Hello JREFfers!
I went to a doctor yesterday for the first time in ages and ages. I've been feeling some "heart palpitations" (I'm not sure they are really, but the description works pretty well) and I have a lump growing on the back of my noggin, which I expect is probably just a cyst. I smoke, and I drink a TON of caffeine.
So, first off, the hospital who recommended the doctor (using a referral service) called him "Gus" and all the paperwork called him "Gus" but the sign on the office door and his diplomas were all for "Constantine." His last name (changed to protect the possibly innocent) was Mydoctor and the office next door was Mydoctor and Mydoctor law offices. So I was tempted to ask him whether his parents were more proud of him, or his brothers, but I didn't.
Anyhow, that's just setting the scene. I met the nurse, waited for Gus to show up, and when he did, we got right to talking. He struck me as a straight shooter... I told him my problems and he asked how much I smoke. I said, "about a pack a day -- I'd really like to try quitting again, I hear there is some new drug that makes it much easier."
He says, "No, you don't want that drug; it's not going to work for you. What you need is laser treatment!"
Well, I'm intrigued. I say, "Laser anti-smoking treatment? Never heard of it... what is the mechanism by which that is supposed to work?" -- I'm having a hard time imagining how to apply a laser to stop you from smoking, unless they burn off my hands or lungs, I suppose.
His response? "I don't know and you ask too many questions!" and then he went on to tell me how laser treatment works for so many people, the drugs only work if you've convinced yourself to quit, if I'm not into it mentally, then I won't stay quit regardless, etc. Then he adds, "The laser treatment works because you pay $400 for it."
Well, I was embarassed FOR him at this point so I said, "You mean it's the placebo effect?" He took a little while before agreeing yes, it is. And still recommended to me that it was the path I take. I don't get that at all.
a) Can a physician recommend a placebo treatment in the first place? If he does, why is it so hard to get double-blind medical testing done? Just give half of them the placebo; it's OK.
b) Is laser smoking treatment absolutely BS? All I can find about it is it's accupuncture. It works on "meridians." It's BS.
c) If I, the patient, know it's just a placebo, doesn't that ruin any possibility of it working?
( d) if he knew how to read people even the littlest bit wouldn't he reaslize I'm not the type of person for whom a ******** treatment is going to work? Does that mean he thinks the laser treatment is the real thing? )
The "I don't know and you ask too many questions" bothered me; especially considering it was the first question I'd asked him. A few other lines stand out from the consultation: he asked me out of the blue if I was one of the smartest guys in my class, I said, "uh... maybe" instead of "yes" and he made a comment about my modesty. But then later he asked me where I went to college and I admitted I didn't, and he said, "oh, you're too good for the rest of us?" I think he was joking but it was hard to tell. And at one point I started addressing him by name, I said, "Gus, right?" He said, "yes" and I said, "is Gus usually short for Constantine? I never knew that!" and he kind of flinched and said, "Well, you learn something new every day!" It was just an odd response; you might have had to be there. NOT that I suspect there is anything actually weird about his name; it's just another point of interest. I know other greeks with weird nicknames, like a Konstantino who goes by "Jimmy."
His advice to me about the things I came in for was equal parts good and disturbing: he said, cut out the caffeine, stop smoking, and you'll be all good. I'm pretty certain he's right about that. He also refused to give me any smoking treatment, drugs or lasers, until I was SURE I wanted to quit. Since I went in saying I wanted to quit, I'm not sure what else he wanted, but OK. He also said "But you're the customer; if you want me to write you a prescription I will." To me, that's another big red flag.
As far as the cyst on my noggin, he touched it once, declared it a swollen lymph node, and declared that is normal for smokers, and to not worry about it. I've been smoking for almost ten years and never had a lump like this, or like anything else for that matter. Did he dismiss it too casually?
Anyhow, I'm going to talk to the people at Blue Cross about whether my health plan will cover another visit to another doctor for the same problems if I think my current doctor might just be a quack. I have almost no knowledge of what to expect from Doctors, though, since I really have lamost never been to one as an adult. What shoudl I expect? Assuming I have the option of picking a better one, how do I actually choose?
Any advice appreciated.
