Poll: Does Your Doctor Know You Are a Family Caregiver?
Nov 1 2011 in Denise's Blog, Polls by Denise
I’ve been enjoying Trish‘s comments to my post, “A Theme for You.” Each of her comments has given me food for thought. Her last comment also gave me the idea for this week’s poll.
I wonder: Does your doctor know you are a family caregiver? Meaning, have you told your doctor that you care for a member of your friend or for a friend?
Please vote in our poll, below. And, if you have additional thoughts about your relationship with your doctor, please share in our comments section, below.
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G-J said on November 1, 2011
I didn’t vote because my answer isn’t there. The answer I would give is that I’ve told my primary care provider but I don’t think she heard or cared. However, my ob/gyn knows and expresses her concern when I see her. Fortunately, my chiropractor and dentist also know and take more of a personal interest in my well-being because of it. So, I’d have to vote four times; three times with “yes” and once with “no”.
Denise said on November 1, 2011
Hi G-J–You actually have four “yes’s” because you have told all of your physicians. Because you’ve told them, they all know. I have a follow-up poll for next week which speaks to your experience with your primary care doc.
Trish said on November 1, 2011
G-J’s comment reminded me that my OB-GYN also knows and is very supportive and expresses her concern. Another piece of info regarding my primary doctor is that he is also my hubby’s primary doctor. I don’t mention it much here, but hubby has severe back pain issues and I have had to do my share of caregiving for him too. So my primary knows about hubby’s issues, knows what I do to care for him and knows about my caregiving of my brother. The doctor telling me I’m under stress feels dismissive instead of helpful. I just wanted full disclosure of my doctor issues.
I’m glad you’re discussing this, Denise, and am happy to give you food for thought!
G-J said on November 1, 2011
Oh, Trish, this is almost like the situation with my PCP! I picked her because she was my Dad’s PCP at the time. My Dad passed away, which she knew, I told her about my husband, and unlike your doctor who says everything is due to stress, my doctor has never once asked me how I am doing. However, I can tell you that she got married in February, got pregnant on her honeymoon, and is due this month! Oh, and did I tell you it took them three months to contact me with lab results?
Trish said on November 1, 2011
I realize doctors are under their own pressures these days but sheesh! I just don’t understand why they don’t take five minutes to “catch up” on a file before seeing the next patient — so they act like they at least remember you. Then take another 5 minutes to ask how someone is doing. It would mean so much. I would never go into a meeting at work unprepared or dismissive.
Kaye Swain said on November 3, 2011
My senior mom and I go to the same family practice, so they know, but I always try to mention it when I go alone, as well as tell all her other doctors as well as mine. Because as a member of the Sandwich Generation, I’m not just caring for my senior mom, I am also babysitting grandchildren, dealing with special needs at both ends of the spectrum. And that can have an impact on me AND on her – due to needing flexibility on appointments, etc.
kay said on January 20, 2012
My Dr used to be my husbands DR and he wasn”t very good I keep him for an emergency He runs a free clinic once a mth and his office is 20 min away i do not go there only when i have to My thyroid is low andI haven”t had it checked in over a yr so i don”t know if my level is ok or not Does he care about me as a patient I would say no
JustBrantley said on February 17, 2012
What a great question. Yes, yes and yes. After hubby’s initial diagnosis with his intern, we (the entire family) eventually migrated to his practice. I like to say he treats us (whole-listicly). From our 19 year old daughter, older sons and daughters, myself. I sometimes make an simultaneous appointment, have them put me in an adjacent room and just spend 20 minutes with him. It allows me the chance to catch him up on how we’re ALL doing so that he can manage our care better. For instance…was it really an asthma attack OR was it anxiety brought on by 24.7 caregiver responsibilities?