Trust for Doctors

[kgord]

I usually trust doctors, but not all of them are that knowledgeable. I like to have doctors that are kind of mid career. I had a problem with one one time who was fresh out of medical school and didn't seem to know exactly what he was doing. When I feel I know more about certain subjects than the doctor, it is not a good sign. With my vet it is kind of the same thing..I know when he first opened his practice, he seemed to be diagnosing things that weren't really a problem, but he seems to have grown in the time that he has been practicing, and I think they do that with more experience under their belt.

 

[rldonah]

I'm distrusting of most doctors because it seems so many are greedy pill pushers. There are some good doctors out there though. They just seem more rare. I don't like taking medication unless it's absolutely necessary because I don't want to run the risk of the side effects. Many doctors over-prescribe antibiotics which is contributing to the increase of antibiotic resistant bacteria. There's a lot that's wrong with our healthcare system, and until greed is taken out of the equation, I don't see it improving.

 

[17emilyhalko]

I don't trust doctors at all. I have been battling some unknown illness for almost three years now. Just because I'm younger, my primary doctor didn't want to believe that something was wrong with me. They dismissed my problem as, "Eat healthier, drink more water, eat more fiber" though the problem was way worse and not as simple as that. I've seen other doctors that have been slightly more helpful, but everything that they tell me to do makes me feel worse. I stopped listening to doctors, and I started listening to myself, and my body really appreciates it!

 

[SirJoe]

I find that there are good doctors and bad doctors. Some are in it just for the money but the majority are there to help, even though they might not always do a good job. If you don't feel comfortable with your doctor the best thing to do is find one that you are comfortable with. I don't mean one that agrees with everything that you say I am talking about one that makes your well being a priority.

 

[djordjem87]

I have no trust for doctors. For me they are, with several exceptions like surgeons, the most small minded people on planet earth. I have several friends that are doctors and I am not obviously but I like natural remedies and I use them frequently. One of them had some problems with her mother. They found some things that were signalling potential cancer and I told her to try a herbal root tea from Dandelion root. Personally I know 5 people who cured cancer with this. I know them, they come to my house. They were dead to the doctors and now we play football every week. She refused that advice, she told me like that. She said, "I am not going to tell her that. That is just stupid. Dandelion cannot cure a thing." I was blown away. It's her mother. I saw that as a huge ego problem and small-mindedness. She refuses to believe that something she studied for 20 years cannot help but a dandelion root will. That's the ego and she is small minded because she should know how all the remedies were made. natural cures are still the best but then what would the big pharmaceutical companies do?

 

[TheViper]

I do trust doctors to a certain degree and do take their "expert opinion" to heart. The fact is regardless you still have to take your health in your own hands whether you really want to or not. There will always be that worry which is a good thing and a bad thing for most. All I know is that doctors are there to help and after going to the doctor several times for issues. You have to come to the conclusion of simply trying to de-stress and realize that things aren't as bad as you think they are. It's a huge process to get there but I believe anyone can get there in time.

 

[fuzyon]

I've always been against doctors for the sole reason that they're in it for the money and most of them don't care about you (talking about therapists now). I've always been anxious about meeting a therapist that will only schedule meetings to take my money, not because I needed them but I bit the bullet a few months ago and it's been a good decision. The therapist I'm seeing now is compassionate and it's easily seen that she cares about her patients, I've been to 10 meetings so far and it's been great.

 

[jaden11218]

I do understand where the mistrust comes from. They are human, just like you and me, so they can make mistakes or have ulterior motives. I have had friends with very sick kids go to a doctor and completely get blown off. They were told it's "just a cold" or "just a stomach virus", and they ended up going to someone else and finding out that something more serious was going on. Personally, I always try to see "the best" because I also have a mistrust of some doctors. I live in a small town near a very large metropolitan area, so it isn't hard to look on the internet and find top doctors in my area. Even if it might mean paying more out of pocket, I think it's worth it if you know you are getting the absolute best care.

 

[katiegert]

I definitely have a mistrust of most doctors. Like anyone else, they have to prove themselves to me before I can allow myself to trust them. I believe my feelings are justified however because I have been misdiagnosed most of my life and also been accused of pill seeking by one doctor in an urgent care situation. He believed me to be pill seeking, not because I asked for medication, which I did not. In fact, I told him the 3 year old Vicodin I took for the pain issue I was having, was not working and I needed him to figure out what was happening. Later he found out I had an infection as well as a very large cyst that turns out was not cancerous after emergency surgery. He did eventually apologize but I didn't really care at that point. It was hurtful thing to say and he had only spoken to me for 5 minutes before he said it. He didn't even know me.

 

[tinnie]

I've never really been thinking about this. So far I haven't had any major issues where I could see that the doctor mishandled it. But I have seen or heard some stories about doctors who didn't care enough to do a good job. My GP is sending me to one of those who don't have the greatest reputation. Apparently who often tells patients that their GI problems are just in their head and sends them to his wife who is a psychologist. Might work for some, but supposedly he sent some people there who had actual problems. So now I'm worried.

 

[GrubbyRose]

My trust in doctors was shaken a few years ago. A relative of mine was in the doctors office every month getting his blood checked for a cardiac issue, and every lab test and exam missed cancer that was spreading, and it was not found until it was stage 4. He did not make it, and I still think the doctors or lab should have found something to point out the cancer before then.

