Well...I Had It Out With My Primary Dr. and Cardiologist...

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Gang,
I just thought that I would type a note and let yall know that I contacted the VP of Primary Health Care at my local hospital/dr's office and let them have it with both barrels. I told them that I was sick and tired of the rudeness of the staff (my former nurse, especially) and the inability to be seen by Dr. Donovan, because they just wanted to brush me off. I also told them after they asked me about why I hadn't called to be seen, and it's like HELLOOOO....!!! I JUST TOLD YOU THAT I HAD TRIED AND TRIED TO GET IN TO BE SEEN AND YOU JUST IGNORED ME, BRUSHED ME OFF, AND ALSO WAS TOLD ON COUNTLESS OCASSIONS THAT I COULDN'T BE SEEN FOR 3 TO 4 WEEKS...I was also asked about why I didn't communicate with my Primary Care as he "didn't know I had a cardiologist" which I told her wasn't true, because he had told me when I asked him about whether or not to contact him about any weight gain because of my CHF, and he told me to "Let the Specialist's handle it." which told me that he just didn't want to be bothered. Anyway, I had called my Cardiologists office to get refills on my Lasix and Potassium , and they refused to fill them as 1. they told me to go through my PCP and 2 they told me that I don't have a heart problem and not to go back unless referred by my PCP. (I am filling up with fluid to the point where I am coughing really bad, and I am getting a really heavy chest and short of breath again) and I told them about still having the fluid, but they wouldn't listen, well I finally got enough Lasix and Potassium to get me through till my new PCP appointment, but I am still angry, because I try and try and tell the PCP and Cardio that there is still a problem, but they will not listen, and I am just at a total loss with how badly the medical field can be (and is in my area). So, needless to say, I hope that this new Dr. (I made sure I got an internal medicine Dr. this time) will understand what I have been through and really work hard at getting me fixed up.

I do have one question for anyone who might know: Has anyone ever heard of Cardiologists NOT taking PAST Echocardiograms into consideration when evaluating a patient? I had told my cardio's nurse about being diagnosed with CHF and Valve Regurgitation, and all she said was "We don't take past echo's into consideration...we only go by your latest one, and besides, we have no record of you ever being diagnosed with this". HELLLOOOO!!! IT'S IN THE RECORDS.....!!!

I am sooooo tired of fighting this battle. I know that there is something going on, but how much more of this garbage do I have to go through before I get some action and good treatment....I am sorry for venting...Harrybaby666

 

[geebee]

Hi Harry,
I sure hope you have better luck with your new internist.
Here's my response to the "past echo" situation. I would be dead today if my cardiologist went only by the "echo he had in front of him". A couple of years after my first surgery, I started having problems that felt to me like my new valve was "sticking closed" and then "snapping open". It made me feel like my heart would stop beating and then start back up with a huge thump. It would cause me to cough which, I still believe to this day, is what caused my heart to continue beating. However, the first few times I had an echo done due to my complaints, the echo was normal. After many continued complaints and even dealing with another doctor just telling me to wear ear plugs so I wouldn't hear the valve noise (I could even hear the valve sticking), I had an echo that finally showed the valve malfunction. All of a sudden, I was told I needed emergency OHS because they thought I had a blood clot on the valve.
In any case, I had the second OHS and it turned out to be scar tissue encroaching on the mechanical valve and causing it to, guess what, stick.
One echo does not give an adequate picture in many cases. It certainly did not in my case. I would insist comparisions be made and multiple echos done if you still feel there is something wrong. Don't let them make you think you are crazy or imagining your symptoms.
Good luck and smiles,
Gina

 

[Karlynn]

What's the point of getting base-line echos if a doctor isn't going to look at previous echos? I would think a doctor would want to have something to compare the current one to. My card compared this years echo with last years. Not to mention the fact that not all echos are good ones, depending on how they are performed. So having more than one to compare is just a logical idea.

Harry, I'm glad you let your doctor know what has been going on with his office staff. Sure sounds like he has to many people that think they know it all.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Well, here is the sad part...LOL

Well, here is the sad part...LOL

Hi Gang,
Well, you see, the major part of the problem was also with Dr. Donovan. He kept telling me "Well the tests show your ok....." THE BOZO WOULDN'T EVEN EXAMINE ME...ALL HE EVER DID WAS SIT IN FRONT OF HIS COMPUTER AND TYPE...NO STETHASCOPE....NO REFLEX TEST, NO TEMP, OR BP....NOTHING!! So not only did I complain about the office staff....I REALLY REALLY complained about him, and made it clear that he/they would not be touching me again....

