Several years ago, I had a persistent, wet cough which I knew from past experience was probably bronchitis. Normally, I don't diagnose myself [0], but in this case, I knew the symptoms all too well.

I'd just moved to New York, and I didn't have a doctor because I was in my early 20s and otherwise healthy. At that time, it never occurred to me to try natural alternatives [0]. Especially since I finally had my own health insurance. So I picked a name randomly from the booklet that my HMO had sent to me.

I selected this particular doctor because (1) She had a friendly-sounding name; (2) Her office was near my office; and (3) I got an appointment right away.

I figured that I'd get the prescription for antibiotics that I needed as soon as I told her about my history of contracting bronchitis each spring.

That's not what happened. Instead of my medical history during the office visit, she seemed more interested in my career choices, and asked me several bizarre, less-than-medical questions. Among them, I remember, what was my college G.P.A., and (out of the blue) why hadn't I applied to law school.

Then she sent me off with orders to get a lot of blood tests, chest x-rays, and even an MRI. She'd write me a prescription, she said, when the test results came back. As anyone who's ever dealt with the American health care system knows, that meant a long wait and a lot of (probably unnecessary) bills.

To be fair, she was trying to play it safe by ordering all those tests. But, I felt like she hadn't heard me or considered my medical history. Weirder still, she seemed to be oddly disappointed in me for not going to law school.

Still, I was young and a bit confused by the whole experience. I also lacked the confidence (I hadn't applied to med school either!) to question anyone who wore a white coat and stethescope. So I called a doctor from my hometown, told him what happened, and asked for his advice. I was very relieved when he directed me to an old colleague in New York.

I remembered this strange encounter as I read these great tips on CNN.com about when to fire your doctor [1]. Like me, they asked a doctor for advice about when it's time to give your doctor the boot.

Ordering a lot of tests isn't a reason to look for another doc, but I experienced three of the five reasons they list: I felt like she didn't listen to me, I felt bad when I left her office, and I don't think we liked each other much.

The other two are: Your doctor doesn't like it when you ask questions and he/she can't explain your illness in language that you understand.

Of course, the doctor I "fired" might have liked me a lot more if I'd ever considered going to law school. On the other hand, she might have liked me a lot less if I uttered the word "malpractice."