I Found a Keeper

Three months flew by and my appointment with the good endocrinologist had finally arrived. I didn't know what to expect -- just because the office is a good fit for somebody else, doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be the right healthcare team for me. I was anxious for the visit... these doctor appointments are a lot like a string of bad dates. I was crossing my fingers that I wouldn't have an "it's not you, it's me" situation on my hands. After all, you begin to question the validity of that line when you are the common denominator... Endocrinologists: 2 Melissa: 0.


Luckily, this medical team exceeded all of my expectations. The front desk was courteous and attentive to the waiting room of patients. They did their part in preparing matters so that we would get the most out of our visits. I relinquished my meter and CGM upon arrival in order for them to retrieve all the necessary data. I like that the staff has something tangible to review, opposed to just listening to me speak. After all, there may be a piece of information or a particular trend that I haven't noted. Shortly after, I was led to a room.


The doctor took a seat, reviewed my chart, and fired away with his questions. These questions had purpose; he wanted to know how I was managing things, how I was safeguarding my health, what I wanted from a provider, and the areas I needed assistance. He has type 1 diabetes himself, which helps him to relate to his patients. He spoke to me about products that he had tried and why they were/weren't effective. He recognized that this is not a one size fits all disease and showed his support for things that I have found helpful in managing things for me. He challenged me to consider new treatment methods, but assured me that these decisions would ultimately be my own. He spent an hour going over my charts (his concerns are my hypoglycemic episodes) and answered all of my questions. At the end of the visit, I felt like I had a new game plan and a team that would help me to achieve my goals.


This time I walked out with a huge smile on my face. I had done the impossible-- I had found exactly what I was looking for in an endocrinologist-- a doctor who is to the point, asks pertinent questions, explains things in depth, and shows empathy.


Now, I could breathe a sigh of relief. It wasn't me... it was them. :)