 

[rz3300a]

When it comes to trusting your doctor, this is really a personal relationship that takes time to develop, at least that is what I believe. My first doctor, the one recommended or handed down by my father, was just awful. He was rude and we did not get along, but sure enough I was able to see an associate of his and there you have it. I have been going to him ever since, and I trust him with a lot. That said, there are still some things that I prefer to keep to myself. That is just a matter of personal choice though.

 

[jackgetsguap]

More than just distrust, I am literally scared of doctors. I was just hit by a car while riding my bike the other day, and the most traumatizing part of the whole ordeal was the stitching procedure at the doctors office! I basically have a panic attack any time they are doing anything remotely serious to me. They gave me local numbing shots and a bunch of stitches, ugh it was horrible. *shudders* I know they're only trying to help, but it changes nothing

 

[Zzyli]

I find going to doctors can be quite stressful. I've been seeing my family doctor since I was a baby and so I have a fairly good relationship with her, but I've been to see a variety of specialists and some have not been very helpful. I had a really miserable time when I was referred to a sleep specialist as she wasn't very good at explaining results from testing or possible effects from treatment, and when I took a test again I went from being diagnosed with a condition to undiagnosed without any clear reasoning why or suggestions of further followup. I'm in Australia and we're lucky to have universally subsidised healthcare, so I don't have the concern some people have mentioned of doctors only being in it for the money, but I just worry that I'm not getting good advice and I'm not sure when it would be appropriate to ask for a second opinion. I do think that doctors in general are trying to help, but I can become very stressed about the idea that there's nothing that they can actually do for me, or that we've missed something which would be important and useful in my treatment.

 

[DylanRowan]

I don't distrust doctors. If there is something you can do when feeling horribly bad, it's going to the doctor. The one person who can make a difference in the health problem you are facing. I have yet to find a situation where the doctor did not give me the correct medicines. I tend to trust doctors all the time, and I don't feel like I am going to be betrayed.

 

[misszerable]

Doctors are humans, too, and they can commit errors no matter how good they supposedly are. It's also natural for patients and other people not to place 100% trust on their physicians. Doctors prescribe procedures and medicines based on what they believe are effective for a patient's case. There are times when the course of treatment they recommend does not work at all and the doctor will have to look at another course of treatment. A treatment that can work for one person may not work for another. I've known good doctors who have their patient's welfare in mind first and money second, but I agree that there certainly are doctors who studied medicine for money. It is always good to ask around before seeing a doctor. And when the doctor recommends something as invasive and expense as a major surgery, it is best to get a second opinion.

 

[Petesede]

I am pretty sure I'm not the only one but does anyone have a lack of trust for doctors?
I've been called out by friends and family for distrust for doctors. I personally see them as professionals who, like everyone else, want to make as much money as they can. I have heard stories of misdiagnosis and unnecessary procedures for the sake of making money off patients which has contributed to my distrust for medical professionals, not to mention my knowledge of creepy, twisted medical procedures from back in the day, like lobotomies, electric shock therapy and using heroin and cocaine as medicine.


I know this is a dangerous mentality, especially if faced with a serious medial condition. As a border-line hypochondriac, I have the tenancy to exhaust all my efforts into reading about things I observe with my body before seeking medical attention, which by the way I will only do if I'm forced to.


Does anyone else have this feel the same way about medical professionals?

Doctors have three methods of gaining information to make a diagnosis. Test results, what they see, and what you tell them. Right away you are starting off saying you are a border-line hypochondriac that does a lot of research. Not to be rude, but that makes it improbable that you are giving accurate information to your doctor about YOUR symptoms. You probably already have a preconceived diagnosis and are now trying to use your words to your doctor to lead him to diagnosis what you think you have.


In my experience, the best way to get a good result from a doctor is to clear your mind, stop with the hyperbole and exaggeration, and tell him ONLY about the symptoms you have in simple terms.


Or put it this way. Getting into med school is very difficult. Medical school is 7 years and very difficult, they have 3 exams they must pass that are extremely difficult. Do you really think you can ´out-diagnosis´ a doctor using Google search?

 

[SirJoe]

More than just distrust' date=' I am literally scared of doctors. I was just hit by a car while riding my bike the other day, and the most traumatizing part of the whole ordeal was the stitching procedure at the doctors office! I basically have a panic attack any time they are doing anything remotely serious to me. They gave me local numbing shots and a bunch of stitches, ugh it was horrible. *shudders* I know they're only trying to help, but it changes nothing[/quote']
It's very difficult to get over a bad experience but at the end of the day, if they didn't do anything you could have developed a bad infections and things could have been a lot worse. I wouldn't say that I distrust doctors completely but you have to know your body and know when something isn't right.

 

[111kg]

I see quite a lot of negativity in this thread. People often tend to read articles on the Internet and tend to self diagnose themselves thinking they know better, but in reality, their symptoms may be due a totally different disease. This is why a diferential diagnosis list is made everytime, mainly to ensure that doctors don't miss something out. Some diseases are really alike, unfortunately.

 

[SirJoe]

I see quite a lot of negativity in this thread. People often tend to read articles on the Internet and tend to self diagnose themselves thinking they know better' date=' but in reality, their symptoms may be due a totally different disease. This is why a diferential diagnosis list is made everytime, mainly to ensure that doctors don't miss something out. Some diseases are really alike, unfortunately.[/quote']
That is true and very often people will either omit any symptom or will just exaggerate what they are feeling. It doesn't make life for doctors any easier, and as you say there are a lot of diseases that have very similar symptoms.