help me pick a concierge doctor

JackieOnLine

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I have no health insurance and two doctors to choose from.

The first is pretty woo - Flowing Chi Medical - which is OK, IMO, although I don't need any acupuncture, thanks. I've spoken with her twice on the phone and not completely impressed but she would let me pay monthly - $100 a month. I have an appointment with her for a week from tomorrow. I say not completely impressed because I was a bit, um, do you have to talk about your kids so much? I kind of want our relationship to be about ME but, honestly, I'm pretty quick to be cranky lately.

The other one is Dr. Weed - I'm not kidding, that's her name. :laugh: so far I haven't spoken with her, but I liked the woman in her office I spoke to.

thing is, to see her I have to go through MDVIP and I am not very impressed with them. They told me she has a waiting list and put me on it, but her office said, no, we can see you. First sign up with them and then we'll get you in. So that's confusing.

But I liked the woman I talked to and she offered a "meet" where I just come in and ask questions. Nice office lady was professional and let me know stuff like Dr. Weed does not prescribe narcotics which I am OK with. I mean, I have insomnia but as near as I can tell taking sleeping pills may sedate you, even knock you out, but it's not sleep.

my gut says Dr. Weed is the better option - but that's more wild ass guess than anything else - while Dr. Foster (flowing chi) is cheaper and I can pay monthly instead of quarterly. I may have mentioned I am in a deep hole, financially. :rolleyes:

It is so hard to make decisions when I'm not sure what's going to happen. I am giving up my part time Home Health job (which is a better job but they don't have full time) and going full time with Evil Corp but their health insurance is shitty plus not available for months anyway. so it's all short term issues at this point.

anyway, it helps to type it all out and you are welcome to give advice. thank you!
 
I was offered a new job with a better company (and full time) in Oregon but I turned it down. very hard decision. job was in Klamath Falls and I would have gone for it had they made me "an offer I couldn't refuse" - instead they offered about what I'm making here and just barely enough sign on bonus to move.
I had to tell myself there might not be a "right" decision and just decided - I decided I wasn't mentally stable enough just now to relocate so I turned the job down.

same thing here, there might not be a "right" decision.
 
I was offered a new job with a better company (and full time) in Oregon but I turned it down. very hard decision. job was in Klamath Falls and I would have gone for it had they made me "an offer I couldn't refuse" - instead they offered about what I'm making here and just barely enough sign on bonus to move.
What dh use to do was say...well, what you are offering isn't enough for me to relocate. I would need (and we were prepared to name a figure that was slightly above the increased cost of living plus negotiated for them to pay moving expenses.
 
How about trying one month with Flowing Chi and switching to Dr. Weed if Flowing Chi doesn't work out? Congrats on the offer - it's nice to be wanted!
 
Now I'm not one to push narcotics, but there may come a day when you need them for some legitimate, short term reason, and you will need someone who can and will prescribe them. Based on your conversations with Dr. Flo, do you think she would take kindly to telling her, in the nicest possible way, that you would prefer to spend your time with her focused on your medical concerns and not on her (I'm sure lovely) family?
 
Ugh.... The way things are going here just be glad you can still get narcotics on the street.

Seriously, I would take the one who will prescribe narcotics. I think if you are sick enough to pay to go to the doc, you should get what you NEED!

And just what do you GET for all this money? Are you paying just for the privilege of being ABLE to see a doc if you need one?
 
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How about trying one month with Flowing Chi and switching to Dr. Weed if Flowing Chi doesn't work out? Congrats on the offer - it's nice to be wanted!
this is probably what I will do - car insurance is due this month and it's going to be tight.

And just what do you GET for all this money? Are you paying just for the privilege of being ABLE to see a doc if you need one?

it isn't much, is it? basically I need someone to continue to prescribe metoprolol for high blood pressure.
looking at the website for MDVIP they seem to be marketing to people who have health insurance but want a doctor who is willing and able to spend more time with them.

if I have sudden need for narcotics I would assume I'm in the ER and they can help - and that I'll end up in bankruptcy over whatever the situation is. I know it's a terrible plan.

door #3 is go to neither as the metoprolol says it can be renewed for the next two months but I have an ex-coworker who went to the same doctor I did and she suddenly couldn't renew her prescriptions even though the bottle said she could. The doctor moved his practice to Reno and raised his prices and the pharmacy said she was no longer "under his care" - my pharmacy hasn't said that yet but if they suddenly do then what.

Larra - I will probably just gently "redirect" Dr. Flo (LOL) back to me when she talks about her family. :rolleyes:

honestly, I am hoping that in six months (not sure if that is realistic) I have my feet underneath me and can get a job with a better company even if it means relocation. Their health insurance will be far from ideal (does anyone even offer good insurance anymore?) but then Democrats will take back the country and before we know it, Medicare for all, right? or at least Medicare will be fixed rather than privatized.

:eek:
 
ps - suddenly can't edit post anymore - I have been reading roommate wanted ads on Craigslist for months and responded to dozens of them. Probably could do a rant about that. :p
 
before we know it, Medicare for all, right? or at least Medicare will be fixed rather than privatized.
Medicare FIXED???? Yeah, right, NOT. I would like it once Medicare for all happens is for the cost of Supplement plans to plummet for those who are outside of the 65-72 age range.
 
What about Web MD I think it is, where you video chat with a doctor? You might be able to get your BP script from them. I hear Dr. Phil talking about them all the time

I will look for this. I have gotten lexipro from a doctor that just had me fill out a form via e-mail and then the meds show up in the mail. from Utah, if I recall correctly. so it's not like I'm not open to whatever it takes.

Medicare FIXED???? Yeah, right, NOT. I would like it once Medicare for all happens is for the cost of Supplement plans to plummet for those who are outside of the 65-72 age range.

fixed includes patching up the holes (deliberately put in) so supplemental plans are not necessary. yes, in my dreams. :frown:
 
I had my first appointment with Dr. Flowing Chi. very odd mix but at least as competent as my last doctor, so on the whole I'm OK with her.
this one would order opiates if she thought I needed them. in fact, at one point she said "I love Pfizer" which made me :cautious:, but getting a drug won't be a problem. I mean, if she agrees it's a good one.
She wants me to change blood pressure med to an ACE, saying my metoprolol wasn't the best choice, but she was OK when I said I didn't want to change right now.

She really wants me to cut back (and even go off) omeprazole, she said "chronic use leads to osteoporosis, kidney disease, low magnesium, C diff infections, iron deficiency, B12 deficiency, and community acquired pneumonia". yikes! :sick: she said if I've had GERD since 2008 (my surgery) by now I might have an ulcer.

she is the first doctor I ever remember asking me what my social support is like, that's good.

she recommended less than 40 grams of carbs a day! I think that is also a first for any of my doctors. also listed specific amounts of exercise and a list of sleep hygiene suggestions.

well, there is a ton more, but my brain is tired and I need to process. the smoke here has been very bad and I'm finally feeling it. (made the mistake of opening the windows last night) headache, all-over yuck feeling. :(
 

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