Does anyone go to a geriatrics doc?

[lillypaddle]

I'm not communicating well with my 30s-40s female general practitioner. I don't think she understand me. Okay, well shit, who does? LOL. Anyway, I'm wondering what your experiences are with a geriatrics doc, if anyone goes to one. I'm thinking it might be worth a shot.

[Hoyt]

1. I've wondered the same. My next trip is going to be to an older doc for sure.

I’m fine with younger PAs and NPs, even specialists. Some of it is my fault in that unless I’m really hurting or feel close to death, I’m not much on complaining. I was much more vocal when I had a kidney stone a few years ago.

Nowadays, most general practitioners pretty much rely on lab tests.

Good luck, and let us know how it works out.

[LiberalArkie]

2. I will be waiting to find out.. I am 72 and have a young obese primary care MD

[no_hypocrisy]

3. My father was a cardiologist/internist. 75% of his patients were geriatric.

Most of them were told by their outgoing GP to put their affairs in order. But my father kept them alive for decades.

Part of his expertise was to embrace them at any age. They became part of his extended family. He held their hands. He asked what they were eating, if they had pets, if they were close to their families, if they had any recreation. A 15 minute office visit would extend into an hour as he would take his time talking to them in his consulting room. And in the examining room, he was gentle with them. IOW, geriatrics didn't offend him or scare him. He made it a point to go to their memorials when they passed. (I believe Dad felt like he could have done more when they died.)

He practiced until 67 years of age. I believe his patients were understanding but disappointed.

Find a doctor who will listen to you. Really listen to you. That's a good start.

[lillypaddle]

4. I have tried

I have a GP, a cardiologist, a pulmonary specialist, I've been to a vascular surgeon and a podiatrist. Oh, and an infectious disease doc.

In case you think I am just a hypochondriac, I am in heart failure. I have reactive lung disease, and now Venous insufficiency/ venous stasis dermatitis.

So, I have really noticed my short-term memory loss getting worse. I just feel like my current GP can't relate.

You Father sounds like he was a RARE find.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Dad was "old school" from the early Fifties. He retired mid-Eighties.

Even during his tenure, all who knew him agreed with you, a rare find.

Being a doctor was everything to him.

[Dem2theMax]

6. I feel exactly the same way about my doctor.

I will be 64 this year, and my doctor is probably in her late 30s or early forties. For the past few years, I have really felt like she doesn't get it. Even with all of her medical knowledge, she is younger than me and she hasn't experienced what I am going through. Yet.
Her time will come.

My father, who passed away at the age of 93, he did have a geriatric doctor. I went to most of my father's doctor appointments with him. And I can say that the care he got was much different. It was much more directed toward his age and the issues that seniors face.

That is specifically why I started paying attention to the way my doctor was treating me. And it's why I am going to switch to a geriatric doctor.

[lillypaddle]

8. Please let me (us) know how that goes

and good luck, hope switching really helps.

[Rebl2]

7. My parents

did and so did my husband (same dr.). Unfortunately he moved and the practice closed. I went with my mother to her appointments the last few years before she went in to a nursing home. I think it is worth going to a doctor that specializes in people 60’s and older. He was understanding and helpful.

[marybourg]

9. If you can't find a geriatrician- I understand there aren't too many -

and you live near a large senior community, you might have luck with a doc near there. I live in such a community, and all the docs here are “geriatricians” by necessity.

[lillypaddle]

10. Thanks for the tip

I checked yesterday just out of curiosity and it appears there are a couple not too far from me.