Friday Q&A: On Choosing a Doctor; Ozempic downsides; Long COVID; & Caregiver Burnout

You ask the best questions!

It’s Friday Q&A time! Click here to submit your questions for future posts!

The first question (about choosing the right doctor) is free for everyone. The remaining questions (about Ozempic; long COVID; and caregiver burnout) are for paid subscribers.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Let’s dive in.

QUESTION #1

How do you know if your doctor is good? My doctor’s online reviews say positive things, and she seems like a nice person, but how do I know if she has good judgment? - Alison P.

Dear Alison,

Fabulous question. Given the sanctity of the patient-doctor relationship, I suggest you consider the following questions:

• Does your doctor engage in active listening? Clear communication lays the groundwork for trust. Next time you visit your doctor, check to make sure you’re being heard and understood!

• Does she refer to medical evidence when making recommendations? I trust physicians (or anyone, for that matter) whose recommendations are rooted in data, not anecdotal evidence. A favorite expression from medical school: “In God we trust; everyone else must bring data.”

• Does she refer to other clinicians (i.e., physical therapists, nutritionists, medical specialists) when there’s something she doesn’t know? Caring for patients is a team sport. Make sure your doctor is humble enough to know what she knows and what she doesn’t know. Trust me - no doctor knows everything!

I hope that helps.

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QUESTION #2

Thank you for writing about Ozempic last week. It seems like a miracle drug. I eat pretty well and exercise, but I can’t seem to lose weight for more than a few months. What are the downsides of Ozempic? Do people tend to gain weight after they stop it?

- LK