Worst Doctor's Office Ever!

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I went to the doctor after school today because I managed to catch whatever virus is going around the teachers and my throat is killing me. I found a doctor who accepted my insurance and went in without knowing anything about them.

After I finally found their building, I was not impressed. The interior smelled of stale cigarette smoke, like a building that used to be smoking and now is not. It was just very grungy and outdated looking. The staff did not look that well groomed either.

I had to fill out one of those health history forms. This was some really old outdated one from Bad Doctors R Us or some similar place. I was rather amused, and slightly alarmed when I saw it using the outdated terminology of "adult onset" and "juvenile onset" diabetes. (Those terms are misnomers as Type I or Type 2 can occur at any age.) What was more troublesome was the listing of "insanity". Last I checked "insanity" was not a true medical diagnosis. Yes, I have a close family member with clinical depression, but I refuse to check the insanity box on a health history form.

So I am lead back to the exam room, which had some seriously outdated equipment. The doctor came in, looked at my throat for less than a second, performed no other tests, and then wrote me a prescription for Amoxicillin! My mom is a microbiologist, so I am familiar with the consequences of the overprescription of antibiotics. It's doctors like him that are responsible for the dramatic increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria. I didn't necessarily want an antibiotic- especially when no rapid strep test was performed. I wanted to find out what it was and if I needed to take medicine since a teacher was out with the same symptoms yesterday and I'm pretty sure I caught it from her. I was not impressed with the facilities or the doctor. Suffice it to say, I will not be returning.

 

[Otimon]

Hope you're feeling better today.

When our own doctor isn't available (weekends) we use the local Urgent Care or Centra Care facility in our area if something can't wait. We found them to be a very good source of care.

Check now for something like that in your area so next time you'll be prepared. You are right about overuse of antibiotics.

Best wishes.

 

[dejr_8]

My I ask a question?

Since you thought you had a viral infection anyways, why did you go to the doctor for treatment? Did you think you had the flu (and would get some tamiflu)

I put the blame on overuse of antibiotics on patients as much as doctors. Some people will not leave the Dr's office until they get something and unfortunately it is easier for Drs to just write a script than deal with the underlying issue of the patient wanting something they don't really need.

just my two cents

 

[NHdisneylover]

Admittaly OP said she caught "whatever VIRUS is going around" but I read it as her meaning she caught whatever it is and it could be viral or bacterial and she feels she does not know and went to the doctor to find that and and get meds if warranted but not if not warranted. I think that is an entirely valid thing to do.

OP--sorry you had a bad experience. I think it is good when people (politely and respectfully) advocate for tehmselves with doctors. In your situation, I would have not taken the script in my hand (hard for the doctor--or nurse if he has handed off--to leave if s/he has to dorp that on the floor to do so) and asked "what is this for?" If he answered "strep" I would ask if he could do a test to confirm that as I believe it can be hard to diagnose visually (stay polite, give him some leeway, make it you who are neurotic about it even though you and I both know they should always td oteh test before diagnosing it, etc.). If he just said "for your sore throat" I would politely but stubbornly ask him what he saw that made him believe it was not simply viral. Be persistent. You will find often in life you have to be to get the best care and to udnerstand what care you are receiving.

I am curious if you are going to fill the perscription based on this appointment, or wait and see a different doctor

 

[Acklander]

I don't know what Dr's usually do in this case since I've never gone to one for a sore throat, but you might want to check with coworkers, who have the same insurance as you and see who they use, and if they're happy with their Dr. Also ask them why they like their Dr so maybe you can find one that would work for you. When you're feeling sick, is the worst time to pick a Dr.

 

[laurie31]

Severe throat pain IS often strep, and sometimes it is obvious by looking, if the throat is the classic presentation. My ped will always do a rapid strep, but sometimes we both are already sure it will be positive, just from the look and the smell. Strep has a peculiar odor. Of course, not every patient will look like the picture in the textbook, and I've also had DD come back positive when I was sure she was negative.

I don't know why this doctor didn't confirm his diagnosis with a rapid strep test, but if you really do have strep, leaving it untreated can be very dangerous. People died of strep before there were antibiotics.

People should always get checked out if there's any chance they think they might have strep. A "regular" sore throat from a cold usually just lasts a day or two, but the sore throat from strep is brutal and doesn't go away so easily. (and yeah, there are some people who don't get a sore throat with strep at all; they have fever, rash, stomach pain, etc.) If in doubt, go to your doctor.

OP, I hope you can find a doctor you like and trust for next time.

