Doctor problems

[kaya91]

I was started seeing a doctor i really liked and he kind of quit practice to i was put with another doctor until he came back because he went through some things and was on medical leave. Now i have started hormones with this other doctor and i cannot get him to communicate with me, i don't understand why my medication hasn't changed my estradiol was the same after 3 months and my estrone was up 300, everything i have ever read suggests that injections are more appropriate for me because i am metabolizing the estradiol to fast. I left a message for him and he never got back to me. I just want to know whats going on with my medication and he had lead me to believe my medication would change after getting my levels but they didn't. I have been given wrong dosages by pharmacies for other drugs so i think i should know what medication i am picking up is right. My question i could use help with is should I ask for a different doctor in the same office? i don't want to be like a pest to people who are in charge of my meds.  Does it normally take 6 months to adjust from initial dosage? My testosterone has gone down under 100 so i thought maybe they were waiting to see how that ended up to see if i need some kind of a blocker? thanks for any information sorry if i shared too much medical information in some way i don't know the rules here.

[KathyLauren]

A lot of doctors will not do anything unless you go into their office with an appointment.  Often, this is for billing / insurance reasons.

My initial prescriptions were for short times: one month, two months, three months at a time.  Now, I am up to six month prescriptions.  Two weeks before the prescription runs out, I get my blood drawn for lab work.  Then a week before it runs out, I go in to see my doc.  She reviews the lab results and makes any adjustments in my dosages.  She would never renew a prescription without an office visit, and would certainly never make an adjustment without a visit.

So call up the doctor's office and make an appointment to discuss your lab results and possible adjustments in your prescription.

[Cassandra B]

My advice, you have to be your own advocate and do what is best for you, meaning if your current Dr isn't engaging with you and addressing your concerns, find a new Dr.

I know this isn't any easy thing to do, but from personal experience, you will be more confident in your health if you do.

[Doreen]

My advice, you have to be your own advocate and do what is best for you, meaning if your current Dr isn't engaging with you and addressing your concerns, find a new Dr.

I know this isn't any easy thing to do, but from personal experience, you will be more confident in your health if you do.

I could go into my doctor woes but noone has time for that.. suffice to say I agree, you really do have to be your own advocate.   Don't be pushy, but be 'assertive'.  Record what they said when they said it, and remind them.  After all, they do have probably hundreds of other patients I guarantee you its very easy to let one 'slip through' if they're not addressing their own issues.

The doctors staff think I'm crazy but I ask for a printout of all my records, especially after a visit.  This way I can see what they chart that they won't talk to you about too.  I've spotted many a glaring frustrating error on my medical records this way.

Be proactive.