I had an "extended" office visit last time I saw my RD and was told it was so I could get all my questions answered, discuss test results, etc. I understood that to mean the visit would be 15 minutes or more. However, after only 10 minutes the doctor was ready to leave. I told him I had more questions and he sat back down. I don't like feeling like I'm keeping him from something more important and have to practically force him to stay until I'm done. I'm always careful not to take too much time and I would have been done in 15 or 20 minutes, but since this was all new to me, I needed every bit of that time to get some answers. How much time does your RD doctor typically spend with you? This next visit is just a regular one so I guess I should plan to be out of there in 5 minutes. Not gonna happen. Actually my RA is pretty much under control so my RD usually wants to know if there have been any changes. Between bloodwork and exam, I'm usually outta there in 15 mins. My RD is not the chit-chatty type but on the other hand, he is very good at answering any questions I might throw at him. I saw my RD yesterday and the visit lasted about 25 minutes...I had questions and so did he. This is a typical visit for me. My RA is not well controlled and so he checks my joints everytime and then we chat about how I'm feeling. I won't see doctor's who can't give me a reasonable amount of their time. I just switched ortho's and that was one of the major reasons..
Lynn
These bloody consultants make me mad. They get paid to listen and help..... My first visit with the consultant was great..... I paid for it.... handed over my hard earned dosh. He couldnt have been more upbeat, engaging, knowledgable etc etc.
My next visit (on the NHS, with the same consultant.... well at least that's what the name said on the door
I guess some are good and some are mediocre. Unfortunately the hospital I attend has only two rheumy consults. so there is absolutely no point me asking to change. I guess I shall just have to keep pushing, which is draining in itself and not what I should have to be doing.
I will write a letter of complaint if I have to. What we're going through is bad enough without having a GP or Consult. who would rather be out playing golf!
On a cheerier note, the sun has come out so I'm off out into my garden to catch some rays.
I never timed it, but I have never thought that my doc was in a hurry, he always stays till I have no more questions. Jesse - If you are feeling uncomfortable with this and can change to someone you do, then that might help.
I always have my list of questions, and my rheumy also says "what else?" until I'm done, but more recently I've felt that he's rushing more. I know he's a very busy doctor, as good ones often are, and that he's doing a lot of lectures and other things besides caring for his overload of patients. But I, too, don't like the feeling that I'm keeping him from something else.
To answer the question though, I've been seeing this dr for years and my earlier visits were longer, but now it's about 10 minutes.
My RD spends as much time as I need. I've had appointments that lasted 10 minutes and I've had one that lasted about 45. He never rushes me. Sometimes I may have to wait a long time after my scheduled appointment to see him, but now I know when he's late it's because he gives people extra time if they need it. I'm totally o.k. with that! He always apologizes too when he's late.
I also love how he pulls a chair right across from me on the same level. I don't feel like he's hovering over me and he really listens closely to what I say. He must take good notes too because he always knows what we talked about during my last visit.
He's definitely a "keeper!"
I just saw mine yesterday. I didnt time it, but probably 10-15 minutes. He went over my labs, felt various joints asked about my general health, did ROM, talked about this hip and told me if it doesnt improve following this infusion call him in 2 weeks.
I see the NP or the RD every time I get an infusion (every 5 weeks) and have never felt rushed.
Mine usually last about 15 min. during which time he checks my joints, toes, asks me to squeeze his hands so he can see if I have any strength in my hands, rotate my shoulders etc. Then he asks me if there's anything I'm having difficulty doing, how I'm resting, my fatigue, and anything else I might be concerned with. I am then sent downstairs to the lab for blood drawing (about 4 tubes on average), off to check-out to schedule my next appt and I'm done for three months. All in all, with wait times etc, I'm out of the office altogether in about 45 minutes.The first Dr. I went to, the one who diagnosed me, didn't do a very goodI don't think it's the amount of time that you spend with a doctor, it's the quality of the time. I go ultra prepared. I know what he's going to ask and what we'll discuss. After seeing 4 rds in 11 years I know the routine. My first visit with my current RD was about 1/2 hour and each subsequent visit is about 15 min. and that's plenty of time.
My visit with my primary yesterday was about 45 minutes to an hour but we sat there and bs'd for about a half an hour. We have a lot in common and we talked golf, world politics, and his brother's visit. I think he needed a break. He's very laid back and I'm always seen on time and he never rushes.
I know I'm lucky with my docs. I searched for awhile until I had docs that I was comfortable with. The first thing I demand from a doctor and staff is respect. Still working on my orthopods staff! Lindy
Hi, this is a major complaint of mine. I feel rushed , forget things, I need to say, and every week I had a change in my pain, swelling, etc. So, even though I'd tell him on monday the week before how I was getting along, but the next monday I'd be in some other sort of pain somewhere else. When he went on vacation I would panic! His wife 'made' him go I heard. He did call me during one of his vacations when I was really hurting, and prescribed more prednisone. HE WAS REALLY SORRY, i'd had such a bad reaction to the heart operation and really didn't understand WHY the super drugs didn't work for me. He kept trying more of everything increasing the dosage of Pred/mtx/and Remicade to the max. Now, after 6 Remicade treatments (4 with the max) and 20 mtx I'm able to reduce the Prednisone.....It has all been going on for 6 months now (3 getting the prednisone).
As I've said before in my posts, sorry to repeat for those who have been so attentive to my particular strange story, the first 3 months I just screamed with pain and they couldn't treat the RA with the suppresants, because I needed my heart valve and incision to heal!! But, they didn't tell me that and my heart doc didn't have a clue what I was going through. My heart doctor locally was an a--, and she didn't help me at all. I KNEW it was RA , but she thought it was from the heart operation and kept bugging me 'I looked catatonic....or some such term' which means really sick. She kept wanting to 'admit me to the ER', but I knew I just needed THE RA medication. It was awful.
Now I dumped the cardiologist, am getting all of the following medication, see my doctor whenever I WANT TO, I just call and say 'work me in'!! I keep bugging them until they do.
Hopefully, I'll be able to put this all behind me and be able to enjoy my life . maybe not back to totally normal (I have less strength now, and can't hit the golf ball as far as before), but at least I'm out there TRYING!!
Thanks everyone for reading this, didn't mean it to be so long, Lynda
Thanks everyone, this is very enlightening. I do bring a list every time and I did make the RD stay put, but it's hard for me to be as assertive as I need to be. However, this is a serious health issue for me and it's time I learned to stick up for myself. I picked this RD because of his credentials and reputation. Uortunately, I'm very limited in who I can see because of insurance issues. He's working with my insurance plan even though he's not a participant so I hesitate to drop him. I also think he's very knowledgeable and is giving me good treatment. It's just his "too busy" attitude that's a problem. Reading all your posts will help me to push a bit more...it was just the nudge I needed. Thanks all! My last visit was 7 mins( hubby timed it) that included me telling him that I was going someplace else