 

[rie'smom]

A grungy doctor's office would have me running out the door.

 

[JessicaR]

Worthless visit. Sorry you wasted your time. Are you feeling better today? If your throat has not improved you may want to go to a doctor or an emergency care center that will do a strep culture. At least that way you know if the antibiotic is needed or not.

Hope you are feeling better today!

 

[locolala]

My I ask a question?

Since you thought you had a viral infection anyways, why did you go to the doctor for treatment? Did you think you had the flu (and would get some tamiflu)

I put the blame on overuse of antibiotics on patients as much as doctors. Some people will not leave the Dr's office until they get something and unfortunately it is easier for Drs to just write a script than deal with the underlying issue of the patient wanting something they don't really need.

just my two cents

I generally go in to the doc when I have a bad virus, because they'll give me something to help with the symptoms. The last time I went in with a bad cough caused by a virus, they gave me cough syrup with codiene and I was actually able to sleep after not sleeping for 3 days.

 

[Chicago526]

Not knocking you, OP, and I hope you feel better today. But this is why healthy people should still see a doc every now and again, just so that you have an established relationship with a doc you know and trust, rather than have to play "doctor roulette" while already feeling lousy due to illness.

 

[minniecarousel]

Yeah, unfortunately, the worse time to find a doctor is when you're sick.

I hope you feel better soon.

 

[babytrees]

Not knocking you, OP, and I hope you feel better today. But this is why healthy people should still see a doc every now and again, just so that you have an established relationship with a doc you know and trust, rather than have to play "doctor roulette" while already feeling lousy due to illness.

OP had a thread yesterday that insurance just changed so she hasn't had the chance to find a dr. ...but normally I agree with you wholeheartedly.

I think I would have turned around at the smell of cigarette smoke. BLECH!!

Hope you are feeling better today.

 

[joyjoy]

That sucks, hope you feel better.

But - I would LOVE to check the insanity box. That would be awesome.

 

[C.Ann]

Sounds horrible! Sure hope you're feeling better now....

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I did go to the Minute Clinic at Walgreens (waited over an hour and a half!) after that doctor. They actually spent 20 minutes with me. They checked out everything (temperature, ears, nose, throat, etc.), and did the rapid test. The test came up negative, but she said it only has a 60% accuracy rate and based on the other symptoms (apparently one of my ears was bright red) there was obviously "something going on" if not strep. So she did prescribe antibiotics.

I went ahead and filled that script since she explained her reasoning to me and actually took the time to figure out what was going on. Believe me, I'm not one to jump on the antibiotic bandwagon. My mother is a hospital microbiologist and has tuaght me all about the overuse of antibiotics and how they are leading to superbugs. I would prefer not to have to take them, but if the doctor or NP can explain their reasoning, I will.

To answer another question: The reason I went is because I wanted to know what it was and what I should do. I have diabetes and being sick makes blood sugar crazier than it is. Plus, the teacher next door said her boyfriend had a sinus infection and another teacher who had the same symptoms I did was out for half a week with it. I wanted to make sure I was safe to go to school, and to find out how to treat it. Not to mention I have a history of bronchitis following colds that was initially misdiagnosed as asthma and persists for months. I have a tough room this year that is very physically demanding and cannot afford to not even be able to walk a few feet without being out of breath as has happened in the past.

And yes, you are right that being sick is not the time to find a doctor. But my insurance just started on the 1 (the day I went) and my old insurance does not cover anybody closer than 2 hours away. It's one of those "up a creek" situations that I'm hoping not have again.

As for how it all turned out (sorry, this is getting to be a long post!), it morphed from the sore throat from hell to the cold from hell. I'm so glad this is my one scheduled weekend off before November, because there is no way I could have worked 30 hours this weekend like I did last weekend. It's a lot better today though, and I'm hoping it will continue that way tomorrow. I really can't afford to be sick (not money wise, I get paid sick leave.) I just can't imagine how the kids would do with a sub for several days. Unfortunately, whatever this is has knocked out half the teachers in our building.

 

[DisnyMama]

I love the "Minute Clinic" at CVS. I had to go a couple weeks ago due to a nasty case of pink eye and no insurance. If I went to my doctor's office or their Urgent Care they want a co-pay of $100. MC was $62 plus the prescription which I had to have transferred from the CVS pharmacy to Costco pharmacy since without Insurance CVS wanted $59 for the eye drops and I was able to get it for $11 at Costco.

Great experience though, very thorough and in and out in about 15 minutes. I would take my DS (18) who has insurance to MC in a hot minute.