Have you gone to the same doctor for a long time?
By tess1960
@tess1960 (2385)
United States
May 17, 2007 3:16pm CST
I have been seeing the same medical physician, eye doctor and dentist for many years. My eye doctor knows me well and sees both of my daughters too. We've been using him since 1990. We are comfortable with him and in his office. This was important for my youngest because she has terrible eyes. She had eye surgery at age 3.
I have used the same medical physician now for over 10 years. My first one I used here had seen me when I was a teenager. He retired as some do. Then I chose a femal doctor, she moved back home to Florida. Then I tried my husbands doctor and did not feel comfortable with him. My mom suggested the docotr I have now. She used to be a nurse in his office. I was skeptical but by the second visit I was saying "You're not gonna move or retire soon are you?". I had decided I liked and trusted him.
I think it is important to try to use 1 doctor as much as possible. This way he knows you and knows your symptoms and what meds you are on. I have had several different surgeries over the past 12 years including a lump removed for a breast. Only three different surgeons have touched me. I met them and knew them before the surgeries. One I will ask for and use if it is something he can do here. One has since moved out of state and the other is in the next town. My favorite will be retireing soon and I am not looking forward to that. Of course, I'm not expecting any surgeries soon either.
So how about you same doctor or many different?
6 people like this
15 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
18 May 07
I have also had the same doctors and dentist for years I feel so much more cmfortable with them as then know me me inside (pun intended) and out. So I don't have to waste time giving my past history.
2 people like this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
17 May 07
Well I've had my current doctor now for 2 years. I love how he is and he does a great job. I've had my share of quacks over the years so when I find a good one I try to stick with them. I'm hoping to get in to see him soon but have to wait to see if Medicaid goes through or not. It's not easy to afford any doctor without money or insurance.
2 people like this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
18 May 07
You said that right, one thing I like about my docotr now is if insurance does not cover something he takes payments. luckily my insurance covers doctor visits with a copay of $25.00. It used to be $15.oo but my emplyer switched insurance companies. Every thime they do that the coverage is less.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
17 May 07
Well until I moved I had the same Doctor for 10 years
Now I have had the second one since I moved here so far I am not impressed at all by heir Attitude Sweetie as you could see in my Discussion I wish I could have brought my Doctor with me lol
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
18 May 07
I kniow what you mean, once we find that special rapore and trust with that one special doctor it is hard to expose self completely to a stranger. hardest for me was switching from one therapist/counselor to another. I told her to read my files from other therapist and then we'll talk. I did not want to rehash everything all at once.
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
17 May 07
i have had the same dr all my life, her also looked after my mum and dad, so i guess he knows my family very well
blessed be
2 people like this
@hezoid (2144)
•
17 May 07
No. I did ahve the same doctor up untill iw as about 18, but then i moved to another town with my partner so obviously i had to gfet a different doctor. We recently (last summer) moved back to our home town so changed doctors again, but have different ones to the ones we had when we lived here before. I think it's best to try and keep the same doctor if possible as they know your medical history, but if moving towns etc it's just not possible!
2 people like this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
18 May 07
True about the moving a lot. My uncle moves a lot but he always goes home for a visit at least once a year that includes a doctors visit for a complete physical. He's been doing this since he was 50. The family finally convinced him regular checkups were important. I can remember how strange it felt to go from pediatrician to regular family doctor.
@PunkyMcPunk (1477)
• Canada
18 May 07
I live outside of a small farming community. We have 1 medical center and the other closest doctors office is about 30 minutes away. I have gone to this same medical center my entire life. All of my brothers and sister go there. My parents go there, my son goes there, my grandparents went there.
I had the same doctor until I was 12 and then I started to have serious health issues and was taken over by another doctor in this cetner because they have a medical background that was more beneficial to me and my health. This doctor retired 2 years ago and my file was taken over by another doctor (who I knew because he was a doctor at this medical cetner for 15 years now). So my whole family has been going to this same medical center for our whole lifetimes. It is great because the nurses know you, the doctors know you. You see your doctor when youa re out grocery shopping or walking to the park (etc) its a small community.
