I came across this open letter from a doctor to patients with chronic illness and found it quite interesting. It gives a bit of another side to the annoying doctors issue and offers some advice on managing it. Thought you lot might find it interesting too.
I thought it made some great points and maybe it can help me understand and deal with my doctors better.
Bottom line is essentially that doctors are human. They make mistakes, have insecurities and don't know everything. It's unusual for them to have such complicated people come in and for them to know more about their own condition tan the doctor does. It's difficult for them to know how to handle patients like us.
And it's hard for us too. We've learned the hard way that doctors aren't gods and have flaws. We've lost that implicit trust and having to keep explaining things to the people who are meant to be so knowledgable gets wearing.
The final advice boils down to give the doctors time and cut them a little slack, but don't put up with bad doctors. Find some who you can build a report with, centre your care around them as much as you can and try to be patient with others.
That's what I took from it anyway.
I'm going through a bit of a struggle with doctors right now so it was good for me to hear that. Hopefully it can help me manage some of my frustrations and keep a better relationship with my docs.
So yeah I thought some of you might be interested in it too. Hope you're all doing well at the moment. Hugs and best wishes to anybody who isn't doing so great.
Written by
BubbleMonkey
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I found the letter very interesting and I agree that chronic illness scares doctors as they get frustrated because they can’t cure us or pass us on to somebody else who can.
It’s easy for the relationship to break down when we know more about our disease than they do, and they know that. For myself, it’s made me think about not going into an appointment full of demands and not really listening to the doctor, which I know I’m guilty of. There’s a fine line between standing up for ourselves and antagonising the doctor by being aggressive and demanding.
With RA and related auto immune conditions diagnosis often takes time and it’s frustrating for everyone including the doctors. They have limitations and we have to realise that. Once treatment is ongoing it’s better to form a good working relationship as this can only be beneficial in the long term.
I have several doctors and can honestly say they are as individual as we are. My Rheumie is young and confident. I can talk to her without her feeling threatened, in fact I have been a helpful resource re Canadian systems, insurance and MSP. But my GP could be the stand in to the author. I have discouraged my daughter from medicine. That does little to solve the problem. I am at my wits end with mine. There is such a shortage here that finding another has been impossible.
Very interesting thanks for posting, I’m one of the lucky ones my GPS also a rhymatolagist. My previous docs struggled a bit but were kept up to date by the hospital.
Thank you very much for posting this. I found it informative and accessible. Being comparatively new to the condition I have so much to learn about it and those who treat it. Hugs
Thanks for the post. I only wish doctors did not have such a big ego.... humility should form part pf their training.. Being able to recognise when they can't help but help finding someone who can.
I really loved that letter. There is so much humanity and caring in it... Thank you!
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Slice of heaven 
Another trip to my doctors
Only well behaved patients need attend
The other side of living with RA
