Re: Getting doctors to talk with each other

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

What you're describing is very frustrating indeed! I would suggest

having ONE Gatekeeper, being your Pediatrician. Every time your child

sees a specialist, a report should be sent to your pediatrician.

Your pediatrician should take the lead and be the " negotiator " or

main communicator in the event of a question regarding medical care

that crosses over disciplines as yours does regarding medicines. Of

course, the key here is to find a pediatrician who is willing to take

on this role. Mine does and she is outstanding, she calls other

doctors and always calls me once she reviews other spcialists reports

and routine labs. She has called specialist when there is questions,

like yours. I think if you can find a pediatrician who will take

ownership of your child's care then you will avoid some of these very

frustrating problems. Best of luck!

(Christian, 14, systemic)

>

> Has anyone had trouble getting your child's doctors to talk to each

other?

>

> Every time we go to the dermatologist we hear, " We can't comment on

his joints, but the

> medication the rheumatologist put him on is making his psoriasis

worse. Let's try adding

> this medication.. "

>

> When we go to the asthma doctor we hear, " He's a mystery, but I

think he is having major

> heartburn from the medication. I think he should see a

gastrointrologist. "

>

> When we go to the rheumatologist we hear, " Have him seen by his

regular pediatrician and

> let us know what happens. " But when we go there, she says, " I'm not

an expert on that, so

> let's just try giving him this medication and see if it works. "

>

> I just feel like we're getting band aids on everything and the

underlying problems are not

> being addressed. Individually, we love each doctor. They really

have Andy's health at the

> top of their list, but collectively, they don't talk to one another

and I'm caught in the

> middle trying to manage all of them, and I'm not a doctor to begin

with.

>

> How do you all deal with this? We're really frustrated and need

some advice. Please help.

>

> Thanks,

> (son Andy, 8)

>

[Guest guest]

,

Yes, probably most of us here on this site have had this problem at one time or

another. My Jaye is blessed to have a wonderful neurologist as well as a

superb pediatrician. Both of them work very hard to communicate with her other

doctors. As a matter of fact our ped. was the one to call and discuss with the

rheumy some of our struggles and convince the rheumy it was from the JRA and not

something else. We have a ped that goes to bat for us and tells us we are one

of her best " teaching " patients. We always have something new and she has to

get her book out and research. Our neurologist will send a letter to each of

Jaye's other doctors every time we see him and he will not hesitate to

call them either. What I would suggest is that you find one of your son's

doctors that will help you advocate for him. Personally, I think the best one

for that is the regular pediatrician because she is the one to see us when

something happens and determines where to send us. We can get into the ped on

nearly a moments notice it seems when we really need it. If you can not get any

of them to do that then you are going to have to be the one to learn more,

research til you drop and then get back up and keep going. Good luck on this

journey/battle, we will pray for you specifically for this struggle.

Veri & Jaye 13 poly

Getting doctors to talk with each other

Has anyone had trouble getting your child's doctors to talk to each other?

Every time we go to the dermatologist we hear, " We can't comment on his joints,

but the

medication the rheumatologist put him on is making his psoriasis worse. Let's

try adding

this medication.. "

When we go to the asthma doctor we hear, " He's a mystery, but I think he is

having major

heartburn from the medication. I think he should see a gastrointrologist. "

When we go to the rheumatologist we hear, " Have him seen by his regular

pediatrician and

let us know what happens. " But when we go there, she says, " I'm not an expert on

that, so

let's just try giving him this medication and see if it works. "

I just feel like we're getting band aids on everything and the underlying

problems are not

being addressed. Individually, we love each doctor. They really have Andy's

health at the

top of their list, but collectively, they don't talk to one another and I'm

caught in the

middle trying to manage all of them, and I'm not a doctor to begin with.

How do you all deal with this? We're really frustrated and need some advice.

Please help.

Thanks,

(son Andy, 8)

________________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

, just yesterday after so many doc visits I commented wouldn't it be

great if we could just see one doc for it all???? It is so frustrating to go

from one to another and another and the feedback be so crazy from doc to doc. I

want to throw my hands up sometimes and say ok docs, lets all get on the same

page. I am just now starting to get my docs to share records. i wish I had

advise and hope others do ...best of luck!

