A Health Care question for seniors. (doctor, prescriptions, specialist, legs)

[dutchman09]

Has anyone else taken a ride on the medical merry-go-round? Your Primary Care doctor refers you to a specialist who refers you to another specialist who refers you to yet another specialist. Each one ordering their own tests. Each one canceling the previous doctor's prescriptions and writing their own medication regime, most of which goes down the toilet along with the cost because they either don't work or it's impossible to cope with the side effects. Personal experiences welcome.

[auntieannie68]

been there--done that--result misdiagnosis and porr medical care---no total body consideration--only focusing on part of the picture

[stillkit]

My brother is starting on that carousel right now. First, a diagnosis of arthritis and osteoporosis in his legs, next a bone density test plus a hand full of new pills. Following that will be a mobility measurement and so on.

If he continues down that path, he'll end up an invalid.

[dutchman09]

Thank you for your replies. That begs the question, should we have health care reform or not? It seems to me many people are undecided and maybe rightly so. Correct me if I'm wrong, but nothing has really been explained in detail one way or the other. The way it is now, it seems the industry is only worried about their 'bottom line' and not why they're in business in the first place. And that leaves the gate wide open for fraud.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by dutchman09

Thank you for your replies. That begs the question, should we have health care reform or not? It seems to me many people are undecided and maybe rightly so. Correct me if I'm wrong, but nothing has really been explained in detail one way or the other. The way it is now, it seems the industry is only worried about their 'bottom line' and not why they're in business in the first place. And that leaves the gate wide open for fraud.

Of course we should have health care reform. As it right now, if you have the dough, you can get the best medical care in the world but, if you don't, you can just go home and die.

There was a time, not that long ago, when health care wasn't a for profit business. Yes, the Doctors had to make enough profit to keep their office doors open, but the hospital's were almost universally city or county owned and tax-payer subsidized. You got the help you needed, regardless of ability to pay.

The system we have now is heavily loaded toward taking care of the elites, while the common man can just go sit in the corner and suck on a lemon or something.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by stillkit

My brother is starting on that carousel right now. First, a diagnosis of arthritis and osteoporosis in his legs, next a bone density test plus a hand full of new pills. Following that will be a mobility measurement and so on.

If he continues down that path, he'll end up an invalid.

So then why is he doing it? SO many people go to doctors and NEVER GET BETTER and yet they continue to go. That is the definition of insanity isn't it? There are so many other alternatives.

20yrsiNBranson

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

So then why is he doing it? SO many people go to doctors and NEVER GET BETTER and yet they continue to go. That is the definition of insanity isn't it? There are so many other alternatives.

20yrsiNBranson

Fear of death or disability, I guess. I don't know.

[dutchman09]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Of course we should have health care reform. As it right now, if you have the dough, you can get the best medical care in the world but, if you don't, you can just go home and die.

There was a time, not that long ago, when health care wasn't a for profit business. Yes, the Doctors had to make enough profit to keep their office doors open, but the hospital's were almost universally city or county owned and tax-payer subsidized. You got the help you needed, regardless of ability to pay.

The system we have now is heavily loaded toward taking care of the elites, while the common man can just go sit in the corner and suck on a lemon or something.

I think the elite crowd has always been able to get the best health care. The problem started when everyone got sucked into the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) programs. Pay so much a month and 'we' will take care of all your health needs. That was good the first few years until greed took over.

People continue to go to doctor after referred doctor probably for fear of death, I think, depending on the severity of the illness and the psychological makeup of the individual. Disability usually just happens. Six years ago I was told I could not work anymore because of arthritis in my spine. I get an injection every two months and live with it. It seems to me it's the less severe things that they keep calling you back for so called follow ups.