I've been with the same doc for almost 18 years and I would hate to have to switch to another. If I call last minute, either he squeezes me in, or I see his partner who is equally great. I worked for a multi doc practice for a few years and I was disgusted at some of what I saw. It was all about the money with them. None of these docs would "go the extra mile" for the patients. There was no come into my office today, I'll see you tomorrow, etc. This company had a contract with a walk in clinic down the street and the knee jerk reaction of all the receptionists and doctors was " go to the clinic." This clinic was very busy and between the emergencies was alot of primary care things...med refills that could have been done over the phone, routine bloodwork,blood pressure checks, etc. One doc actually had the gall to send a patient that was in his office to the clinic to be evaluated for abdominal pain! His excuse...I'm too busy today to order the bloodwork and xrays! Then if a patient was severe enough that they had to go to the ER, the pcp would call and yell at the clinic docs because they would have to round on the patient at the local hospital! It was a real eye opener. Alot of the patients would say that they felt the clinic docs were their pcps. In 18 years, my doc had given me 1 outside referral and that was for surgery. Sorry for the rant but I was happy to get out of that job and am forever grateful to my doc for the wonderful job that he does.

The problem with a LOT of medical tests (even legitimate ones in a hospital setting) are that the results are questionable, and then you have to go for more, and MORE EXPENSIVE tests. Just one example--last summer, I had a kidney stone attack that sent me to the ER in great pain. That situation had to be addressed, and I ended up having a bunch more tests and 2 lithotripsies to blast the stones. BUT in the hospital, I was given a CAT scan. Besides the stones, it showed some questionable areas in my kidneys. Now, kidney cancer is very rare, and I didn't have the risk factors for it, BUT since the question was raised, the drs had to address it and do further tests--so they sent me for X-rays and an ultrasound. Which were inconclusive. There was bloodwork, more X-rays, and eventually, an MRI was ordered. Luckily, after all those tests (and expense) it turned out that I just had some cysts (most people over 50 DO), which were nothing to worry about. Luckily, my insurance covered a fair amount of the expense, but if our deductible was $10,000? We'd have had to spend every penny of it on me last summer. If you're not having symptoms, if you go to your regular dr. for regular check-ups and follow his advice--then I don't see any reason to pad the pockets of the snake oil salesmen who are just trying to make their $$$ quickly now, before we go to national health. One more example of the current 'smash and grab' on the middle class. Everyone's trying to get a bit of the pie, before the middle class disappears completely. Just don't make it easier for them by volunteering to hand them your money.

I had my rightside,1/3 of the left and they also scraped the isthmus,back in 76.I had been on synthroid before the surgery,but mine kept growing and i was having trouble swallowing,and my voice kept getting hoarse.My hair was falling out,my skin was like a snake,(shedding)very dry,was gaining weight and feeling just moody and so unlike myself. I had great drs and surgeon.You can't even see my scar as they did it in the fold of my neck.20 years later i started having problems again and they felt the nodules growing again on what was left of the left side,so they did surgery and removed the rest. I still from time to time have to get my meds adjusted,and i am very aware when that needs doing,more so than the test they run. I couldn't talk for awhile after the surgery,so my friend bought me a bell to ring when i needed something,worked like a charm. Good luck to you,keep a positive attitude.Will keep you in prayer. Kathi

Ladies, My dog was a GR, and did not have cancer. It was pancreatitis. I am angered by the vet's management of it as I felt as though she should have been on IV fluids the minute the diagnosis came back. Dh took her in last Sat and they came home together. Blood work came back Tues. But, she was looking up by then, then suddenly crashed on Friday. I read about nothing by mouth in these cases, so I'm baffled by the meds and vet's suggestions. Today, the blood work came back from yesterday, though she was already gone, and it showed multiple system failures/organ failures. She was 12. My other two GR's died at nearly 15, a month before and two weeks after my second boy's birth. I was a wreck. I have no business having pets, and as many as I do. I can't handle the down side well at all. Right now, I'm actually numb - have had a really bad five years regarding pets, but as I said, the numbers I own are very high. I have moments of being inconsolable, trying to be brave for the little ones, etc. My heart has a huge hole in it as Sylvia described. My house seems empty - only have our 2 lb. year old pup left as far as canines go. I'm somewhere between never wanting another pet and wanting to run out and rescue some poor creature who would otherwise not have a decent life... SS's dog is a small dog - I'd say 10 lbs. While I agree that going the heroic road isn't the way to go unless there's a fighting chance for the animal to pull through, to sit back and watch a growth become so huge is inhumane. I've done the heroic thing and will not put an animal through it again w/o a decent prognosis. I have a 15 y.o. cat right now who is in great spirits, eating well, etc. But, his back legs sometimes appear noodle-like. The preliminary tests ruled out arthritis (I didn't think it was) so it must be neurologic. I just refuse to have him subjected to a bunch of tests, being away from home, etc. He isn't stressed and I won't act on this if he remains fine. Some days are better than others, but his appetite and mood remain good. (I barter w/ the vet, so cost is not a factor, just won't subject him to surgery at this age, don't want him sedated for the x-rays, etc.) SS has his priorities all messed up. He apparently also has his photos messed up - meant to send these of the dog to my asst. last time, but instead, she got photos of his boyfriend's back side, naked. I'm pretty disgusted just hearing about it. She was fairly grossed out and shocked, to say the least. I also lost my beloved mixed breed of 17 years in the Spring. She was a hit and run I took in while in residency. I actually prefer my four-legged friends to most 2 legged human ones...contrary to popular belief, I find they rarely bite the hand that feeds them while the human ones do... Thanks, ladies, for sharing my grief, sharing your stories, etc. I have a little rule of thumb...I am drawn to just about all other animal lovers! Don't fully trust...