Posted by racer on December 27, 1998, at 0:24:01
In reply to Re: frustration with treatment, diagnosis and meds, posted by Elizabeth on December 15, 1998, at 20:36:49
I have long thought that 'personality disorders' were cop-outs, too. Admittedly, I haven't read all that much about them, but everything I've read boils down to: "Hopeless case, don't even bother to try to treat." And I have also run into the doctor who doesn't like patients to be informed. (I could see the doctor I'm stuck with right now mentally adding "hypochondria" to my diagnosis when I told her that the medicine she had just prescribed was contraindicated because of pre-existing problems.)
So, here is my considered opinion:
A good doctor will not let a label interfere with good treatment.
A good doctor wants an informed patient who can contribute to the recovery process.
A good doctor who honestly believes that you're not well informed, but have crossed a line into obsession or something of that nature will be honest in telling you that, and will give you a reasonable explanation of why that conclusion was reached.
Too bad there aren't more good doctors, huh?
Realistically, though, many doctors now are so overburdened by the managed care bureaucracy that they can't give adequate care to their patients. County drs, like the one I'm stuck with, have little incentive to be good care givers. Some drs just don't "click" with some patients. And some have their own biases that may interfere with treatment.
If you're not getting good care, look around and call around and ask around for alternatives. See my post down below asking the drs here for advice. There are low impact ways to get ideas.
Good luck to you.
poster:racer
thread:1587
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990401/msgs/1765.html