Kate Collins67 said:It’s blindingly obvious your grandfather isn't doing well if he's popping 12 different pills, but jumping to the conclusion that he's sick because of those 12 specific tablets is just pure madness. Still, if you're so absolutely convinced that's the root cause, go ahead—cut all 12 out and let's see how much "better" he feels then.
And honestly, you should probably just be happy and grateful that he's managed to stick around for an extra 20 years.
Well... I certainly respect that you have your own perspective as someone working in the medical field—I really do. But let’s be honest—I’m fairly certain you wouldn't even be part of this conversation if it weren't for the tablet.
The reality is that these prescriptions are often handed out just for the sake of checking a box. Take a urologist, for instance—they aren't exactly going to sit there and cross-reference every single medication you're already taking to see how they might interact. It’s a massive oversight. I’d bet anything that among the endless sea of options on the market, there are plenty of alternatives that achieve the exact same result without causing all that nausea and discomfort. But, let’s be honest—we probably won't live long enough to see a doctor actually take the time to look at the big picture.
I get that healthcare workers are frustrated—and honestly, calling their working conditions "tough" is a massive understatement—but at the end of the day, they chose this career path, and we’re all dealing with the fallout of those choices now. It isn't like anyone else is getting a free pass through life. I can't help but wonder if these same professionals feel a sense of vindication when they encounter a rude clerk at the DMV or some unhelpful agent at a bank? Probably not. It’s a cycle, really—that lady behind the counter is likely just as burnt out and miserable as anyone else, venting her frustrations in all the wrong ways onto the wrong people.
I’ve been sitting here reading Patrick Reyes15’s post... honestly, what you and your parents went through sounds absolutely harrowing. It’s one thing to deal with medical issues, but it’s another entirely to face doctors who lack basic competence—people who simply don't care and are more terrified of an audit or oversight than they are of failing their patients. Then you have the rest of the staff, who seem to take their own frustrations out on the very people who need support the most. It’s the exact opposite of what healthcare is supposed to be.
I’ve seen my fair share of incompetence, too—cases where people are just fundamentally out of their depth. I once heard about an ophthalmologist who told a patient during a routine exam that they had cataracts and immediately referred them for surgery. The poor guy shows up at the hospital only for the surgeon to look him in the eye and say they can't believe he was even sent there—the man didn't have cataracts at all. As it turns out, that doctor only ended up in that role by default—a sort of "safety net" career move because he failed to get into his actual preferred specialty during med school. It was painfully obvious that he had zero passion for the work, which explains why he doesn't bother putting in any real effort.
To be honest, I really ought to schedule an eye exam with him—but I just can't bring myself to go. Before I commit to anything, I need to do some digging and see what my other options are. I’m looking for someone else entirely because, frankly, this guy is completely out of his depth. It’s one of those situations where people would rather pay premium prices for a private consultation with the doctor who inherited the practice just because they know his name, even if there are better specialists out there. $167 Regarding that checkup with him... honestly, I have my doubts about his actual expertise.
Well, I suppose it really comes down to the individual. I had surgery at Mayo Clinic recently, and honestly, everyone was incredibly kind—from the nurse who handled my prep work (with a smile and a little lighthearted teasing) to the technician who practically caught me when I nearly threw up right after my CT scan. Neither experience was exactly a walk in the park, obviously, but no one was rude or dismissive. I could also tell when things were getting a bit frantic for them. For instance, once my digestive system finally kicked back into gear, I was running to the restroom every few minutes while still hooked up to my IV. Every time I rang the call button, the nurse would be there in seconds to disconnect me so I could go. I actually found myself apologizing for being such a nuisance, but she just told me not to bother—if I need to go, I need to go, and helping me is literally what she’s there for.
I ended up stuck in the ICU for five or six days because of a fever—it was pretty rough. Honestly, though, the nurses were a lifesaver. They went out of their way to wash my hair—which they definitely weren't required to do—and even spent time braiding it just so I wouldn't be dealing with a tangled mess. We shared a few laughs and some lighthearted banter, too. It sounds small, but those little gestures made an incredibly difficult stay much easier to handle.
The surgeon—well, he’s in a league of his kind. He took me under his wing from day one, checking in on me several times a day leading up to the surgery. He even showed up on Labor Day just to see how I was doing—even though he wasn't technically on call and there were plenty of other doctors on duty since my procedure had actually happened the day before. During all the follow-up appointments, he’s been nothing short of wonderful... honestly, he's the gold standard of what a doctor should be. 🙂
