Comments on: Judge Not http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/ Thoughts of a moderately strange (yet not harmful) primary care physician. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:38:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: GeoerdieKin http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/comment-page-1/#comment-4239 GeoerdieKin Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:23:20 +0000 http://distractible.org/?p=1968#comment-4239 Robin, I know exactly what you mean when you write that your doc winces when you call as you're never a straight-forward case as my son and I are the same way. We have coined it the "1% factor" because with my family if there is only a 1% chance on something happening then it will happen to us. Most people think I am just being humorous when I tell them about the 1% until they get to know my husband, son, and I better....lol The sad truth is the 1% does not only affect us medically but in most all aspects of life, but we have accepted this with all the humor that we can muster....if we didn't we'd be too depressed to survive it. The hubby and I were actually thinking about getting 1% tattoos until we learned that a 1% tattoo is a Motorcycle club/gang tat meaning that the person with the tat belongs to the 1% of Bikers live a criminal lifestyle...at least we avoided that problem..lol I totally agree with Dr. Rob being someone who practices good medicine and treats his patients very well...in fact I am very envious of his patients as I have yet to find a physician that comes close to his demeanor. And To Dr. Rob...Please do not beat yourself up over experiencing a feeling of apathy at the time of this patients visit....you were not cruel to him, or planning on being such.....you are also not infallible...we all experience a wide array of emotions when dealing with patients/people. The more important issue here is that you recovered yourself quickly enough to help your patient, and you learned from the experience which is all we as humans can offer. ~Judi Robin, I know exactly what you mean when you write that your doc winces when you call as you’re never a straight-forward case as my son and I are the same way. We have coined it the “1% factor” because with my family if there is only a 1% chance on something happening then it will happen to us. Most people think I am just being humorous when I tell them about the 1% until they get to know my husband, son, and I better….lol The sad truth is the 1% does not only affect us medically but in most all aspects of life, but we have accepted this with all the humor that we can muster….if we didn’t we’d be too depressed to survive it.

The hubby and I were actually thinking about getting 1% tattoos until we learned that a 1% tattoo is a Motorcycle club/gang tat meaning that the person with the tat belongs to the 1% of Bikers live a criminal lifestyle…at least we avoided that problem..lol

I totally agree with Dr. Rob being someone who practices good medicine and treats his patients very well…in fact I am very envious of his patients as I have yet to find a physician that comes close to his demeanor.

And To Dr. Rob…Please do not beat yourself up over experiencing a feeling of apathy at the time of this patients visit….you were not cruel to him, or planning on being such…..you are also not infallible…we all experience a wide array of emotions when dealing with patients/people. The more important issue here is that you recovered yourself quickly enough to help your patient, and you learned from the experience which is all we as humans can offer.
~Judi

]]> By: Compassion in Practice « Psychosomatic PA http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3603 Compassion in Practice « Psychosomatic PA Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:07:06 +0000 http://distractible.org/?p=1968#comment-3603 [...] the issue of the difficult patient from the provider’s perspective. You can read the post here. I know I drove my doc nuts, but I was always grateful for his patience with me. I only hope I can [...] [...] the issue of the difficult patient from the provider’s perspective. You can read the post here. I know I drove my doc nuts, but I was always grateful for his patience with me. I only hope I can [...]

]]> By: Barbara K. http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3306 Barbara K. Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:50:12 +0000 http://distractible.org/?p=1968#comment-3306 All I can say about this post is - Thank You. All I can say about this post is – Thank You.

]]> By: Rob http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3290 Rob Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:34:04 +0000 http://distractible.org/?p=1968#comment-3290 Christine: Your experience will do much for your ability to relate to patients. You know how they feel - awkward and self-conscious, most of the time - so you will be able to meet their needs better. Many providers have no idea how hard it is to sit in the place of the patient. Christine:
Your experience will do much for your ability to relate to patients. You know how they feel – awkward and self-conscious, most of the time – so you will be able to meet their needs better. Many providers have no idea how hard it is to sit in the place of the patient.

]]> By: Christine http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3288 Christine Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:48:30 +0000 http://distractible.org/?p=1968#comment-3288 I WAS the biggest hypochondriac, and I cannot express how dreadfully embarrassed I was when I finally figured it out. It wasn't that no one had ever suggested it might be related to anxiety - I just refused to believe it because my symptoms were so real to me. Although delusional, I was completely sincere. The fact that my doc never lost patience with me through all of my theatrics meant a lot to me and made a real difference when I was so fixated on my health; had he treated me otherwise, my life may have turned out differently. I'm in PA school now, and although I know from my own experience what it's like to BE that patient who is in the clinic all the time, calling all the time, taking a gazillion unnecessary medications, and getting multiple million-dollar workups, I still fear that my patience may eventually wear thin when I'm dealing with as difficult a case as I once was. Thankfully, examples like you and my old doc give me hope that it is possible to keep things in perspective... and to treat the PERSON, no matter how annoying he or she can be. Thanks for sharing this. :) I WAS the biggest hypochondriac, and I cannot express how dreadfully embarrassed I was when I finally figured it out. It wasn’t that no one had ever suggested it might be related to anxiety – I just refused to believe it because my symptoms were so real to me. Although delusional, I was completely sincere. The fact that my doc never lost patience with me through all of my theatrics meant a lot to me and made a real difference when I was so fixated on my health; had he treated me otherwise, my life may have turned out differently.

