noir’s Story
Categories
So, long story short...
noir made the mistake of
having an HMO
My Advice to You is
Get a Doctor of Osteopathy
Here's the whole story
For more than a decade I suffered from seemingly random foot pains. My HMO was always in denial. They chalked my pain up to benign tumors, hairline fractures, even nerve damage. They would give me pain medication after each of these misdiagnoses, then send me on my way. But the pain would come back every few months. Not until I got better insurance did I also get a better doctor. This doctor was a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy). D.O.s are better than M.D.s because a D.O. not only studies everything an M.D. does, but they also have degrees in naturopathic medicine. My D.O. recognized my symptoms as Gout related inflammation and started me on a regimen to reduce my uric acid levels. Unfortunately, the damage to my joints was already done and I had developed Rheumatoid arthritis in my knees, along with some probable liver damage. I have since had to undergo knee surgery, but the medication my doctor has me on had made things much more bearable. Lesson: Get a real doctor if you are having medical issues. Your HMO is only interested in keeping their overhead costs down.
Comments (3)
People always make the mistake of assuming a doctor, any doctor, knows what they're talking about. I know a future pharmacist that is on her rotations that goes "huh?" on a daily basis when she looks at what doctors are prescribing patients. Not only do some doctors try to keep costs down, but they also fail to keep up with updated research and methods.
Wow. That's a really helpful story. I'm sorry that you had to suffer, but that really makes me value the "second opinion" suggestion.
Hi, I'm that pharmacy student. :) I actually think it depends on the doctor you see. You have an older doctor who does not keep up with clinical studies and their disease state guidelines, you're bound to be lost in the cracks. I always look for younger, fresh out of medschool docs who I know are on top of their research. Always be proactive in your medical care, regardless of MD or DO... ask questions even if they are argumentative. The more you ask, the more you'll understand what is happening with your health.