The response from my cardio....

[Abbanabba]

Well I have FINALLY received a letter back from my cardio in response to my questions regarding my "satisfactory" test results...

Dear Anna,

I am not able to answer your queries via email. I am happy to answer your questions to the best of my ability at your next appointment. I note that it is due for October this year.

If you would like to bring the appointment forward, please don't hesitate to contact my secretary...

Sincerely.....

Am I expecting too much, or is this just a tad pathetic? I was told nothing about my original results other than they were "satisfactory". After viewing these results, I was very concerned by some things and wanted some clarification on others. Now I'm being told she's not prepared to respond other than in person (..I gave her the option of calling me, and she clearly has my address..) - is this because she doesn't want to answer my questions??

I rang to schedule an appointment as soon as possible and her secretary tried to fob me off until I advised her the Dr wrote I was welcome to expedite my appointment (..although I have to wonder if she was counting on me not doing this..).

Even if there were some things she felt she couldn't put in writing for legal reasons, there were definitely other questions which should have been OK (such as how they define mild/mod/severe for various things).

I am extremely disappointed by this, however, I will "play ball" - although I will be taking my best friend to this next appoinment to help note information and make sure I'm not fobbed off again (..she's brilliant like that!..).

I can see I am rapidly going to become her least favourite patient...


Anna : )

oh....and the number she gave me to call was incorrect (..disconnected or unavailable..). She had reversed a couple of the numbers - a simple mistake, but at this point, it's an attention to detail thing I wasn't impressed with!

 

[Karlynn]

Anna,
I certainly would not accept such a dismissal of my request to have my results explained to me in terms more detailed than "satisfactory". I'm not sure why she just can't call you and have a conversation? I have fired doctors that do nothing but communicate through their nurses. I can understand big important doctors in large settings that have huge patient loads, but a normal, everyday doctor? Nope, not acceptable. Most of the time I think it boils down to arrogance. My beloved former cardiologist (now deceased) always took the time to call me. He was an icon at Northwestern Medical School and Hospital in Chicago. He was highly respected throughout the cardiology community in the US. He was such a "heavy hitter" that when he decided it was time for my surgery, the surgeon he selected scheduled me for a week away from my consult time when his surgery waiting list was 6 months out. My point in this isn't to brag, but to say that he always called me back to discuss any questions I had. It wasn't always an immediate call, but withing 24 to 48 hours. The calls were never long and chatty, but he made sure I understood the things I had called on before he hung up. My cardiologist now (at the same hospital) always personally returns my phone calls, even for the littlest things that nurses could handle.

I think you are doing the right thing in scheduling an appointment and by taking your friend. I would also discuss with her the fact that you need to believe that there is open communication with her and that your questions are answered in a detail that gives you security that you are clear on your understanding of what your condition is. Tell her that some of her patients may be happy being blissfully ignorant of their health status, but you aren't. (Well, that's just incase she's not agreeing with you on the open communication.)

Hang in there Anna. Maybe you'll teach her what a successful patient/doctor relationship looks like.

 

[Abbanabba]

It really makes me wonder if she doesn't have the confidence to back up what the results say in writing - in case I DO keel over and she can be sued. I don't know....

I've also had other cardiologists call me back in the past to discuss results with me, so I'm pretty unimpressed with this response. I think she's going to learn the hard way that I'm not going to be fobbed off so easily..!! It will be interesting to see what her response is to my friend sitting in on the next meeting.

A : )

 

[ladyofthelake]

Bad Bad Cardiologist!

Bad Bad Cardiologist!

Anna,


I really don't know what medical care is like in Australia or how easy it is to find a doc in Australia but I must VENT this one thing - I would have fired the (word we use for female dog) Doc a month ago when she was avoiding your request for help about your heart rhythm. Now you know you have 4 valves with issues and one not such a minor issue, I am not trying to influecne you to make a decision that I think is best, I am just screaming about it with you. Anna you have so much more tolerance for the medical sleeping on the job behavior of this doctor than I ever could have. In the mean time I truely hope her lack of action is not risking your pulmonary valve any further. I hope that you will get some good medical care soon and know that I am thinking about you wishing you well.

Lisa

 

[strawberry]

Cha-Ching! $$$$$$$$$$$$

Can't make money over an email I guess.

Riduculously frustrating.

 

[lance]

The response from my cardio

The response from my cardio

Hello Anna,

Absolutely request the expdited appointment and ask to be put on the cancellation list (some doctors have them).

Could you return that e-mail to him and briefly comment how you felt when you read it?

Hang in there and be pro-active when speaking with the person making the appointment and under no circumstances allow anyone else but yourself to control the conversation. It would be tempting to call say once a week and ask are there any cancellations. Relationships with doctors are professional and not personal and not a popularity contest.

I find is useful to go over things in my head, write down questions I need answering, make sure they are and recently did not allow my surgeons secretary to fluff me off as had been done several times in the past. Told her the lack of commuication was an ongoing problem and the conversation would finish when my questions were answered. And you know what--it worked.

Good luck--be assertive.

 

[McCln]

Sounds to me like you are being given the brush off. That she prefers to talk in person instead of the convience of answering by mail. I hope you are looking into trying to search for another cardiologist. You need someone who will answer your questions in any fashion. I hope you get the answers you need soon. Good luck.

 

[Guest]

Am I expecting too much, or is this just a tad pathetic?

