Knott, I did try to have the conversation with my new pcp, in the context of my physical. I told her that I want her to be a partner with me in my health care and I explained everything I do in terms of my lifestyle, so she would understand that I am not a sedentary 57 year old. After she told me she should use my cholesterol ratio as a case study and asked me what my secret was (ah, riding my bike 3,227 miles last year and eating well), she went and continued to speak to me as if I was 10 years old. Then she went and forgot to give me some paperwork I needed and faxed my prescription to the wrong pharmacy, after I showed her on her computer where to send it to. I feel like I am dealing with a bunch of ADD people, I have to keep on track, because every doctor in this practice does this.
Jolt, you hit the nail on the head. My clients are struggling with all kinds of issues, poverty being one in many of the cases, in addition to mental illness. I don't dumb down anything and I have been pleasantly surprised at their openness and facility to articulate the issues. If someone doesn't seem to understand something, I explain it, but not like I'm explaining it to a 3 year old.