Dr McLaughlin wasmy primary doc 20 years ago. I was happy to find a primary doc who was also an endocrinologist because I have a thyroid problem. At the time, I was in my 30's and healthy. I went on a trip to Guatemala as a volunteer with a health care team. We were in a poverty stricken remote region with no sanitation and much endemic disease. When I got back, at first I was ok, them I became violently ill with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. After 3 days, I saw Dr McLaughlin. She asked me how many times a day I was vomiting, and suggested "six?". I said how about six times per hour. She did not believe me. I told her I had been in Guatemala (hint: this may not be something you see all the time). She told me to drink fluids and gave a Rx for antibiotics. I tried to take them but promptly threw them up. 4 days later ( after the weekend) I was back. I was too sick to drive myself. My resting heart rate was 120. I had not urinated in two days. She sent me home and told me to drink fluids. I thought, why can't I have IV fluids? I was severely ill for two weeks. I did not urinate for 4 days straight. I lost 15 pounds. I had chronic diarrhea for many years. I never went back to Dr. McLaughlin. Two years later, I picked a new primary doc. I told her about this incident. Her chin dropped to her chest. She looked horrified. She said I was probably in renal failure from dehydration and that I could have ended up on dialysis or died; she said it was lucky I was young and strong. I'm sure she was right. The moral is: don't go to Dr. McLaughlin even for a hangnail, and if your doctor does not listen to you when something is really wrong, RUN dont walk out of their office until you find a doctor who does. 20 years later, I know enough that I would drop a doctor for something less egregious than what happened to me. If your doctor doesn't listen to you and believe you, they can't diagnosis you. I have had 3 friends and relatives who's cancer diagnosis was delayed by an inattentive primary. My own cancer took 6 months to diagnose despite having a great primary doc and good care. read more