Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

[DianaB]

I'm glad that you're feeling better. Thank goodness you have an NP that you're comfortable with.

What is it with older doctors that don't listen? Thankfully my doctor is pretty young and I feel like she's pretty much on top of things. I have an appointment for next week to see her.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by DianaB

I'm glad that you're feeling better. Thank goodness you have an NP that you're comfortable with.

What is it with older doctors that don't listen? Thankfully my doctor is pretty young and I feel like she's pretty much on top of things. I have an appointment for next week to see her.

Old doctors do not listen because they were not taught to listen. They were taught that they know what is best and their knowledge is superior to the patient's knowledge and preferences. That is the way medical education used to be, but it has changed to be more accepting of the information the patient gives. Also, younger doctors are trained to diagnose and manage conditions based on protocols from evidence-based practice. That is, they are trained to read the research and talk to the patients and treat them according to the best available evidence combined with patient preferences and idiocyncracies. The article that I had with me at the doctors office was the medical associations's accepted and published evidence-based protocol for treating my condition. Medical school did not used to teach that - so some older doctors rely on their "superior" knowledge. I have an endocrinologist that treats my low bone density and when I go to see her, I usually have research articles that I take to her and she usually has some for me. We respect each other's knowledge and she relies on the best evidence available to make treatment decisions.