advances are still amazingly "earthy" if you know what I mean.

 

My son has, in the past year, had two lens replacement surgeries, one of those combined with a glaucoma valve surgery. At the end of the day, it is still just him and his surgeon, standing there with a tiny scalpel and some microscopic lenses, trying to stretch his iris to accommodate a replacement lens without doing too much damage. Thank God she has nerves of steel!

Can you imagine? OMG, sooo tedious.

How lucky your son is to have someone so talented!!!

[JVA]

All 5 of our children are alive, healthy, and thriving because of medical intervention. We've met some remarkable folks who have sacrificed (medical school, alone) to be prepared and able to treat patients. I wholeheartedly show my gratitude to them.

 

Notwithstanding all the benefits we've experienced, I'm still the first one to tell our MOPS moms to get a 2nd or 3rd opinion, check into alternatives and remember that medicine is a consumer's market. Being informed is our best asset.

[Impish]

I shudder to think what would have happened to me if my GP hadn't recognized the signs of RSD. Many, MANY ppl w/RSD go a long time without dx, wrong dx, etc.

 

My GP told me what it was, then got me into a specialist the next month who confirmed it. That specialist then went above and beyond, making calls to get me into a pain clinic...when the first guy was a total a$$, he put me on the list for another...then called in a personal favour with a buddy of his who runs yet another clinic.

 

As far as dx and treatment goes, ppl are astounded that I've had it happen so quickly. I'm 2 yrs in, and so many ppl with RSD are still struggling to get a dx at this point...made so much worse that the physical, VISIBLE symptoms fade and come back, they aren't always there.

 

Its a sucky dx to be sure...but when its whats wrong, having it firmly dx'd and under treatment by a pain specialist is the very best you can hope for.