endocrinologist vs. internal medicine doctor
hi,
my regular family doctor is actually internal medicine doc (she took
over her dad’s family practice).
i was wondering how many people see an endocrinologist specialist vs.
someone else.
thanks
11 Responses to “endocrinologist vs. internal medicine doctor”
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July 22nd, 2007 at 7:15 am
i was wondering how many people see an endocrinologist specialist vs.
someone else.
*** It’s difficult to get an appointment with an endochronologist where I
live; there are only two of them in the area and was referred in June for a
September appt. I guess it depends on the individual doctors. My primary
physician is wonderful; one of the best doctors I’ve ever known and he knows
me
for almost twenty years. The last time I saw an endochronologist he wanted
to put me on statins just because I’m diabetic and the drug companies see us
as a new market. My cholesterol was under 190 at the time. So we didn’t
agree and I never went back. He didn’t make any changes in my treatment
otherwise
except to tell me I could increase my Lantus. The endochronologist I saw
before that maybe, eight years ago, told me he couldn’t help me if I didn’t
want to take metformin which I stopped because I was getting stomach cramps and
throwing up from it. So, I never went back to him either. So far my
experience hasn’t been that great. My primary doctor admits he’s not a
specialist in
diabetes and sends me to one periodically just in case he’s missing
something. He does keep up on new diabetic meds and I trust him to work with
me on
finding the right combination of medications. I am allergic to a lot of
medications; penecillan, sulpher meds, about half a dozen blood pressure meds
I’ve tried and we aim to keep me on as few medications as possible. My doctor
is also very knowlegeable about and open to natural remedies and I take
alpha lapoic acid, L-carnitine and gymnema sylvestre for the diabetes and
recently we added benfotiamine for the neuropathy, all of which are very
helpful.
I never take anything without doing a lot of research and discussing it with
my primary physician. Suzanne
July 22nd, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I see an endocrinologist for my diabetes. He also has a research foundation for
endocrinology and metabolism.
I don’t have much confidence in my family practice doc and usually ask to see
his physician’s assistant for my appointments. He took over the practice when my
original doctor "retired" after she had twins.
Cindy
hi,
my regular family doctor is actually internal medicine doc (she took
over her dad’s family practice).
i was wondering how many people see an endocrinologist specialist vs.
someone else.
thanks
July 22nd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I see an endo, but I have other issues besides just the diabetes.
Stacy
hi,
my regular family doctor is actually internal medicine doc (she took
over her dad’s family practice).
i was wondering how many people see an endocrinologist specialist vs.
someone else.
thanks
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6:01 PM
July 22nd, 2007 at 8:09 pm
I don’t have much confidence in my family practice doc and usually ask to
see his physician’s assistant for my appointments. He took over the practice
when my original doctor "retired" after she had twins.
Hi Cindy:
I am insured by Health New England, an HMO and my primary physician oversees
all of my care; is responsible for making sure I get all of the screenings
and tests that I need, coordinating all of my meds, etc. He also makes any
referrals to specialists and consults with them on their recommendations. He
is by far the most important doctor I have and I would never stay with him if
I didn’t have total confidence in him. That would seem dangerous to me.
Suzanne
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:50 am
Funny, for 15 years my PCP was an internist who was board certified in endo.
but I wasn’t diabetic then. Since moving states I now go to a P.A. in
family practice. He’s also diabetic and keeps up on everything. But when
my BS started going up again he didn’t want to switch me from my current
meds. He doesn’t prescribe byetta because he doesn’t want type 2s doing
injections. He put me on januvia with my glipizide and when I could tell
that wasn’t doing anything at all (plus it’s such a new drug that I hate the
thought of using it), I made an appointment with an endo. already I’m
seeing a huge difference!
Morning (fasting) BS - 167 - much better than the 180s - 200s it’s been!
Lin
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:17 pm
I don’t have a "primary physician" because I don’t have an HMO plan. I go to
family practice only for minor things, like a sinus infection for example. I
have a nephrologist for kidney problems/hypertension and now the endo for the
diabetes. I wish I had someone I trusted to look at the big picture, but right
now I don’t. I think the endo is serving that role more than anyone else right
now, but I have only been seeing him since May. I didn’t need a referral to see
him, and I think he sends copies of my records to the family practice doc, but
no consultations or anything. I guess it is kind of scary.
