Cardiologist appointment 8/22

Hi Gang
I had an appointment with my cardiologist today. I feel I need to find one that understands pacemakers and what it means to people that have had to have them installed. This guy just says it paces your heart and that is all it does. It was like an insult to what everyone that got me to this place, made no difference. He does not seem to realize this is a part of me now and it can not be down played, or make me feel like it is only him, that controls my life.
I felt that he was arrogant to me and just wanted someone to do as he says, without reasonable explanation and for that reason, I am seeking his replacement!
There are many other doctors in this busy practice and I hope I can convince the surgeon, that put in my pacemaker, to take me on as a patient. He fully understood how personal a pacemaker is to a recipient of one. He also knows the ins and out of what a pacemaker can do (and I assure you it does way more than my current cardiologist thinks!).

I got a note after I was out in the check out area and it said to stop taking the iron pills and that he upped the Metropolol from 100mg to 200mg, which is quite a change.
I also got a paper with a stamped envelope, asking for a doctor review! He ain't going to like mine!
I am set up for another appointment with him in two months, but hope to have a new doctor way before the one with him!

I am not feeling well and he was no help to me at all. When I ask a question, not matter how stupid he feels it is, I should be getting a good answer that I can both understand and believe!

On another note: I received an electric nebulizer for my liquid Albuterol treatments at home. Asthma has been very bad with attacks three days in a row. I am exhausted, as I don't feel enough oxygen rich blood, is getting into my brain.
My lung doctors office has not cooperated with my supplier and the supplier I use told me today, that they are going to stop servicing his accounts... another feakin bummer to deal with now! There are no other lung doctors in Grants Pass, OR.

The Spironolactone, I take to keep my adrenal gland calm, does not seem to be working anymore, or the tumors have grown.
I really don't know what to think these days. Is Bama-care trying to kill me off?

Next week 8/27, I go in for the new rheumatoid arthritis treatment. I hope it works and continues to work for a long time.
Itsme Wayne's pacemaker is a part of him now and needs respect!

5 Comments

doc's

by medartb - 2013-08-25 03:08:37

Dr.'s sometimes forget they are no different or better than the rest of us poor uneducated fools. I always try to keep my cardiologist in check, and have done a pretty good job. When I was scheduled for cardioversion 2-12 he was half an hour late. I called him on it right in front of all the operating room staff. If I can be on time, so can he. I appreciate emergencies come up, but hey he was eating! I'm schedules for a PM on 8-27, but still am not sure what I'm getting into. Hopefully I'll feel better than I do now with a pulse anywhere between 45-120. Hope things work out foryou! BJ

Many good ones to pick

by Geriatrick - 2013-08-29 06:08:56

Your guy may be good, but leaving you with anxiety stinks. That was why I changed DRS. I gat questions answered and doubts removed. Plenty of attention.
Good luck!

Find a doc

by Shortcake - 2013-08-29 08:08:22

Hi Wayne,
I went thru the same thing with my first pacer. I could not walk to my mailbox. I went back to my cardio and he said to get used to it, it's life with a pacer. I informed him that I got mine the same day Elton John received his and he was doing a world tour and I couldn't walk thru my house. I went back to the surgeon who put the pacer in and explained my issues. He took me on as his patient (his one and only real patient). I was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy and that was the problems I was having with walking. He's been my doc for 17 years now. You don't have to put up with that attitude out of any doc and I agree, your pacer is now part of you, so treat the whole patient! If your surgeon won't take you on full time ask him for the person he would go to or take his wife to. Good luck on finding a new doc!

Another update 8/30/13

by ItsmeWayne - 2013-08-30 09:08:21

Another update!

I had to go to the Medtronic pacemaker download clinic today (8/30) and also get my electrolytes checked via blood test.

The Medtronic download showed an alarming pacing of 84.3%. My heart continues to have a beat and then a premature beat that is not pumping much or any blood. My pacemaker keeps resetting to try and find a constant rhythm, but it is not happening! I am had 83 events and one 5 hours long with fast heart rate, that my pacemaker was not able to stop. These were all in the last two weeks.

I called the cardiologist this morning, as I was having severe muscle cramps and very slow heart beat. It is set at 60 to 130 beats per minute, but actually 60 beats are only pumping 30 beats, which is making me out of breath and feeling quite ugly.

The labs came back good (I was told over the phone). The cardiologist and the surgeon spoke over it, but I do not know what they have to say, as they had gone home for the weekend. The Medtronic download person thinks I will need to go in for another RF ablation operation, to try to stop the double beat, which seems constant. That bit of news made me cringe, as when it was done last time, I had serious pain during the procedure.

I was also told to see my GP doctor about the cramping. I have two tumors on my right adrenal gland and they may have grown and started a whole new issue. Nobody seems to want to check this out!

Itsme Wayne

update 9/3/13

by ItsmeWayne - 2013-09-03 11:09:59

I must have got to someone at the cardiologist's office. After getting the download done on 8/30 and telling the Cardio office that I was not happy with the cardiologist, I got a call today and they moved my October 31st visit to this Thursday (9/5). I was told the cardio doc and the surgeon met and I am guessing that prompted the quick visit.
I will update on this and any other news, when I know more.

As I had said in the first post, the Medtronic download person, felt I needed another heart ablation surgery. I would not look forward to that, but if it needs to be done, it needs to be done.

On another note, I received my first dose of Actemra (for rheumatoid arthritis) and it seemed to go well. I felt a little weird driving home, but the rest of the day was fine. I have my fingers crossed that this one is the one for me, as the last two biologic meds crapped out soon after starting. (Orencia and Rituxan)
Itsme Wayne ... Wishing nobody will need to go thru this!

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