Does Your Doctor Give Advice About Your Other Ailments?
By MerryBelle
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
Philippines
September 15, 2021 8:53pm CST
Have you ever gone to a new doctor for a first consult about something, but when he asks for your medical history, he spends a long time discussing your other ailments instead?
I already knew about most of the dietary changes he was suggesting and, to be fair, got some useful tips. But it became awkward because it went on and on and on and there were 2 or 3 more patients waiting outside.
When he finally started the examination, he decided to do two other tests while I'm there so that also took a long time - and cost me a lot, too!
There are doctors you trust and feel at ease with and have known a while that you can discuss other ailments or laboratory/diagnostic results that are not his or her specialty. In turn, they will help explain things to you, give you suggestions on what to discuss with the other doctor, and/or make an appropriate referral.
But that's different from meeting a new doctor for the first time, right?
11 people like this
11 responses
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
16 Sep 21
As I opened the door to leave, I heard him ask his secretary how many more patients and when she told him, he said that he was going to be late for something. 
I do plan to try some of his suggestions, and I bet he'll ask me about them when I return after 2 weeks.
I do plan to try some of his suggestions, and I bet he'll ask me about them when I return after 2 weeks. 3 people like this
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
16 Sep 21
@DianneN I do understand more and more doctors are advocating disease prevention through lifestyle changes starting with what we eat and drink, how much of this, less of that.
He even listed them down at the back of the prescription and showed me pictures of them on his cellphone. 
3 people like this
@allknowing (136099)
• India
16 Sep 21
I have a couple of doctors who I consult over the phone
2 people like this
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
16 Sep 21
We've been having teleconsults and home service for tests for our mother. It's expensive, but safer for her.
2 people like this
@Sydalg242811 (380)
• Baguio, Philippines
28 Sep 21
yes dear it is true. but for now we have a family doctor that we can say he is good . we tried a lot of doctors but this doctor is so different, you will feel amazed because he almost know and he will.explain it well.
1 person likes this
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
30 Sep 21
Good for you. We have a family doctor here in our neighborhood who I still go to for non-specialist illness or to get a second opinion.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 21
@merrybelle2021 I see that i don't visit at all..
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35509)
• Philippines
16 Sep 21
I go to the same doctor when I had my vertigo in 2015. I don't experience him asking about other ailments.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35509)
• Philippines
16 Sep 21
@merrybelle2021 He is a doctor at St Luke's QC. I was there before the pandemic. And eversince it started, I have never visited the doctor.
1 person likes this
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
16 Sep 21
Is he a specialist or a family doctor/general practitioner?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
16 Sep 21
Yes, that's fairly common here. I switched doctors three years ago and the new doctor made us feel at ease and talked with us about everything the last doctor had done/suggested and didn't do or suggest. We really liked him... And then Covid hit and he moved back to his family halfway across the US...
So the next doctor did the same thing... She talked to us about everything just the way the other doctor had, commenting on what he'd prescribed and what was happening with us now...
I like that they take the time to get to know new patients and find out about them and their lives...
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
16 Sep 21
@merrybelle2021 He sounds like he was being thorough...
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
16 Sep 21
@merrybelle2021 I wouldn't worry about what the other patients think. They will get to see him when it's their turn...
If his suggestions make sense, maybe he believes what others have done isn't working well enough...
1 person likes this
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
16 Sep 21
@DaddyEvil He had to explain a lot because his suggestions were so different from what doctors are still prescribing.
I don't mind if I was the last patient. The others were probably wondering why my session took so long.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
16 Sep 21
It has happened to me in the past but only because the doctor wanted to find out more about my medical history.
1 person likes this
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
16 Sep 21
Yes, it's standard practice for them to ask about past illnesses, procedures, diseases and disorders from both sides of the family, etc.
1 person likes this
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
20 Sep 21
It's my first time with him, and I will see him again after 2 weeks.
1 person likes this
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
17 Sep 21
I can understand for old patients, but not new patients, unless they already asked the patient for fill out a detailed history that the doctor has already reviewed.
I hope you get a better doctor.
1 person likes this
@peachpurple (13962)
• Malaysia
16 Sep 21
Some doctors are kind to check but best to ask patient opinion first. If the price is adding up, might as well not knowing the others ailments
1 person likes this
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
16 Sep 21
I know he means well and I did get some useful tips.
I'm glad I had enough money with me, and the initial results were good.