Cindy
I don’t have much confidence in my family practice doc and usually ask to
see his physician’s assistant for my appointments. He took over the practice
when my original doctor "retired" after she had twins.
Hi Cindy:
I am insured by Health New England, an HMO and my primary physician oversees
all of my care; is responsible for making sure I get all of the screenings
and tests that I need, coordinating all of my meds, etc. He also makes any
referrals to specialists and consults with them on their recommendations. He
is by far the most important doctor I have and I would never stay with him if
I didn’t have total confidence in him. That would seem dangerous to me.
Suzanne
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:39 pm
I wish I had someone I trusted to look at the big picture, but right now I
don’t. I think the endo is serving that role more than anyone else right now,
but I have only been seeing him since May. I didn’t need a referral to see
him, and I think he sends copies of my records to the family practice doc, but
no consultations or anything. I guess it is kind of scary.
*** It just means you have to be your own health coordinator and oversee the
big picture yourself. I guess the primary physician is one of the good
things that HMO’s do. I think we all have to take responsibility for our
health care and not follow any doctors blindly. My primary physician treats me
like a partner in my care; afterall, I’m the one living in this body.
July 24th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Hi, My name is Rich (buddahh93) and I’m new to this group. In answer to
your question, I’ve been seeing an endo for over a year now, and I
think he is the best! I like my family Dr. but the endo is way more in
depth (and in-tune) with my situation.
July 24th, 2007 at 8:56 am
I can so relate to this Suzanne, I also have a doctor like that, she and I make
a great team, she’s also a GP and I keep her up on all things related to other
issues in my life so she can see the big picture. She knows I’m wanting to get
off as many meds as possible as I lose the weight and the numbers continue to
remain stable/within normal range in all the other areas (BP, Cholesterol,
sugars etc.) I seem to need less and less meds as the weight drops off. It
feels great to not have to rely on so many nowadays.
I too am more into the natural foods and eating healthy that way (but I’m in the
process of learning and trying out new things all the time), my goal is not
merely to keep my numbers at a healthy level, continued weightloss etc. but give
my body healthy things to eat vs. chemicals, additives etc. I feel SO much
better making the change over, something clicked in me for the first time ever
the day I began Byetta, I decided life is not about ‘diets’ but about learning
to love ourselves, care for ourselves and nurture ourselves, exercise, good food
choices and positive focus is where I’m at now, if we don’t take good care of
ourselves who will, right? Really noone else can do this for us.
A total lifestyle change I feel will get me further in life and I now find
myself no longer even interested in snack type foods (simple carbs). I chose
soynuts, berries things of that sort for snacks now…
Suzanne, I really enjoy your posts as I always learn a bit more. Thanks for
Thanks to all of you who share …….it’s
being so open with your posts.
helpful to know we’re not alone in this, somehow it makes this disease a little
easier to bear.
I’ve never been to an Endo…I can’t really say if there even are any here, I
live in a larger area, but much prefer one doctor to oversee things with me,
she’s pretty on top of things, so it works well….but that’s just my
experience.
Best of luck to all of you finding or continuing to see a doctor you trust and
have faith in, sometimes you have to go through a few to find one that listens
to you, and actually hears you and is willing to work WITH you rather than
telling you what to do!
Elizabeth
July 24th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Thanks! Just reading it makes me feel better. I’ve been craving something
sweet all day. About to have some berries.
Lin
July 26th, 2007 at 5:50 am
I began Byetta, I decided life is not about ‘diets’ but about learning to
love ourselves, care for ourselves and nurture ourselves, exercise, good food
choices and positive focus is where I’m at now, if we don’t take good care of
ourselves who will, right? Really noone else can do this for us.
Hi Elizabeth:
I also consider Byetta a new beginning and so far it’s been a real adventure
in terms of learning how to best take care of myself. People think I’m
nuts but there’s something really magical to me about this
medication…something mythological about it’s origins …..I was so happy to
find out I could
handle it I faxed my doctor a note saying : :The lizard likes me:-) It holds
a
lot of promise for me. I’m also grateful for the friendship and support