Donna

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Hi :

I have to agree with the others that you need a ped that will coordinate all

this for you. We have an awesome ped who calls me after every visit Hannah has

with every specialist she sees. Sometimes he is just letting me know that he

got the notes, other times he calls to disagree with what we have been told. He

has known Hannah since she was 3 and I trust him above and beyond any of her

other specialists. That's not to say I don't like her other docs (we love her

pain doctor and her immunologist), but he knows her well and sees her more any

of the others combined.

I have often said during the diagnosing phase of all this how great it would

have been to have all of them together in one room, but that's obviously never

going to happen. In my opinion, the best thing for you do is to get your ped

involved, but above all make sure you have trust in each & every specialist you

take your child to. Believe me you are not alone in this journey.

Beth & Hannah, 10, unspecified arthritis; asthma; gerd; migraines

Sending prayers & happy thoughts,

Beth :-)

Getting doctors to talk with each other

Has anyone had trouble getting your child's doctors to talk to each other?

Every time we go to the dermatologist we hear, " We can't comment on his joints,

but the

medication the rheumatologist put him on is making his psoriasis worse. Let's

try adding

this medication.. "

When we go to the asthma doctor we hear, " He's a mystery, but I think he is

having major

heartburn from the medication. I think he should see a gastrointrologist. "

When we go to the rheumatologist we hear, " Have him seen by his regular

pediatrician and

let us know what happens. " But when we go there, she says, " I'm not an expert on

that, so

let's just try giving him this medication and see if it works. "

I just feel like we're getting band aids on everything and the underlying

problems are not

being addressed. Individually, we love each doctor. They really have Andy's

health at the

top of their list, but collectively, they don't talk to one another and I'm

caught in the

middle trying to manage all of them, and I'm not a doctor to begin with.

How do you all deal with this? We're really frustrated and need some advice.

Please help.

Thanks,

(son Andy, 8)

[Guest guest]

My daughters are open to talking with each her Eye doctor and the Rheumy talk

well together. Her Pediatrician communicates well with them also...>Terri

Getting doctors to talk with each other

Has anyone had trouble getting your child's doctors to talk to each other?

Every time we go to the dermatologist we hear, " We can't comment on his

joints, but the

medication the rheumatologist put him on is making his psoriasis worse. Let's

try adding

this medication.. "

When we go to the asthma doctor we hear, " He's a mystery, but I think he is

having major

heartburn from the medication. I think he should see a gastrointrologist. "

When we go to the rheumatologist we hear, " Have him seen by his regular

pediatrician and

let us know what happens. " But when we go there, she says, " I'm not an expert

on that, so

let's just try giving him this medication and see if it works. "

I just feel like we're getting band aids on everything and the underlying

problems are not

being addressed. Individually, we love each doctor. They really have Andy's

health at the

top of their list, but collectively, they don't talk to one another and I'm

caught in the

middle trying to manage all of them, and I'm not a doctor to begin with.

How do you all deal with this? We're really frustrated and need some advice.

Please help.

Thanks,

(son Andy, 8)

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[Guest guest]

hi ,

we indeed can relate to this frustration - and I agree with that

having one doctor to act as the liasion between the various drs. We made a

difficult decision to find a new primary dr for our daughter last year for this

very reason - it has been the right decision for us; the new dr has accepted

most of the burden of seeing that the drs communicate, relieving me of a lot of

stress...

I would recommend having a talk with your son's pediatrician - let them know

your frustrations and ask if they are willing to take on the role of

facilitator/liasion.

Good luck...please keep us posted.

(, 16)

jaimelyn_mi <jaimelynmoy@...> wrote: Has

anyone had trouble getting your child's doctors to talk to each other?

Every time we go to the dermatologist we hear, " We can't comment on his joints,

but the

medication the rheumatologist put him on is making his psoriasis worse. Let's

try adding

this medication.. "

When we go to the asthma doctor we hear, " He's a mystery, but I think he is

having major

heartburn from the medication. I think he should see a gastrointrologist. "

When we go to the rheumatologist we hear, " Have him seen by his regular

pediatrician and

let us know what happens. " But when we go there, she says, " I'm not an expert

on that, so

let's just try giving him this medication and see if it works. "

I just feel like we're getting band aids on everything and the underlying

problems are not

being addressed. Individually, we love each doctor. They really have Andy's

health at the

top of their list, but collectively, they don't talk to one another and I'm

caught in the

middle trying to manage all of them, and I'm not a doctor to begin with.

