Do you ever have to "insist" on things/tests when going to the dr

[sunlver]

When you go to the dr, do you ever have to "insist" on things, such as special tests, or xrays??? Or do you have to ever insist on being refered to a specialist?

Now, I am getting ahead of myself here,it hasnt happened yet. I am going to see my PCP this afternoon for stomach issues that have been going on for over a month. Yes, I know..but I kept thinking it would get better. I know I need to see a gastroenterologist..Well Im 99% sure I need one. I guess I am just worried the PCP wont see my situation as needing to go We have an HMO so those sort of things need referals. I am not shy about asking for things, I just hate when I dont get taken seriously.

So have you ever had to "insist" on further testing or other things with your dr?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My insurance does not require a referral. We pay for that on purpose.

I have fired a PCP for not giving me a referral to a dermatologist in the past. I go to too many specialist to have a referral system.

That being said, I insisted on a colonoscopy with a GI doctor. I was getting an endoscopy for reflux and insisted on a colonoscopy as well. Might as well, I was going to be under anyway. She went along with it because my insurance covered routine colonoscopies.

It saved my life since she found 2 precancerous polyps. She said I was very lucky to insist.

I had to pay out of pocket for the removal and biopsies, but I did not care. She told me upfront that we would have to pay if we found something so we were not surprised.

 

[DWGal210]

Yes, absolutely! You have to be your own healthcare advocate. Insist, or try to get to another doc who will listen to you. Believe me, I went through the same thing last year, and you have to stand up for yourself.

Good luck!!!

 

[Christine]

I don't need referrals either so if I feel I need a specialist, I just go.

However, I have had to push for certain tests, specifically an MRI when my back pain went on for over a year. I've also pushed for certain blood tests when I felt I had a problem that the doctor was overlooking. I ended up being right and the doctor was shocked.

 

[cheap traveler]

In a word - YES!

My younger DD is nearly 4, and after it took 2.5 years for a dr to take her blue lips seriously (finally diagnosed with asthma), I insist on the treatment or tests that I am sure she needs, or I ask for a specific reason why the dr doesn't agree. For example, in November she was in the hospital after a particularly horrible stomach bug, and they wanted to send her home with no treatment. I told the dr she needed IV fluids, but he refused. I brought her back the next day and told him I was not leaving until he gave her fluids. He did, and EVERYONE in the ER commented on how different she was after 300cc of fluids. She finally woke up!

I think for the most part, a polite request is all you need to get a referral. I just get pushy when it involves my kids

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Insist as in "make the doctor realize it is necessary".

Not since I left military dependent care. I have found docs that are good fits that don't write of people has hypochondriacs.

While WebMD and company is usually frowned upon for personal diagnosis, I find that educating myself as the patient is helpful in discussing a plan of care with doctors.

If a primary refuses to provide a referral, I'd have to find a new primary. It isn't as though you are begging for surgery or anything. You are simply requesting what amounts to as a second opinion with someone who has much more experience in a specific arena.

 

[npmommie]

No I have never had to insist on anything.
we also have insurance that does not need referrals, so I just go where I want.

If you feel your PCP is not listening to you get a new one!
also if they don't go along with what you are asking of them ask why. get the details.

on the flip side, as a provider, I have had the experience of patients coming in with set ideas of what they needed, when a lot of times it was totally inappropriate. Demanding things they did not need for example.
google can be your friend or not

 

[sunlver]

No I have never had to insist on anything.
we also have insurance that does not need referrals, so I just go where I want.

If you feel your PCP is not listening to you get a new one!
also if they don't go along with what you are asking of them ask why. get the details.

on the flip side, as a provider, I have had the experience of patients coming in with set ideas of what they needed, when a lot of times it was totally inappropriate. Demanding things they did not need for example.
google can be your friend or not

So far I have not had any problems in the past with MY PCP, or any other drs in that office..BUT.. I have stomach issues that I never had in the past, and just worry I wont be taken seriously..I am an obsessive thinker. Ive been all over google for the last couple of weeks. At first I thought my stomach issues were female related..Went for my yrly appt, and GYN said all looked fine..I kept telling her
What about this pressure I feel?? She scheduled me for ultrasound, all came back perfect..so not female related..So now, I think the worst..

 

[LuvOrlando]

I had to push for my kids to get ImmunoCAP testing because the Dr makes money from the traditional kind, not the blood test.

I had to ask for my kids MRI's because they get headaches too, and it's dangerous to diagnose migraine without clearing the brain first. Most parents don't know this but I have experience. My kids also have a strong family history of stroke and I have a spot on my brain which I may or may not have been born with, so I wanted a clean one at an early age for them so Dr's could see if the migraines ever cause damage like they did with mine, I now have 2

I also had been begging to get my kids both Pneumonia vaccines once H1N1 came out. My Ped kept saying no. Well my DD got it and nearly died because of the Pneumonia. A month later I went in there seeing red because I still think the whole thing could have been prevented if he'd practiced medicine more with his head and less from a book. The Dr still tried to tell me she didn't need it and I answered," Really are you sure? Then how do you explain how a disease she isn't supposed to be high risk for filled her 2 lungs with fluid and gave her a blood infection that almost killed her?" He said it might be an un-necessary risk because it's a vaccine. I said, "So if this one is really more dangerous then the other 100 you've given my kids ok, but if it's not more dangerous I'd like to err on the side of caution." I had to sign a form saying I waived the risks and I did, not my kids are vaccinated and I sleep a whole lot better. For the record I still am convinced my Dr's ego, or stupidity, nearly cost my DD her life.

