I just have to share this experience with all of you... I myself am still n shock. I am having some health issues that required me to go see a Gynecologist. This was a new doctor to me, female. When the nurse met with me she took a detailed history, and started the "Are you safe in your home questions" which I am DH is still very passive. She asked about family stress, and I just casually mentioned DH Alzheimer's and life in general. The nurse left the room and when the doctor came in she sat down and looked me in the eye, and said so how is your year going, I answered my standard you fine which is code for you do not really want to know. She then said to me I understand your husband has Alzheimer's, I said yes but that I was handling it just fine. She looked me squarely on the eye touching my hand and said "When was the last time you had a good cry" and immediately the tears came. From that point forward she treated me like a I was the only patient she had, she said I could trust her and the office to be a safe place to cry. She had cared for her mother with Alzheimer's at home for the last 5 years of her life. I can not put into words the experience with this doctor. I wound up having a biopsy in the office and was a 15 minute scheduled appointment, turned into 2 and half hours of careful evaluation and concern. When I apologized for putting her behind schedule, she said "They can wait... when I get to them I will give them the same quality of care I gave you. They do not have going on there life, what you have going on in yours, if they can't wait, the can reschedule" then after the biopsy they moved me to another room put my feet up and gave me ibuprofen and told me to stay thee and relax as long as I needed. I was shocked and overwhelmed with her quality of care. This gives me such hope.
Would you mind telling us what city and state this was? Approximately what is the doctor's age? I ask because she is a rare gem, not found in very many places.
About 8 years ago, just when things were beginning to change with Sid, I went to a new (for me) GYN in Boston. She happened to be named Joan, was about my age, and from "the old school", in that she had a single practice that was her own. She did not belong to a large group. When I told her what was going on with my husband, she said that I was beginning to have a child instead of a husband, and she held my hand. I was shocked that someone understood what was happening, even at that early stage. For all the doctors who are ignorant about Alzheimer's Disease and too rushed to care about you as a person, there are a few like the one you describe and the one I had. Wish we could clone them.
this has touched me so much too. That woman deserves recognition. If people only realized, (including us), how much it means to a hurting person to feel love coming their way, we we all likely do it more.
Oh my gosh Joan her name is Joan! probably early to mid 60i sh I think?! I am in Minnesota her office is in St. Louis Park. Do you remember her last name?
Oh my this touched my heart...we all need a Dr like that, someone to take the time to listen to us, to understand, and most of all to care.. She's a keeper for sure, a thank you card for her would be nice, Sherizee.
My Joan is Joan Golub - http://physiciandirectory.brighamandwomens.org/directory/profile.asp?dbase=main&setsize=1&pict_id=0001622
She is in Boston. She is also in her mid 60's. She also teaches medical students. One time I was having a D & C like procedure in the office that was going to take about 10 minutes. I asked her for novocaine or whatever and she gave it to me. I felt nothing when she did the procedure. She said that the thinking and teaching today is that for 10 minutes, you can stand the pain and don't need lidocane (sp?). She said she teaches medical students that 10 minutes of pain can last in your memory forever, and then you'll be less likely to return to the doctor for any procedures for fear of pain. She insists on the lidocane. I love that woman.
I am fortunate,several of the specialists I see alsways hug me and show concern ofr how I am coping.They will often sit and talk to me to the consternation of the staff because getting behind their They say the next patient can wait,they would do the dame for them.Lat year when I was in ER the nale nurse gave me his phone if I needed someone to talk with, That really touched my heart. This hospital it known for it's compassion compared to our smaller local one.I do hope there are nore like it
As long as we are praising doctors I want to chime in. I took Ron to the nurologist last Thursday and he finally got to see Ron in one of his really negative nasty moods. Anything the Dr asked him was answered with " everything is someone elses fault" type answers. I told him I didn't think the Citaolpram (Celexa) was working any more and asked about Seroquel. He said we could try it.
Well, this morning the Dr called me to ask if there was anything else I wanted to discuss since Ron was so negative when we were there last week. I told him about the trouble I have getting him to take the meds and getting him into the shower. I asked again about the Seroquel since it hadn't come in the mail yet. He said they don't like to give things to make them dopey but sometimes its better than the alternative and safer for the caregiver. He said he knew that I was going through a rough time.
Anyway, I was impressed that he took the time to call to see how I was doing !
