Dougie22
Well-Known Member
Well I finally got round to doing something about this and it went quite well.
As some longer term members might remember, I was really getting fed up with my doctors attitude which was basically that laymen shouldn't try to educate themselves, doctor knows best, take these pills for the rest of your life. I was worried in particular about starting on life long medication too early and at what I percieved to be low levels of risk (for example BP meds when my BP is consistently around 135/85). Also, every time I attended surgery, I was pushed very hard to start taking statins, despite my experiences and views on the matter. Although a group surgery, policy is that all diabetics are routed to the "diabetic specialist" doctor. Other care had been good (tests, courses, etc) so I was worried about jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
I've been asking around locally and a few people have recommended another surgery (also a group practice) in the area. They are on the web and I sent them a brief email saying I was considering moving to their practice and asking for an interview with one of the senior doctors to discuss the matter. They replied the same day and gave me a double appointment within a week.
I wrote myself some notes to help me cover the ground in the time available and took with me the history (graph form) available to me from the "My Diabetes, My Way" site. This showed a number of years readings for weight, BP, HbA1c, Cholesterol and medications prescribed.
The interview went well and I believe that this practice will be happier to operate in the way I want (i.e. avoid chronic medication until other avenues are exhausted or the need becomes crystal clear). The actual process (in Scotland) is to fill in a simple form and submit it back to the surgery with proof of ID and I'll be doing this in the next few days.
It's taken me a long time to wind up to this but I feel really good about it now. Of course, time will tell.
I'd advise anyone who is unhappy with their current doctor, and who is geographically able to do so, to consider changing to one they can have confidence in. It's easier than you think.
As some longer term members might remember, I was really getting fed up with my doctors attitude which was basically that laymen shouldn't try to educate themselves, doctor knows best, take these pills for the rest of your life. I was worried in particular about starting on life long medication too early and at what I percieved to be low levels of risk (for example BP meds when my BP is consistently around 135/85). Also, every time I attended surgery, I was pushed very hard to start taking statins, despite my experiences and views on the matter. Although a group surgery, policy is that all diabetics are routed to the "diabetic specialist" doctor. Other care had been good (tests, courses, etc) so I was worried about jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
I've been asking around locally and a few people have recommended another surgery (also a group practice) in the area. They are on the web and I sent them a brief email saying I was considering moving to their practice and asking for an interview with one of the senior doctors to discuss the matter. They replied the same day and gave me a double appointment within a week.
I wrote myself some notes to help me cover the ground in the time available and took with me the history (graph form) available to me from the "My Diabetes, My Way" site. This showed a number of years readings for weight, BP, HbA1c, Cholesterol and medications prescribed.
The interview went well and I believe that this practice will be happier to operate in the way I want (i.e. avoid chronic medication until other avenues are exhausted or the need becomes crystal clear). The actual process (in Scotland) is to fill in a simple form and submit it back to the surgery with proof of ID and I'll be doing this in the next few days.
It's taken me a long time to wind up to this but I feel really good about it now. Of course, time will tell.
I'd advise anyone who is unhappy with their current doctor, and who is geographically able to do so, to consider changing to one they can have confidence in. It's easier than you think.
