PART 1 (of 3)
In the previous blog series I discussed the politics of the hospitals and how to optimize your stay. Let’s turn our attentions to the office practice and how to get the best care.
Why do you need an Endocrinologist?
Common specialties like Obstetrics or Neurology need no explanations. Less obvious ones like Endocrinology still seem so mysterious to many in part due to the esoteric nature of our methods. We used to be called “The Doctor’s Doctor” not because we only cared for physicians, but because the systems of the body that we are experts in are so esoteric and seemingly unconnected, that only your family doctor would know when you needed our help. We never had fancy testing or expensive equipment to help us unravel the tangled web of seemingly unrelated symptoms. All we’ve ever had or needed was our training and expertise to be able to assemble the puzzle pieces into a recognizable picture for you, the patient.
The internet has expanded our reach in ways that we could have never dreamt of as children. Many of my colleagues are never happy to hear “I looked this up on the internet” come out of a patient’s mouth. I don’t feel the same way at all. I am more than happy to have a patient who has taken the initiative to research their concerns, possible diagnoses and treatment options. An educated patient is an involved patient and this is in general a good thing! This puts me in the enviable position of having a foundation of knowledge to build and grow from. So like any good detective, I need you to tell me everything you know, exactly how you came to know that for only then can we uncover the diagnoses at the root of your concerns.
As I said, we don’t have fancy testing so we rely heavily on the history that you, the patient provide us. Your family’s medical history is a key to what type of genetic diseases you may harbor. Your personal symptoms and complaints are critical to clue us in as to where to look for trouble. I realize that many people don’t know a lot about their family history, some of you may be adopted or have a small family. No matter how little you know, any information you can provide is meaningful.
All too often, my older patients will brush off complaints or concerns blaming “old age” when in fact a complaint of “fatigue” or “weakness” may be a sign of thyroid disease or diabetes. So when you research your complaints online, you may see that there are other symptoms that you may have ignored and never told me about – but after reading about them, you’ll likely bring them up. We may ultimately decide that a symptom is not relevant, but that discussion is the essence of your medical visit.
As I’ve said before, your relationship with your medical professionals is a two way conversation. You tell us a story, pay us for our diagnostic expertise and then we decide what to do with that information.