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Navigating healthcare

November 5th, 2009 at 07:48 pm

So I'm taking the steps to switch my coverage to allow for more choices in my healthcare.

However, I feel lost. I have no idea who to pick as a doctor.

I've always seen a Family Practice doctor. But people are telling me to see an Internist. Can I see both? (My new insurance does not require to have a PCM - I just see who I want... but both doctors could be my primary care doctor if I wanted to designate one)

So I set up an appointment with an internist in December. With my headaches, blood pressure, and elevated AST levels... I should probably see them. Keep in mind, again, I'm 28, 136 lbs at 5'7"... I run for 45 minutes on the treadmill everyday, and apparently my cholesterol is lower than what it was when I was 19.

Maybe it is stress... the blood pressure, elevated AST (liver enzyme... which if my Dad was my biological dad I would panic because he died of liver cancer), and headaches. I've never lost a loved one before & maybe I've been under-estimating the effect its had on me... but I feel like I can't really stop to grieve. There is just so much going on & I can't fail at what I'm doing right now to allow myself to grieve. I just can't. I'd almost feel like I was letting my Dad down for letting my emotions get the best of me & as a result would ruin what I've worked so hard for.

On the other side of things, I acknowledge that if I don't take steps to properly cope with my stress - the stress will manifest in my health.

Anyhow, I also have a new patient appointment with the family practice doc in January. They came on the recommendation of my kids' pediatrician (whom I love).

I might be making this more complicated than it needs to be. I guess I'm just worried I won't like the doctor I see in December, but also concerned the family practice doctor won't meet my needs.

I've been so used to my healthcare being dictated to me that the moment I am given choices... I know the general idea of what I need to do, but I feel lost regardless.

3 Responses to “Navigating healthcare”

  1. creditcardfree Says:
    1257450915

    I think with your new plan either doctor will be the same cost regardless of who is designated as your primary. You can also change your primary at any time! I hope that helps.

  2. fern Says:
    1257459715

    I've never really understood what the different was between an internist and a family care doc. Losing a family member is huge. I just hope i can cope when the time comes. I think everyone grieves in different ways, and you probably are going through the process, even if it doesn't seem like it.

  3. Petunia Says:
    1257470130

    Agree with Fern - losing a family member is huge. About six months after my dad died I'd gained weight, was seriously depressed and had some weird health problems. Only later, after that, did I realize that they were connected to my dad's death.

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