Hi Phoebe,
Your plans rreally do describe the perfect Dr. but don't be diappointed if you get an imperfect Dr. No one is perfect. Its a different world now. I have not found such a Dr. since the 60's. You might even face some harsh doctors. I got so tired of medical abuse, I just wanted to die rather than having to go back to another Dr. who would call me names and tell me I'm lying, when it was HE who didn't know what he was talking about. It was like having an abusive husband, but I couldnt' get away, because I will always need medical care. Finally, right at the perfect time, I found my female Dr. and the abuse stopped.
I have learned that I am the one who has to be my main caretaker and researcher because no Dr. is willing to take the time to research for me. They just don't care that much. When I find answers and possible treatments, I take them to my Dr. and if he/she is willing to listen to what I've learned, and try the possible treatments, THAT is a good Dr. He is a listener, and willing to learn new things about your condition. If he tells you not to tell him anything, head for the door, because you will be his servant, obeying his god-like ego, taking meds that may not agree with you, and probably has not researched the latests meds and techniques. Men are much worse at being willing to read articles you bring in or consider medications and info that you have studied. This website is a goldmine of information and alternatiaves. I have so many weird reactions to meds, and I've had doctors call me a liar straight to my face. That kind of Dr. is NOT on my "team". If I have a symptom, I would not waste my money and time to ask for his help unless it was real, and he should be willing to research why I have that symptom rather than call me a liar.
Dr. Welby from the 70's TV no longer exists. I think your expectations might not ALL get met, but I also think you have to aim high to even get some of those goals. Good list! I have been to so many dozens of doctors over the years and as time goes on, I find them getting more frustrated (stuck between what patient needs and what insurance won’t let them have), indifferent, unwilling to learn new things about how my body acts differently than others, and they listen for about 30 seconds before they have already decided which ONE symptom they “guessed” I have and will give me a pill for. I have a Dr. now who will listen to the symptoms because she is a woman and she can multi-task, but all the men have told me they can only deal with one symptom at a time, and EVERY disease has more than one symptom, so as soon as they learned I have a dozen symptoms, I was ushered out the door. They can't put the symptoms together to form a picture of a disease without listening to them all, and here, you have to make a second appointment if you want to mention a second symptom. Consider a woman Dr. for sure, I find them able to see the whole picture an multi task, and they don't treat women as badly as men do. In medical school they are actually taught to take men's complaints more seriously than women's, and treat men more aggressively. I have a book by a Dr. called "How Doctors Think" and it was a real eye opener. This Dr. got cancer, and realized how badly the doctors were treating him, then he wrote 2 books when he was recovering. By reading that book, it helped me know how to talk to the Dr. because I could see his method of thinking, and what his next step would be. I think you can get it by e-book as well for your computer or mobile device or Kindle. For those of us who have no choice but to have to deal with doctors, that book really helps understand how they think, and what they actually mean when they say this or that. It usually means something different than we laymen/women think it does.
Concierge Dr. sounds like such a wonderful luxury! All I know about it is on the show Royal Pain, but I’d sure like to be wealthy enough to hire one! I wonder if insurance covers a concierge Dr. at all. I’m so happy for you if you are in a position to hire one!
There are so many different meds for TN, and so many combinations that can be used together, and so many different dosages, don't give up, keep trying different dosages and different meds until you find something that works for you. My liver had trouble within a week of taking the anti-seizure meds, and my pain had stopped my heart more than once, so they put me on pain meds just to keep me alive. I am grateful for the quality of life they allow me to have. I have also had many periods of remission lasting for months or years. (Had this for 16 years now). How time flies when you're NOT having fun, and just trying to survive.
Keep us/me posted! I've never known anyone with a concierge Dr.! This fascinates me!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sheila