Doyou see an Internist or a general MD?

I'm not very happy with the fact that my primary doctor, a general family practitioner, specifically referred me to a specialist (hematologist) & debated possibly other specialists b/c my labs were just too complicated to figure out - those were the words of his nursing assistant.  I could go on with other examples regarding comments that the dr has made regarding labs and it really all boils down to my belief that he truly does not understand how to interpret my labs.

This leads me to the consideration of whether it may be more appropriate, might I receive better healthcare for my DS needs given how labs need to guide my care, if I were to see an Internist instead.

What do other people do?

I fired my family practice dr. about 4 years ago because she was a ***** and changed to an internal med dr. I love him, he does a great job and I think see's me more as a human than someone that has X going on. I'm too new post op to see how he'll handle the DS stuff, but preop when we talked he was great. He is a little freaked out that the surgeon took me off all my meds, but oh well, when I see him next things will good I'm sure.
As someone who works in healthcare I think that I like the idea of an Internist better that a GP. It seems that those pt's that see and internist seem to get better care as a group. But there are some great GP/Family Practice docs out there. 
Lisa

you really need to find someone who is familiar with the DS, good luck with that one....my endocrinologist and endocrine surgeon had no clue, neither did any other health professional I have.  Find a dr that is familiar with short gut syndrome patients (as we are similar to them, malabsorption wise)  good luck with this, especially if you live in a state or surrounding states that the DS is not done like I do.....

Lisey, I see an internist and I usually opt to see his PA.  I've been trying to educate her and she basically goes along with what I say.  But I have never really gotten any DS advice from her.  My hemo gets the protein and calcium stuff and doesn't seem surprised by my vitamin regime.  I have wondered if I should try to find an endo????

What board certification does your primary doctor hold?

He's certified in Family Practice in Missouri (Joplin).  There isn't a DS surgeon around here & nobody's even heard of the DS thus far that I've met.  I told the nursing assistant when I was calling around for a new dr b/c I moved here a couple months ago that I had the DS, that he had likely never had a patient with it & I'm specifically looking for a dr who is willing to learn and collaborate with my on my knowledge of vitamins with his knowledge of healthcare to manage my health.  His nursing assistant said that she's never seen him not be willing to learn about something new to adequately care for his patients, but now that I'm actually his patient, he's not even willing to brush up on his lab knowledge to help figure out what's going on.  Very frustrated.

I sent him a letter outlining what I thought was going on, which really boils down to my "chronic underlying illness" is simply from a cavity that I've had for well over a year that I just had a root canal on OR I have some kind of marrow disorder or leukemia.  I'd say it's more likely that it was from my tooth.  In any case, I sent him this letter & then called to get his general opinion on whether he thought that could be possible & was told if I wanted to know that, I needed to schedule an appt.  I think it's RIDICULOUS that he can't interpret my labs b/c they're too complicated (got ZERO opinion on) and when I do his job and figure them out, I'm told I basically need to pay him a couple hundred dollars to get his opinion on MY interpretation.

I think the greatest trait I look for in a physician is finding one who knows his/her limitations and when to refer.  I'm not looking for one who has all the answers, but at least knows where to go or whom to refer to in order to get them. 

My doctor is a retired military Russian linguist now on her second career as a board-certified family physician (put her GI bill to good use).  We have an excellent working relationship.  If she doesn't know something, she doesn't blow smoke.  She simply says, "I don't know".  She then proceeds to research it herself or refer me to someone who does know.   I never have to guess about her knowledge base and feel very comfortable having her treat me. 

My endocrinologist, whom I admire greatly, essentially fired me for being "too healthy" after DS.  He left my care up to her with an open invitation to return if any metabolic complications develop from my surgery.  I still see him in passing on a regular basis.  He always smiles, shakes his head in disbelief, and thanks his lucky stars more of his patients don't have DS or his job would be part-time at best.  By the way, my A1C. which used to be 8% higher than his, is now over an entire percentage point less than his!  

Bottom line, I don't like reading minds and second-guessing.  I very much prefer the WYSIWYG approach regardless of my doctors' credentials.   

I agree with you on general principle - if he doesn't know, he should refer out.  One of the places I'm getting "hung up on" is the fact that I think if he can order general labs, he should be able to interpret them or at least guess what may be wrong, stress that he's just not certain, though, & refer me out.

I think he told the hematologist when they scheduled the appt that I'm anemic from the WLS.  The heme office called yesterday to postpone my appt for a week b/c other patients have higher needs, which now puts me 5 wks out from the date the appt was made.  I can't help but think that had he even taken the time to pull an iron chart from the Iron Disorders Institute, he would have known that it was anemia of chronic disease.  Had he asked me or done some basic/ quick research, he would have known that if I was having anemia problems due to WLS, then my ferritin stores would be low as well.  Perhaps the heme office would rate me a little higher on my needs?  That's pure speculation, I know.  But, in the very least, don't erroneously tell them it's one thing when you don't even take the time to find out what I think of as basic interpretation.

I don't expect him to be familiar with the vitamin labs, dosing, trends, etc, but I do expect him to have basic knowledge of what general lab values mean and possible causes.

Get a new doctor.  Preferably one board certified in internal medicine or gastroenterology.