The only thing that bothers me is that because it is a small community (2000 people) with around 2000 more in the surrounding rural areas, no new doctor wants to move out in the middle of hayfields and cow pasture to be a doctor. Once these doctors that we ahve now decide to retire (and they are all over the age of 40) what are we going to do?
1 person likes this
@limcyjain (3516)
• India
18 May 07
I too have been seeing the same doctor for around ten years now since marriage. Before my marriage we needed to change our doctor often as my father is a bank manager and transfers are quite often. Being with one doctor does help as over the years he knows your body's capacities and weak points. He knows what medicines give you quick recovery and to which your body is allergic to. So he can treat you accordingly. I have had another doctor who has done my surgeries during pregnancy days. However i do not plan to return back to her as she has become too old to handle surgeries and moreover the facilities in her nursing hospital are too low to handle any emergency situations.
@dragonstar13 (1465)
• United States
18 May 07
I belong to an HMO and they change providers about as often as most people change their socks. Seems I go through about 2 doctors a year.
The good side of that is I have had to become my own health advocate. I know what my issues are, the meds I take and the potential side effects, what tests I need and how often, etc, etc. I can now give a new doctor an extensive medical history about as fast as they can write. And I can give them just about all the pertinent info in under 5 minutes, which is good cause the HMO only allows them 15 minutes per patient, including exam, consultation and all paperwork.
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
18 May 07
That is awful, I have had about quick 10 min. visits and extended visits of up to 25 -30 min. with my doctor as needed. He is busy too but always willing to take the extra time with a patient if needed. He will have his staff call patients and let them know if he is more than 20 min. behind on the schedule. That's why I like him and his staff.
@perrygunight (555)
• United States
18 May 07
I've been seeing the same doctor for almost 20 years, but I told too many people how good he is, so sometimes he's busy and I have to see one of his associates. That's okay. They're good.
Some people I know travel across the country to visit family and schedule their eye and tooth checkups for while they're there. It seems like it would be a good idea to find doctors closer to home, but what do I know?
1 person likes this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
18 May 07
I agree about finding a dr. closer to home. THere are just too many little things that could happen that would be a cost to get back to other dr. to see. Everytime I have moved I have tried to find a new dr. as soon as I could and get the medical records transferred.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
18 May 07
I am seeing my doctor for the last 5 years and I went to see her first when my other family doctor passed away.
I find it is important that we have one doctor that do know us and our medical history as opposed to someone new every once in a while that will have to start history all over again.
I have been lucky with my family doctors as they have always been great and excellent doctors.
@vokey9472 (1486)
• United States
18 May 07
I have had the same medical doctor since about 1992. I love her. My dentist finally retired, but I had him from the time I was 8 until he retired last year when I was 34. My eye doctor has been the same since I was 20 so that is almost 15 years now. I just dont see the point in jumping from doctor to doctor unless you need to see a specialist or something.
@mflower2053 (3223)
• United States
18 May 07
My dentist I just started going back to the one I used to go to when I was a kid. I had to have a root canal done while pregnant and everyone I asked was too scared to do it. He fast hes nice I'm staying with him.
My ob is new. My old ob moved because of hurricane Katrina she lost everything. The one I have now is really nice and very helpful.
My regular dr which I really never see has been the same for about 8 years now. Come to think about it. I only seen him once and that was many years ago.
I see my ob more then any other dr so I ask her most of my questions.
1 person likes this
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
18 May 07
I believe all doctors are very good what ever fields they have. But sometimes its only by agreeable with some one. Like me and my family we have many kinds of doctors known but we have also the doctors that we regularly visited whenever we are sick like my daughters pediatrician from the time she was born up to now we never intend to visit other doctors that we known, aside from my childrens pedia we have also family doctors that we serve as for almost 13yrs now.
@besthorses2004 (23)
• United States
18 May 07
I don't have a doctor! But I also don't have medical insurance! As soon as I get medical insurance I am going shopping for a good female doctor that I can trust!! But my parents have been seeing a male doctor for along time so I don't know exactly what I am going to do!
1 person likes this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
18 May 07
Hi besthorses, I can suggest a few doctors for you, both here and in Manhattan that are or have female doctors or nurse practitioners onboard. Give me a call when you are ready to look. My sister and youngest daughter both see a female gynecologist over in Manhattan.