*nods*

Not expecting too much....it is a tad bit pathetic.

I don't think you are getting the "brush off"; yeah, I know it looks like you are. But, keep in mind, too, that this is cutting into her personal time. Lame excuse, I know, but it is true. I know my cardiologist and my PCP prefer me to come into the office and talk with them there. At first, I balked...because I know it means more $ for them. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was asking them to conform to my schedule...at the cost of their personal time....

So, I've just learned to live with it the way it is. If it's important to me, I'll go. If not, it'll wait until my previously scheduled appointments....

I am sorry you are frusrated, Anna.


Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 31swm/pig valve/pacemaker
'72,6,9/'81,7.hobbies.chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
MC Guide = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html
What's it like to buy your favorite car brand new? Wish I knew...

 

[Abbanabba]

Hi Cort, I know it takes time for them to do these sorts of things, but then for me to go and see her it's a 3hr trip each way, which of course usually makes it an overnight stay. I really think it would be better to schedule a "phone" appointment - she could ring me to discuss the results and my questions, and I would save myself the additional $$ for transport and accommodation (..although I'm lucky I've usually got friends I can stay with..). Anyway, it's not so much the money that bothers me, it's that she hasn't been prepared to discuss anything with me, except at my instigation. The October appointment was for a standard 12 month follow-up.

It would be nice even for her to acknowledge my concerns about the conflicting information I've received so far, and my concerns about my results - even if she CAN'T answer them in an email or letter. But then she is a cardiologist - not a psychologist - so perhaps I shouldn't be expecting so much

Meanwhile - I hope you're feeling better!


McCln, Lisa -
The search for a new cardiologist isn't quite so easy because of the complex nature of my heart condition. I'm seeing this one because she is one of 3-4 in Australia who specialise in congenital heart defects in adults. This is why I'm prepared to reschedule my appointment and see what she has to say. The next closest specialists are in other states and it may be difficult to get a referral if I need to (which is why it's important I don't burn my bridges - although I can be assertive!).


Lance -
From her responses so far, I don't know that she'd be overly concerned by my feelings in response to her letter. I can only hope that by being assertive - without being seen as aggressive - something can be resolved.



...anyhoo.... I'll keep y'all posted on any further updates.


A : )

 

[Guest]

Hi Cort, I know it takes time for them to do these sorts of things, but then for me to go and see her it's a 3hr trip each way, which of course usually makes it an overnight stay. I really think it would be better to schedule a "phone" appointment - she could ring me to discuss the results and my questions, and I would save myself the additional $$ for transport and accommodation (..although I'm lucky I've usually got friends I can stay with..). Anyway, it's not so much the money that bothers me, it's that she hasn't been prepared to discuss anything with me, except at my instigation. The October appointment was for a standard 12 month follow-up.

*nods*

I understand. Does your cardiologist know that it is a 3 hr trip for you...? Have you specifically asked to schedule a phone appointment during normal office hours...? Just curious .

It would be nice even for her to acknowledge my concerns about the conflicting information I've received so far, and my concerns about my results - even if she CAN'T answer them in an email or letter.

Agreed.

*shrugs*

Wish I had some "words of wisdom" for ya ....

Meanwhile - I hope you're feeling better!

Thank you.... I am and I'm not...if that makes sense...lol.

 

[ladyofthelake]

bummer

bummer

Anna,

Sorry, I don't mean to be so instigative and I thought there could be an issue in your country in being able to get to another cardiologist. The thing that seemed so bad to me is that the last we discussed this, the echo results that showed the progression were done in 2004 so I am wondering how long it takes a doctor of her speciality to tell a patient that the results show progression. I am sorry to hear that it would be very difficult for you to schedule with another qualified cardiologist and I am rooting for your assertiveness success.

Lisa

 

[Abbanabba]

Lisa -
It's nice to know somebody cares... And yes - I was also wondering the same things as you - hence the letter! I guess I've just got to keep playing this waiting game...... for now.


Cort -
Yes, my cardio IS aware of where I live, which is why I specifically gave her my phone number and invited her to call me. Perhaps I should have also invited her to bill me for the call - that may have gotten a better response

On a different note - your post on the offer on your car has been quite unusual!! I though of you when I was watching "Mythbusters" last night... these crazy guys bought a 1987 Corvette, put a couple of dead pigs in it to decompose for 6 months, then cleaned it all out to see if they could re-sell it. Perhaps the guy who saw you was trying some sort of similar experiment!!!


A : )

 

[Guest]

Yes, my cardio IS aware of where I live, which is why I specifically gave her my phone number and invited her to call me. Perhaps I should have also invited her to bill me for the call - that may have gotten a better response

Ahhh....sorry, didn't realize she did know. I figured she did, but wasn't sure by your post.... I did see your new thread about the surgeon writing to you...glad you got some answers/results from the surgeon . Good luck with the cardiologist. I think that, perhaps, you should try to advise her to call you during the day...and schedule it as if it IS an appointment...see what type of response you receive then....

On a different note - your post on the offer on your car has been quite unusual!! I though of you when I was watching "Mythbusters" last night... these crazy guys bought a 1987 Corvette, put a couple of dead pigs in it to decompose for 6 months, then cleaned it all out to see if they could re-sell it. Perhaps the guy who saw you was trying some sort of similar experiment!!!

Ahhh....I sure hope not! Yikes...that experience sounds...well...smelly....