As for the echo's...I agree completely...you just cannot go by the latest echo....I mean...it's the past echo's that help establish what's wrong with a person anyway.....I thank you for acknowledging to me that I am not crazy, or the one who is in the wrong on this one....I feel soooo much better.... Harrybaby666

 

[Abbanabba]

Good on you Harry!! I'm glad you called them on their poor behaviour. Hopefully the next person in your situation will be taken more seriously.

As far as not viewing past echos.... what a lot of nonsense! All my cardios have insisted on viewing previous echos (..and any other relevant tests..) so they have something to compare. Sure, past echos may not reflect your current state of health, but it builds a picture so they can get an idea of where you've come from and how quickly/slowly things are progressing and what new developments there might be (..I was actually ticked that at my most recent visit with the new cardio, she started making assumptions from the old echos before she had even really looked at the new one!..).

How do you find these guys Harry? Maybe you should be on commission to forage out all these lunatics so everyone else can avoid them

Keep up the fight and don't let them bully you around.

A : )

 

[Harrybaby666]

I totally agree Anna!!

I totally agree Anna!!

I think you and I have pretty much had the same kinds of Dr's...LOUSEY!!!!
I am just so glad to not be seeing them anymore, and I can't wait to fill my new PCP in on what's been going on....I have been told by a number of people that this new guy really listens to people and is very understanding....As for the bozo's I just got done with....I probably should have called the medical board on them, but when I finally did get results from them on getting my Lasix, well, I was just glad to be done with them...and as for my Cardio, I couldn't believe it either when they told me that they only go by the last echocardiogram, and don't pay attention to any of the others..This tells me that they just don't care....I hope you are finding satisfaction with your doctors as well, and if not, I hope you do soon..we both need the peace and solitude of a durable doctor...Take Care, Harrybaby

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Harry,

My solution to the "Last Echo" syndrome was to create a Spreadsheet showing all the Echo parameters vs. time.

I then Highlighted the parameters that were changing (progressing) with time. THAT got my cardio's attention!

Glad you found an internist to take you. That is a good step in the right direction. Hope you find an equally good new cardiologist.

'AL'

 

[MichyB]

Harry ... I don't know what else to say except that I hope the new year brings you peace and better medical care.

Michelle

P.S. Love the spreadsheet idea! Ingenious.

 

[Glenda]

Harry, I can't believe what you have been going through with your doctors. I hope you have finally got a doctor that will sit down and talk to you and also listen to you. I've been so lucky with all four of my doctors. They communicate among themselve about my case and then decide which is the best way to go for me. My oncologist is the only one I get so upset with and it's because he's got the personality of a door and hard to talk to but he is very good and knowledgeable and he is keeping me alive. That's the main thing.

Good luck to you in the coming year. Hugs and prayers are coming your way for Christmas.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Glenda...

Hi Glenda...

They communicate among themselve about my case and then decide which is the best way to go for me.
.

This is the biggest problem that I have had with my PCP and Cardiologist. First of all, I had tried to talk to my PCP about what I was feeling and he told me to "Let the specialist's handle things"...meaning that he didn't want to be bothered....then, when I start to have problems with getting my medication (Lasix and Potassium) because of this lack of communication between the PCP and Cardio, My PCP starts giving me flack about "not communicating to them what the Cardio had said??? I DON'T THINK SO....I AM THE PATIENT, NOT THE DOCTOR AND IT IS THEIR JOB TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SPECIALISTS...HOW ELSE ARE THEY GOING TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON? I though that the whole idea of going to a specialist was SO THAT THE DOCTOR COULD GET MORE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO TREAT THE PATIENT MORE ACCURATELY ANYWAY....Go Figure...

As for personality, my nurse that works with Dr. Donovan, my former PCP, has been right from the time I started seeing Dr. Donovan, cold, indifferent and just downright mean. So much for decent people..LOL anyway, thanks for all your support and encouragement....Sending Giant Hugs back to ya...Harrybaby

 

[Abbanabba]

My PCP starts giving me flack about "not communicating to them what the Cardio had said???

Gee Harry, I don't know how it works over there, but it's standard practice over here for specialists to send a copy of all results and notes to the referring GP (..or any other doctor you nominate..) so that everyone is on the same page. It seems pretty logical to me!

Hope things start to improve for you from here.

Best wishes,
Anna : )