MY INTERNIST REALLY LIKES ME,BUT

[larry ziegler]

She dislikes my wife,who is very confronting,+difficult to perscribe for!
She, the Internest, has even gone as far as say,"your side pain could be a metastasized(sp?) tumor, or a muscular problem", when all it was was a mere type of arthritic pain diagnosed later. She seemed to say her scary sentence merely to be punishing to her, as she has done before!

I like her most of the time, BUT

WHAT TO DO,GET ANOTHER DOCTOR?

As I'm handicapped, I need my wife to accompany me!

[Purple98Lady]

Hi Larry

How do you feel about your relationship with your internist excluding your wife? As you state your handicapped and need your wife to assist you there. I'm assuming its a physical handicap. Maybe you can encourage your wife to let you talk to your Dr. and avoid the conflict when prescribing to you. Let her talk to the internist with her problems for treatment. It's unfortunate situation but if I liked my Dr. I would try to work it out. Dr's and patients come in all varieties, sometimes both will show sides that are maybe not considered to be professional. And no where is it written Dr's have to like our whole families. Its all up to you and how you feel about the medical treatment you receive. Best of luck to you both.

Purple98Lady

[Dr. Joshua]

Do you usually see the doctor together, you and your wife - is she in the office, too? Does it make a difference if you go alone?

[larry ziegler]

As I have Disarthria, she is there to help me communicate better.

[Purple98Lady]

Well then Larry that explains why is important to have your wife with you to communicate with the Dr. and help you. I don't know how or why your speech is effected maybe from a stroke? Can you write with either hand? Maybe you could write your questions down to give your Dr. prior to your visit. Can you write or discuss with your wife the need to not be so confronting with your Dr? Have you had speech therapy? As you improve, maybe you can communicate more with your Dr. If all else fails you may have to find a Dr. that can address your wife and at the same time help you.

I wanted to welcome you to Dr. Joshua's forum, glad to have you hear. :)

Purple98Lady

[larry ziegler]

Please see my "history"+question,larry

[Dr. Joshua]

From a doctor's point of view, this is a tricky situation, too. If the doctor (perhaps unknowingly) projects her unease with your wife to your doctor-patient relationship, she will probably not be able to examine, treat and inform you to the best of her professional capability. There are some options: Try to be open about this issue and discuss it with your doctor, or you could see if you can visit her without the help of your wife - I don't know how severe your dysarthria is, but many doctors are quite good at finding ways to communicate. Your wife should not have a problem with you going alone - if she does, then perhaps she has some issues about empowering you to take more control of your life. Another option, of course, is to visit another doctor and see if things go more smoothly. However, I wouldn't be too hasty in changing doctors especially if you feel you have a good working relationship with your current doctor - such a relationship can be hard to find.

I often find it much easier to communicate in complete privacy with my patient, even if there are communication difficulties. Having another person present, especially one that may be in a position of power over the patient, may degrade the doctor-patient experience. It is most useful to have both private appointments and family appointments.

These are just some thoughts that come to mind, of course since I have so little information about you and the situation you are in, these ideas may not necessarily apply to your situation. Good luck,