I finally got an appt. with my endo after over 7 months. I had not been informed of an appt. so I called and was told I had one in a week. I had gotten my TWIIST AID pump in December and did not even see the doctor that day, except in the hall talking to the TWIIST rep. I have gotten my most help from TWIIST customer service.
My appt. was at 2:00 and I had the usual nurse BP and blood oxygen taken. Was told doctor would be in shortly. At 2:25 a strange doctor enters room, saying he was a resident. I said “you are not Dr. Lippes”. Said he was here to review my issues. I proceeded to show him some concerns on my summary of visit from 10/25. He also could not provide any guidance on any TWIIST issues. I finally said (probably rudely) “Can you get Dr. Lippes as you can’t answer anything”… That made him go get the doc who probably was not coming for another 20 min. Doc came in at 2:37 making stupid joke about the weather (took up 3 min) and when I wanted to discuss the comments about me from last visit said the NP had made those…then later said “I wrote most of what’s on that page” but would not elaborate on what he had written.
He proceeded to review my pump settings and looked at my glucose records and then with his back to me, explained any changes he advised to the resident, never explaining to me what or why. I said “tell me I am the patient!!”. He didn’t turn around but after minutes came to me to change my “therapy settings” on my phone, without telling me why, which I was able to do as I have changed them myself. He mentioned my insulin has to be raised. I told him I only got one low BS since having the pump. He told me the increase in insulin may give me more lows (that’s nice?). I also noted that my diagnosis was Type 1 and Type 2 on my medical summary…….asking “Is that to fool the insurance for my Mounjaro RX?” He said “mainly” but that someone can have both Type 1 and Type 2. (That was new info for me which I looked up on AI and got much more info on it). Type 1s can get Type 2 with metabolic syndrome issues, but Type 2 cannot get Type 1. Obesity and the usual factors can cause Type 2 characteristics. Luckily I am down 82 lbs. but now know I cannot be cavalier about not having insulin resistance. I had told doc that I was misdiagnosed for 2 years, taking 2000mg metformin a day. That’s when he told me “metformin helps prevent cancer” and that Type 1 could be 2 also.
At 2:58 he abruptly got up, “gotta go, carrying his lapttop, standing at office door, not asking if I had other questions or concerns. When checking out, I asked receptionist how long he schedules appts. for…..15 min or 30 minutes. I asked how long mine was for and she said “30 minutes”…..I got about 20 minutes, during which he talked directly and only to the resident. Scheduled for an hour.
Doc seemed way more interested in resident than me, the patient who pays him. He is the founder of the group and about 77 y.o. He made appt. for October and blood work. Another negative experience with endos….this is my third or fourth endo attempt.