My doctor was marking time until his retirement at age 65 at which point I was “grandfathered” into a new doctor who bought the practice. My first doctor never gave me a complete physical. He just listened to my lungs and heart and depended on lab results to tell him “everything”. The second doctor did the same thing. Well, now I am on to a third doctor who is equally “incompetent”.

I don’t want to be a “doctor shopper” but when I tell them what’s wrong, they invariably ask me my age. Not one of my physicians has ever seen my legs, ankles or palpated my stomach but they still give me a diagnosis, medication samples and then a prescription.

My current doctor spends only three to five minutes on my office visits but charges me for a complete physical. Most of the visit consists of him writing; however, he is always quick to ask if I need any prescriptions.

It seems to me that as I age, these physicians are less interested in my health and take on a condescending attitude. I have an allergist, gynecologist and ear-nose-and-throat specialist also so I am able to do most of my own monitoring but I want someone (other than me) to take an interest in my health and wellbeing.

I am in my late 70s, 5’ 4” (and shrinking which no one seems to care about) and weigh 138 pounds. I exercise daily with an “alpine climber” and am very active in my community. I have been widowed for many years and don’t drink alcohol or smoke. I live a small area and don’t know where to go or what to do. What do you make of this situation?

DEAR READER:
Your story, unfortunately, is far too common in today’s society. Thanks to big insurance companies, HMOs and over-zealous pharmaceutical companies, many doctors are forgoing proper medical care in order to earn a buck, or rather lots of them! It is discouraging, disappointing and most of all, utterly unethical. Doctors take an oath to do no harm but by not taking the time to understand a patient, listen to his or her concerns and provide adequate help, these individuals are doing exactly what they swore not to.

In the world of the almighty dollar, physicians have turned into businessmen making the bottom line more important than the patient. That being said, there is a new generation of physicians who seem to be throwing that idea out the window and are instead focusing on the patient. These physicians also seem to be more interested in treating and preventing illness through the use of natural remedies, diet, exercise, and other preventive measures, using prescription medications only as a last resort.

In most cases, medication should not be used as a primary course of action. Diabetes caused by overweight, high cholesterol from poor diet, high blood pressure by lack of exercise, and more can usually be remedied through teaching the patient proper techniques, reserving medication for those with genetic predispositions or failure to respond. Some conditions, such as heart irregularities and seizures should be treated with medication regardless of health status but only after having proper testing and confirmation of diagnosis, not simple guesswork or hunches.

While I understand that you do not want to be a “doctor shopper”, you have to be. You are receiving less than optimal care and need to find a physician to fit your needs. As I have said in the past, patients are the livelihood of a doctor and if he or she does not conform to the needs of patients, that livelihood will wither away, leaving the physician out in the cold (so to speak). If you choose not to find another physician I suggest you speak to your current one and voice your concerns, disappointments and needs. If he or she fails to meet expectations, you have two choices — stay and be dissatisfied and possibly in harm’s way or find a physician who will treat you the way you deserve to be. At the same time, you must be realistic in your demands because doctors are humans too, and suffer the same effects of pressure and stress.

I suggest you begin your search for a new physician at your local hospital. Here you should be able to obtain a copy of all the physician in the area affiliated with it plus their medical education and work background. The hospital office staff may even be able to offer suggestions about which physician may best suit your needs and wants.

I would also like to mention that if you have not had a complete physical by your physician, ask your gynecologist. You are more than overdue. The physical should also include an EKG, blood work, colonoscopy and a bone density exam.

I had sincere doubts that a solution as simple as this could actually remedy baldness, especially after the eons of money and research that have been put into curing it.

Despite this, I decided to try it and the weekend after the article appeared I went to my local supermarket (in the suburb of a major city) and found that every bottle of that certain shampoo and conditioner was gone. The hole it left was rather large since that brand had a lot of self spaced allotted to it. I was surprised by this but then realized that your column is a great medium to plug products.

I am now of the conclusion that there was no lady married to a bald man who used these products. I assume there is a real writer who has a personal interest in the company and stands to profit if the sales go up. Perhaps that person is you.

DEAR READER:
I am somewhat offended by your accusation but can understand the thought behind it. I will confirm that I do not have any relation to the product or company and do not stand to profit in any way from its sale. This is true for ALL the products I mention in my column, with the only exception (for obvious reasons) being my books. Again, I will declare that I do not endorse any products because I have been paid to do so. I simply mention them for reader interest and if results are overwhelmingly positive, I suggest them to others so they, too, can benefit. If it is inexpensive, safe and easy, I will probably suggest it at least once.

I am an old-fashioned, curmudgeon man who believes that home remedies are sometimes a valid option; especially in today’s society and economy of dwindling money values, drug-pushing physicians and manufacturers.

People, it’s time to get back to basics. Money may make the world go ‘round, but that is only because we made it so. If we, as a society, stand up and say “No more!”, changes will happen.

If everyone weren’t in such a rush, most of today’s “conveniences” wouldn’t even exist, such as TV dinners, fast food restaurants and drive-thrus. If everyone ate healthfully and exercised daily, most of these home remedies wouldn’t be necessary. But they are, so I recommend them because they are beneficial.

Even though you doubt it works, many readers have benefited from Tresemme Silk Protein Healthy Volume Shampoo and Tresemme Vitamin E (for dry/damaged hair) Conditioner and I will continue to promote it because it is safe, effective and inexpensive.

For any reader who is interested in learning more about some of the more successful home remedies, I recommend you order my “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies” Health Report. It is available by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.