I’m in PA school now, and although I know from my own experience what it’s like to BE that patient who is in the clinic all the time, calling all the time, taking a gazillion unnecessary medications, and getting multiple million-dollar workups, I still fear that my patience may eventually wear thin when I’m dealing with as difficult a case as I once was. Thankfully, examples like you and my old doc give me hope that it is possible to keep things in perspective… and to treat the PERSON, no matter how annoying he or she can be.

Thanks for sharing this. :)

]]> By: SIMD http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3287 SIMD Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:35:11 +0000 http://distractible.org/?p=1968#comment-3287 I hope your attitude will rub off on lots and lots of doctors out there. I guess I am one of those patients my PCP hates to see coming. We KNOW how difficult we are too. We KNOW the anxiety causes physical symptoms. That is one of the most frustrating things about mental illness to me...to KNOW all this and still not be able to control it or make it go away. When you get aggravated by a difficult patient and wonder why you're in the profession you're in, remember the fact that you will probably never know how many people you touched in ways that will last a life time. I hope your attitude will rub off on lots and lots of doctors out there. I guess I am one of those patients my PCP hates to see coming. We KNOW how difficult we are too. We KNOW the anxiety causes physical symptoms.

That is one of the most frustrating things about mental illness to me…to KNOW all this and still not be able to control it or make it go away.

When you get aggravated by a difficult patient and wonder why you’re in the profession you’re in, remember the fact that you will probably never know how many people you touched in ways that will last a life time.

]]> By: Frank Drackman http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3286 Frank Drackman Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:08:29 +0000 http://distractible.org/?p=1968#comment-3286 My apologies Rob, for assuming you gave him an SSRI or NERI, or whatever RI the Drug Reps are pushing this month, you just said "Medication"....aren't those Cialis Samples Great!!!!!???? My apologies Rob, for assuming you gave him an SSRI or NERI, or whatever RI the Drug Reps are pushing this month, you just said “Medication”….aren’t those Cialis Samples Great!!!!!????

]]> By: James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H. http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3285 James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H. Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:02:50 +0000 http://distractible.org/?p=1968#comment-3285 Good post, and a reminder that, sometimes, a little time spent, empathy and reassurance go a long way. Good post,
and a reminder that, sometimes, a little time spent, empathy and reassurance go a long way.

]]> By: Robin http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3284 Robin Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:49:28 +0000 http://distractible.org/?p=1968#comment-3284 Judy's post she was talking about is at <a href=http://herdingzebras.blogspot.com</a> which is a blog that is written by multiple authors, including Judy. It's not "my" blog. Rob, I think you'll find her post interesting. I'm not advertising and you are welcome to wipe this if it looks that way. Secondly, thank you for a refreshing post. I know my PCP winces when I call. She's honest about it. And it's not so much that she dreads me coming in (at least that's what she says) but that I'm never a straight-forward case. I welcome her bluntness and honesty. She isn't perfect, but I do know she cares. And she hugs me. Now, that's medicine that is priceless. So, Dr. Rob...you are good medicine when you treat patients like you treated this fellow. And your brutal honesty about yourself and your inner thoughts reveals an effort to make a difference with your patients. That's what counts. Thank you. Judy’s post she was talking about is at <a href=http://herdingzebras.blogspot.com which is a blog that is written by multiple authors, including Judy. It’s not “my” blog. Rob, I think you’ll find her post interesting. I’m not advertising and you are welcome to wipe this if it looks that way.

Secondly, thank you for a refreshing post. I know my PCP winces when I call. She’s honest about it. And it’s not so much that she dreads me coming in (at least that’s what she says) but that I’m never a straight-forward case. I welcome her bluntness and honesty. She isn’t perfect, but I do know she cares. And she hugs me. Now, that’s medicine that is priceless.

So, Dr. Rob…you are good medicine when you treat patients like you treated this fellow. And your brutal honesty about yourself and your inner thoughts reveals an effort to make a difference with your patients. That’s what counts. Thank you.

]]> By: Bruce http://distractible.org/2008/12/17/judge-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3283 Bruce Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:07:34 +0000 http://distractible.org/?p=1968#comment-3283 Great post. Thanks for being the antidote to the cynical venting/ranting that is so rampant in the med blog world. Great post. Thanks for being the antidote to the cynical venting/ranting that is so rampant in the med blog world.

]]>