I just started Medicare this year and have not had a PCP until now. In searching for a doctor and being on a waiting list, calling other offices, I found in our area some doctors were not taking any new patients, others were taking existing patients only. Fed up, I finally marched into an office here in town. The doctor is a concierge doctor..membership fee is on an annual basis. I walked into her office which is actually in a Victorian house in the Village. The walls are powder blue with white trim, plush carpet and a Victorian couch and two beautiful chairs and a round end table with lamp. The ceiling has a chandalier with one of the more modern lampshades around it and the crystals dropping down. The check in counter does not have glass windows between you and the receptionist....and her desk is nice and large with plenty of room and no clutter. Behind her is a fireplace with a huge round mirror trimmed with pewter ( or something that looked like that.) Her exam rooms are HUGE and she has little fireplace looking heaters so patients are not freezing during exam. When you first go in, there are two chairs with a little table beteen them where she has her folders to hand to each new patient.When I went in for an interview before joining her clinic, she invited me into the exam room and offered a cup of coffee, tea or water...imagine that?! We sat and talked for an hour, as she had my medical history intake sheets...The best part, she makes house calls and if you have to go to a specialist she will go with you. Those two areas are additional fees. But you can call her anytime, email her, she answers her calls and emails immediately. And the most important part of this first visit was her telling me about how she practices...and that she has many Alz patients and the caregivers...woo hoo...that was just what I was searching for. So last Friday I had a check up and got the orders for the other usual tests..But what moved in over the weekend was more sensory misery from my new experience with migraines. I called this morning to see if I could get in and I was in at 11! She spent an hour with me ( I was with her for 90 minutes for the check up) and today she did her best to put me at ease. During the time I was with her I had another one of those visual migraines that lasted total time about 15 minutes. She then invited me to the waiting room ( living room) where is is more comfortable and offered a cup of the best coffee I have had in a long time...and in 3 sips the migraine was gone. She also put me on Lexapro..I have to read up on this med before I take it...she said I need to get the cortasiol (sp) and adrenalin in balance and the anxiety level lowered....I was told to call anytime I have concerns.. I really is worth taking the time to search out a good and understanding doctor..and by the way..she said I need to let the water works go which helps with the stress...she also said I may have to start considering placement rather than risk my health too...She is a hand holder....and will be there to help make the tough decisions. By the way, her receptionist had just placed her mom who also has ALZ.
I am still worried about me, however. I have these sensory buzzies in hands and legs and feet..not to bad when I move about, my head sometimes feels full or a pressure, maybe Meniere's is back, and it can make me feel a little light headed now and then..and tired, features of Meniere's and Migraine and allergy all seem somehow interrelated. I have had a physical, waiting for blood results news, had a follow up TB test if the first it neg with the history of false neg they repeat it, and a DEXA scan and a foot doc appt for both of us this afternoon. Then tomorrow a friend is going to drive us, since I don't feel safe on the freeway at the moment, to the ENT and I will see about the Meniere's. These jingles started 3 days after I got the flu shot but the doctor thinks it is all coincidence. I think she is right, not that scary GB syndrome that has sometimes been associated with it, it is my doctor's view, and she takes care of many ALZ patients and caregivers, that it is anxiety and stress and I need to be calmed down and hopefully these symptoms will subside. I trust her opinion, she knows the doctors my DH sees and trusts their judgement. So I have to just cool my jets...Even my neighbor has said for the past few years the last two in particular, I have been up full throttle and I could just be pushing adrenalin hard. She said with the bloods she ordered she did not include that cortasteiol (sp) but she would expect the values to be high. So she ordered Lexapro for me..anyone ever taken that one? I have no real history of pills and hate taking them...resisted it...step daughter no 2 has said for the last 2 years I need an anti anxiety ( she is on them for whatever her issues are).. This morning I felt ok getting up, had coffee and now am having some cereal and got the kittens, my joy in life, fed and hubby medicated and now I need a nap...feel the fullness in my head a little bit..I really suspect Menieres is in the picture too..damn and double damn.
Mimi, are you sure you didn't just dream about this doctor? (smile). I've never heard of anything like this. How very blessed you are to have found her. I sure hope you can get those migraines under control.
While we are praising our doctors, I'd like to add my input. Earlier this month I had surgery for Squamous cell carcinoma inside my left cheek. Scary and painful. I placed DH in respite care in order to recuperate. My face swelled so badly and I was so uncomfortable my daughter called the surgeon's office for advice only to be told he was out of the office that day - in his office in a nearby town. In a few minutes my phone rang. He said "This is your doctor, I'm on the highway now and if you will give me your address I will come by your house." I was amazed - in a few minutes the doorbell rang and there he was! He washed his hands, asked for a spoon to help see into my mouth, called in a prescription for an additional antibiotic, and comforted me. I was flabbergasted (is that a word?).
I needed that comfort because the respite care provider called and asked me to come get DH because he had assaulted a caregiver with his walker. Turns out they had messed up on his Seroquel. I went to get him and he never noticed my facial swelling or the fact that I could barely talk or sip my liquid diet. And yes, my kitty was a great comfort during that time.