How do you all deal with this? We're really frustrated and need some advice.

Please help.

Thanks,

(son Andy, 8)

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[Guest guest]

After Chris’ visit with the rheumy,

he would send a note to the ped (and a copy to us). The eye dr will write down

any findings on her note pad and give it to me to pass on to the rheumy/ped.

When saw the allergist, she too would send a note to the ped to let her

know what was going on. Perhaps if you ask the drs to jot down a note to the

ped and you could pass it along, if they do not do this already. It helps to

have all the general info in one drs office and if you can also have copies to

bring to the various visits. Have you asked the drs if it would help them to

have some sort of direct contact? Ask them how you can best improve the

communication between them. Good luck, Michele ( 19, spondy)

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of jaimelyn_mi

Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 4:30

AM

Subject: Getting doctors to

talk with each other

Has anyone had trouble getting your child's doctors to

talk to each other?

Every time we go to the dermatologist we hear, " We can't comment on his

joints, but the

medication the rheumatologist put him on is making his psoriasis worse. Let's

try adding

this medication.. "

When we go to the asthma doctor we hear, " He's a mystery, but I think he

is having major

heartburn from the medication. I think he should see a gastrointrologist. "

When we go to the rheumatologist we hear, " Have him seen by his regular

pediatrician and

let us know what happens. " But when we go there, she says, " I'm not

an expert on that, so

let's just try giving him this medication and see if it works. "

I just feel like we're getting band aids on everything and the underlying

problems are not

being addressed. Individually, we love each doctor. They really have Andy's

health at the

top of their list, but collectively, they don't talk to one another and I'm

caught in the

middle trying to manage all of them, and I'm not a doctor to begin with.

How do you all deal with this? We're really frustrated and need some advice.

Please help.

Thanks,

(son Andy, 8)

[Guest guest]

Thank you everyone for the advice. You have some really good ideas

that should help keep everything in check. I'll talk to the

pedatrician before his next specialty appt to see what she can do to

help. Thanks again.

On 4/9/07, Tepper, Michele <MTepper@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> After Chris' visit with the rheumy, he would send a note to the ped (and a

> copy to us). The eye dr will write down any findings on her note pad and

> give it to me to pass on to the rheumy/ped. When saw the allergist,

> she too would send a note to the ped to let her know what was going on.

> Perhaps if you ask the drs to jot down a note to the ped and you could pass

> it along, if they do not do this already. It helps to have all the general

> info in one drs office and if you can also have copies to bring to the

> various visits. Have you asked the drs if it would help them to have some

> sort of direct contact? Ask them how you can best improve the communication

> between them. Good luck, Michele ( 19, spondy)

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

>

> From: [mailto: ] On Behalf

> Of jaimelyn_mi

> Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 4:30 AM

>

> Subject: Getting doctors to talk with each other

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Has anyone had trouble getting your child's doctors to talk to each other?

>

> Every time we go to the dermatologist we hear, " We can't comment on his

> joints, but the

> medication the rheumatologist put him on is making his psoriasis worse.

> Let's try adding

> this medication.. "

>

> When we go to the asthma doctor we hear, " He's a mystery, but I think he is

> having major

> heartburn from the medication. I think he should see a gastrointrologist. "

>

> When we go to the rheumatologist we hear, " Have him seen by his regular

> pediatrician and

> let us know what happens. " But when we go there, she says, " I'm not an

> expert on that, so

> let's just try giving him this medication and see if it works. "

>

> I just feel like we're getting band aids on everything and the underlying

> problems are not

> being addressed. Individually, we love each doctor. They really have Andy's

> health at the

> top of their list, but collectively, they don't talk to one another and I'm

> caught in the

> middle trying to manage all of them, and I'm not a doctor to begin with.

>

> How do you all deal with this? We're really frustrated and need some

> advice. Please help.

>

> Thanks,

> (son Andy, 8)

>

>

>

>