-Chris
I went to a doctor yesterday for the first time in ages and ages. I've been feeling some "heart palpitations" (I'm not sure they are really, but the description works pretty well) and I have a lump growing on the back of my noggin, which I expect is probably just a cyst. I smoke, and I drink a TON of caffeine.
So, first off, the hospital who recommended the doctor (using a referral service) called him "Gus" and all the paperwork called him "Gus" but the sign on the office door and his diplomas were all for "Constantine." His last name (changed to protect the possibly innocent) was Mydoctor and the office next door was Mydoctor and Mydoctor law offices. So I was tempted to ask him whether his parents were more proud of him, or his brothers, but I didn't.
Anyhow, that's just setting the scene. I met the nurse, waited for Gus to show up, and when he did, we got right to talking. He struck me as a straight shooter... I told him my problems and he asked how much I smoke. I said, "about a pack a day -- I'd really like to try quitting again, I hear there is some new drug that makes it much easier."
He says, "No, you don't want that drug; it's not going to work for you. What you need is laser treatment!"
Well, I'm intrigued. I say, "Laser anti-smoking treatment? Never heard of it... what is the mechanism by which that is supposed to work?" -- I'm having a hard time imagining how to apply a laser to stop you from smoking, unless they burn off my hands or lungs, I suppose.
His response? "I don't know and you ask too many questions!" and then he went on to tell me how laser treatment works for so many people, the drugs only work if you've convinced yourself to quit, if I'm not into it mentally, then I won't stay quit regardless, etc. Then he adds, "The laser treatment works because you pay $400 for it."
Well, I was embarassed FOR him at this point so I said, "You mean it's the placebo effect?" He took a little while before agreeing yes, it is. And still recommended to me that it was the path I take. I don't get that at all.
a) Can a physician recommend a placebo treatment in the first place? If he does, why is it so hard to get double-blind medical testing done? Just give half of them the placebo; it's OK.
b) Is laser smoking treatment absolutely BS? All I can find about it is it's accupuncture. It works on "meridians." It's BS.
c) If I, the patient, know it's just a placebo, doesn't that ruin any possibility of it working?
( d) if he knew how to read people even the littlest bit wouldn't he reaslize I'm not the type of person for whom a ******** treatment is going to work? Does that mean he thinks the laser treatment is the real thing? )
The "I don't know and you ask too many questions" bothered me; especially considering it was the first question I'd asked him. A few other lines stand out from the consultation: he asked me out of the blue if I was one of the smartest guys in my class, I said, "uh... maybe" instead of "yes" and he made a comment about my modesty. But then later he asked me where I went to college and I admitted I didn't, and he said, "oh, you're too good for the rest of us?" I think he was joking but it was hard to tell. And at one point I started addressing him by name, I said, "Gus, right?" He said, "yes" and I said, "is Gus usually short for Constantine? I never knew that!" and he kind of flinched and said, "Well, you learn something new every day!" It was just an odd response; you might have had to be there. NOT that I suspect there is anything actually weird about his name; it's just another point of interest. I know other greeks with weird nicknames, like a Konstantino who goes by "Jimmy."
His advice to me about the things I came in for was equal parts good and disturbing: he said, cut out the caffeine, stop smoking, and you'll be all good. I'm pretty certain he's right about that. He also refused to give me any smoking treatment, drugs or lasers, until I was SURE I wanted to quit. Since I went in saying I wanted to quit, I'm not sure what else he wanted, but OK. He also said "But you're the customer; if you want me to write you a prescription I will." To me, that's another big red flag.
As far as the cyst on my noggin, he touched it once, declared it a swollen lymph node, and declared that is normal for smokers, and to not worry about it. I've been smoking for almost ten years and never had a lump like this, or like anything else for that matter. Did he dismiss it too casually?
Anyhow, I'm going to talk to the people at Blue Cross about whether my health plan will cover another visit to another doctor for the same problems if I think my current doctor might just be a quack. I have almost no knowledge of what to expect from Doctors, though, since I really have lamost never been to one as an adult. What shoudl I expect? Assuming I have the option of picking a better one, how do I actually choose?
Any advice appreciated.
-Chris
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