Can I sue my Doctor for damaging my nerves?

Hello,

I've had SVTs since I was a kid and had a Defib put in as a safety precaution for VTs. I WAS NOT DEPENDENT ON IT AT ALL. I got rid of the SVTS through RFA but my valve was replaced in 2010 with open heart surgery.

The surgeon damaged my nerves during surgery and my chambers do not pace together anymore, so now I am dependent on the pacemaker/defib.

My Dr said my nerves MIGHT grow back in 5 years, but it has been 3 and there are no improvements.

In any case, are the surgeons allowed to damage nerves to the point where I am dependent on a pacemaker and was never before?

Also,

I went from one set of problems to a whole new set of problems that I was not prepared for.

I now have to take meds, my pacemaker hurts in my shoulder, I'm always dizzy from the meds (metroprolol), I get dizzy when I lift weights, i'm constantly tired (more than I have ever been) to the point of complete exhaustion. I have anxiety, depression and a displacement of reality due to the anxiety. My heart is always in pain, like its being shocked too hard. I can't even get out of bed unless I wait for the metroprolol to kick in.

I've told my heart doctor about this, but he refuses to address any of it, he will only write down anything "good" I say like "I walked a mile non-stop today" He just wants to believe I've been "fixed" but I haven't. It was an almost slightly even trade.

any advice would be much appreciated



3 Comments

probably not successfully

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-02 03:04:10

The best thing to do would be to get a second surgeon to review your records and possibly talk to a medical malpractice attorney, but I don't think it's uncommon to end up with electrical issues after other heart surgery. You are not the first to have this happen.

You might want to get another opinion regardless, you need a dr who pays attention. What you are describing is a lot more than just having electrical damage and needing to be paced. Pacing is painless and makes the heart beat in sync, a simple fix to an electrical disconnect.

Have you tried anything other than metoprolol? I was on it for a month. The dr kept telling me to stick it out because the side effects would get better but it was like being drunk., always dizzy, mind in a fog The day I tripped and broke my foot walking across my kitchen because I was so dizzy, I threw the bottle away. I'm on atenolol now and other than being a little tired, it works great for me.

Thanks Cabg Patch ~

by lindasue101 - 2013-04-06 10:04:25

Wow ! I'm impressed ! Packed with common sense information. . . . Good information. Pray tnt2029 takes it all in. "All in" to make a sound decision. In the end, it is tnt's decision. But glad He/she has much here to weigh the pros and cons. Again, Cabg Patch ~ thanks for you input. ln

New doctor

by flowerapril429 - 2014-11-14 12:11:01

I would say to go to a new doctor. I went to almost 10 different Cardio dr's over a 12 year period before one finally listened. Not only did he listen to me but he found a hole in my heart and that I needed a pacemaker due to my heart going to slow, I would pass out.
I was always told "I am young and healthy and I should stop trying to find something wrong with myself for attention"..really? So I guess I made the hole myself and I made my HR too low LOL
Good luck and I hope you find the right one who will listen and help.

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Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.