Comments for Musings of a Dinosaur

Comment on Referral-go-round by Rairy

Rairy — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:57:04 +0000

As it has already been said by others – I would LOVE to see fewer specialists and have most of my treatment handled by a single doctor. I get frustrated with “maintenance” visits to specialists for problems that are currently managed. How many doctors do I really need and how do I know who to call when I am sick?

My care is handled at a major medical center and I’m working with their patient relations dept to try and find and get into see a primary care doc who is comfortable actually managing a complex chronically ill patient. Not seeing any luck in this endeavor

Comment on Referral-go-round by Elle

Elle — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:05:33 +0000

I like and trust my family practitioner, but I have learned the hard way that sometimes he likes to order expensive tests. I complained of hip pain, so he took an X-ray, which led to his diagnosis of degenerative joint disease. He said I probably needed a hip replacement and referred me to a surgeon — but first he sent me for an MRI. Not knowing any better and being in fear about this new diagnosis, I went for the MRI. Over the next two years, I went to four surgeons who offer different options (laparoscopy, but my hip was too far gone for that; traditional hip replacement; hip resurfacing; and minimally invasive hip replacement). They all confirmed the need for hip replacement, but not one of these docs wanted to see the MRI. They wanted to see a digital X-ray. So I wasted hundreds of dollars on a co-pay for the useless MRI.

Comment on Exercise and Weight Loss – Again by http://garciniacambogiaextractsupreme...

http://garciniacambogiaextractsupreme... — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:42:48 +0000

I hardly comment, but after reading through some of the comments here
Exercise and Weight Loss – Again | Musings of a Dinosaur. I actually do have a few questions
for you if you do not mind. Is it just me or does it look
as if like some of the remarks come across like they
are written by brain dead people? And, if you are posting at additional places,
I would like to follow you. Would you post a list of all of all your social community pages like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?

Comment on Referral-go-round by Miss Chevious

Miss Chevious — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:37:43 +0000

Bio: exactly!!

Comment on Referral-go-round by Biologist on The Edge

Biologist on The Edge — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:56:51 +0000

Ditto to most of these comments. I live in a state with a major doctor shortage. It took a long time to find a doctor who was accepting patients. She turned out to be a referral fanatic. I would love, love, love to find a doctor who would tell me – “you have a rash? Let’s try this.”

I have chronic medical problems with diverse and changing symptoms and I’m in perimenopause so I’m constantly wondering “is this my chronic problem? perimenopause? or something new?” Due to my doctor’s reluctance to actually TREAT me I am growing more and more hesitant to make an appointment and instead I’m surfing the internet to make my best guess as to whether I really need to go in or not. I need a new doctor!

Comment on Referral-go-round by Miss Chevious

Miss Chevious — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:12:50 +0000

I saw so many family doctors before I went to the internist. They were WORSE. One time, I had pneumonia, and the family doctor I saw at the time gave me a different diagnosis every week: “You have a sinus infection” one week, “you have congestive heart failure” another week. My ENT ended up diagnosing the pneumonia and treating me. Also, I have had asthma for YEARS, had no idea I had it, and every family doctor I’ve ever seen told me it was bronchitis and gave me a cough syrup for it. When I finally got properly diagnosed (by the pulmonologist) he asked me why had I never treated my asthma, and I told him, “no one ever told me I had it, and I had no clue.” So no offense, Dr. Dino, but you are truly one in a million. (and I mean that in a good way) (Another family doctor I saw told me it was “perfectly normal” not to have a TSH level–mine tested out <0.01 several times–and again, my ENT ended up diagnosing my thyroid problem).

Comment on A Modest Ivy Proposal by blackvandyke

blackvandyke — Thu, 09 May 2013 02:21:34 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. And just the same for the music conservatoires, both sides of the pond.

Although I think to go with it, we all need to remind ourselves and especially our 18 year olds that there is no one ideal path to follow through life, and that the dictated route of school/higher education/work without gaps or diversions is not just not compulsory but not the right fit for many young people – and that being one of those young people is ABSOLUTELY FINE.

Comment on A Modest Ivy Proposal by Amy

Amy — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:21:59 +0000

Failing that, or pointing out that that legacy spots and the ability to pay play a role, just keep a copy of this article around:

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-myth-of-american-meritocracy/

Provocative, yes. But we don’t have a meritocracy in the US, we never really have. And also why they will never do what you suggest. Whether the Ivys admit it or not, they want their population to have a sort of faux diversity that does not reflect the reality of merit.

To Erv, many of the kids I see with this kind of reaction were not babied. They were helicoptered, which is not at all the same thing. Mom and Dad are the ones that are HORRIFIED that little Tommy didn’t get into Harvard after all *their* hard work and sacrifice. That sort of “you totally failed at being *my* kid” thing really messes with a teen’s sense of self.

Comment on A Modest Ivy Proposal by Erv

Erv — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:58:57 +0000

Or maybe it’s time to stop babying the American teenager, and teach him/her how to face real life without getting into a panic attack every time s/he gets a kick in the tushy.

Comment on A Modest Ivy Proposal by Michele B

Michele B — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:45:21 +0000

This is excellent.