Uggh, it would be nice if some Dr's occasionally considered the possibility that not all patients are utter morons and exercise a little humility over the point that they are offering an opinion, no more and no less, and that their opinion can be wrong.

My advice is to go in there with reasonable points. Do not make general statements and do not make excuses for your problems. Do make sure you underline how disruptive your problems are and do underline family traits that might contribute to his understanding of your problem. Also, do not wait for him/her to come up with a solution. Say, "I would like to see Dr ___ and here is why................"

 

[ZachnElli]

Yes, when I was going through my miscarriages, I insisted several times for more tests. I never did find a doctor who cared enough to really and try to help me and I gave up. I had 2 children then 7 miscarriages. I really got the feeling that they all thought I should be grateful for the kids I had and move on. npmommie, a little kindness goes a long way when someone is "demanding" tests. It means they really want an answer. Even though I'm done with the childbearing days, I would still like to know why.

 

[sunlver]

Yes, when I was going through my miscarriages, I insisted several times for more tests. I never did find a doctor who cared enough to really and try to help me and I gave up. I had 2 children then 7 miscarriages. I really got the feeling that they all thought I should be grateful for the kids I had and move on. npmommie, a little kindness goes a long way when someone is "demanding" tests. It means they really want an answer. Even though I'm done with the childbearing days, I would still like to know why.

Wow, I can certainly understand what you are saying. I had 2 kids, then started having miscarriages. The first one, well I thought it was a "fluke", meaning, I knew how common it was. With the 2nd one, my ob's said, well its common for women over 35 blah blah blah..Then I got pregnant with my 3rd miscarriage.. I was scared and nervous even though had an u/s at 8 weeks and saw a baby with a heartbeat..As the weeks passed I was so scared, and wanted another ultrasound. I called the ob's office and the dr said "Well u can come in for a heartbeat check"..I said no I wanted u/s..she said u had one at 8 weeks and all was fine...I ended up crying and hanging up on the dr.. I found a new OB.who was truely WONDERFUL...unfortunately I did end up losing that pregnancy as well...this ob was so good to me, she said . :What do u need from me?"...me and my husband told her of our worries and what we wanted...She did some testing, and then sent me to RE, who did more testing..found out I had a blot clotting thing that was taken care of with Heparin..My 4th miscarriage was a blighted ovum, which the heparin wouldnt of helped.. I got pregnant again with my 3rd child, who we named "Faith"...With that pregnancy, I had about 9 ultrasounds, from start to finish..the ob didnt even have to ask me..she just did them for my peace of mind.Where the old ob could of cared less about my empotional well beaing. I think its important for a dr to be there for the physical stuff as well as the emotional stuff.

 

[Aristomommy]

I usually use the same psychology as with my husband... make them think it's their idea, LOL! I work in the medical field which some of my Dr.s know and some don't. I might say that I read in a journal about a certain test, procedure, condition and ask their opinion. Once they have stated their view on the issue, which may be against it, I do ask if there are any reasons why I shouldn't have a test just to eliminate the concern. To my Dr's credit, there are times when their argument is valid and we decide on a different test or medication and I am grateful for their expertise. But it doesn't hurt to ask. As long as your Dr isn't about the insurance company's bottom line, they may have a valid reason.

 

[themilesfamily]

I'm incredibly lucky. I have a doctor who always gives me all of my options -- leaving things be, following up with specialists, further testing, etc. My doc is the absolute best and I am so thankful for her.

If I had a doc who I didn't think was being thorough -- or if I had a gut feeling that I needed something more that wasn't being offered -- absolutely I would be a fierce advocate for my own health.

I'd probably look for a new doctor if I routinely didn't feel we were on the same page. Or at the very least get a second opinion.

 

[Disney Doll]

No. My doc is pretty proactive and usually orders things before I even have to get around to insisting.

Love him!

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

In hindsight, I WISH I would've asked for tests. I was having gallbladder attacks on and off for years before it finally go to the point where it needed to come out. I was told it was just heartburn, acid reflux, etc. so many times!
Finally, I insisted that something was terribly wrong and she scheduled an upper GI for me. That was when it was discovered I had thousands of gallstaones and that I needed surgery.

Your body will usually tell you when something is wrong. Whether you choose to listen to it is up to you. I will never ignore symptoms again.

 

[Disneylover79]

No I have never had to insist on anything.
we also have insurance that does not need referrals, so I just go where I want.

If you feel your PCP is not listening to you get a new one!
also if they don't go along with what you are asking of them ask why. get the details.

on the flip side, as a provider, I have had the experience of patients coming in with set ideas of what they needed, when a lot of times it was totally inappropriate. Demanding things they did not need for example.
google can be your friend or not

I agree with the get a new PCP if you are not satisfied... I tell all my patients that they have to be happy with their PCP...

 

[sunlver]

I am op...I had my drs appt with PCP,and didn't have to insist on anything
I told her all of my symptoms, she did confirm that it was normal, and said I should see a specialist. She did a blood test for cholesteral and Hpylori. Of course being Friday afternoon, won't hear anything about test results or my referal until next week