How do you trust what a Doctor tells you?

Hello Everyone

This is my 3rd 'Posting' since I got my PM 6 months ago..( 1/23/14.....at which time they put me on 'Satalol' a long with the 'Diltiazem' I had been taking for 4 & 1/2 years.......
Then in April I was getting short of breath, after many test in the ER I was told I had 'Plureal enfussion on the linning of my lungs' and that it was nothing to worry about.....

Then in May I went for my second pace maker check and was told by my EP that I was in 'A-Fib' most of the time.....Hmmm strange I didnt feel it........He said some people dont always feel when they are in A-Fib.
He took me off of 'Satalol' said it wasnt helping me and put me on 'Multaq' & 'Xarelto' & 'Furosemide'........
Six days later I'm back in the ER with -A-Fib again.......
The ER Dr took a chest X-ray and said I had pneumonia.......
Hmmm that was 'new' to me........I was admitted to the hospital.

The next day my EP came in and said No, you dont have pneumonia you have broncitis......and since the medication isnt helping your A-Fib I need to do a 'Cardiac Ablation' on you.
I said but I've only been on this new medication 6 days.....he said's well it should be working by now.
Then later another Dr came in (thats on my EP's Team) I told him what the EP had told me, he said, 'WHAT???? it takes like 6 weeks beffore a medication begins to work.
Now I was getting really confused.

Next day my EP came back in and 'again' said I needed this 'Ablation' I said I need to research this 'Ablation' before I give consent to have it.

( I'm not a person who just goes along with what a doctor tell's me, and I wanted to research this ablation thing)

So as I was doing all the research on it, I went to my 'Primary' Dr, and told him what was going on, he said I want you to have a second opinion, and set me up with a Dr. (Cardiologist) from The Mayo Clinic.......

That Dr looked over all my records and said you dont need any 'Ablation' he took me off of 'Diltiazem' and put me on 'Carvedilol 3.........I have now been going thru a series of tests, and will see the 'Second' opinion Dr at the end of the month on July 28th for 'ALL' my results.............

But this can all be so confusing, when 'one' doctor saids this and another 'one' saids that.....How do you know which one to trust?

7 Comments

That's confusing alright.

by Harrie - 2014-07-08 01:07:20

Angry Sparrow has given you a comprehensive reply. If I were you I'd wait for the results of all the tests, listen to what the Mayo Clinic doctor says, get a copy of the test results and take it all away to research and ponder. I'd be more inclined to trust the opinion of someone who's taken the time to run tests, than someone who is seemingly making decisions which affect you "on the run", with apparently little thought.
Sparrow is right about personality not reflecting competence, but it's not always easy to sort out substance from charm.
I've not been used to doing this myself, but in your case it sounds like taking a friend or relative along to the next appointment might be useful, so you have someone to discuss your options with, and another pair of ears to hear what's being said, and to ask questions.
Good luck!

Cynical? A little

by Gotrhythm - 2014-07-08 03:07:31

My answer is that you shouldn't give blind trust to any doctor.

Do your research. When you get conflicting advice, look at the possible negative consequences of following one path vs the other.

Also look at your insurance policy. If this procedure weren't covered, would they still say "It's necessary.?"

No matter what they say, and whether what they say can be trusted or not, you're still the one who will have to live (or not) with the results. You have to decide what you're willing to live with.

To Gotrhythm

by JuneBug - 2014-07-08 04:07:32

To Gotrhythm
Thank you for your reply,.....but Trust me I don't give blind trust to any doctor...(or to anyone as far as that goes)....that's why I do my research. I have already sent one doctor to prison back in the 1980s and I don't ever want to go thru that again.....Oh, and by the way I too am a published author, I wrote my autobiography 6 years ago :)

To ROBO pop

by JuneBug - 2014-07-08 04:07:59

To ROBO pop
Asking a nurse is not the best advice, as they could be sleeping with the Doctor.

My experience...

by Pookie - 2014-07-09 05:07:35

I had several complications in 2004 and I too had many different heart docs telling me this & that. I was even sent to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota (I live in Canada) and after spending 4 days at the Mayo - I went with their recommendations and I am very happy I did, because I too was being pushed to have an ablation - glad I didn't.

I guess you have to go with whatever makes you comfortable, go with your gut instinct???

Best of luck,
Pookie

Thanks Pookie ~

by JuneBug - 2014-07-09 08:07:07

Happy to know you finally found the right solution and I have 'Faith' I will too eventually, If I went with my gut feeling I would Stop all these meds they now have me on.........When I see the doctor from The Mayo Clinic at the end of the month to discuss my results from all the tests I am having, maybe he will take some of the drugs away.........I have always been more into Holistic & Homeopathic ways of healing I 'Do Not' like putting Chemicals in my body ~
Thanks Again and Stay Well.

I Finally am with the right Doctor....

by JuneBug - 2014-07-30 07:07:53

My new cardiologist from The Mayo Clinic, did several tests, one being a Stress test, which came back abnormal...........then I had to have an angio gram done and they found 3 of my main arteries to my heart were blocked....one was 99% blocked....the other 2 were around 90% blocked, so they put a stent in right away last Tuesday the 22nd of July.....I go back next Monday on August 4th and have another stent put in........No wonder I have been so short of breath....
And Thank God for 'Second Opinions' ~
I Finally feel I am in the right hands now...............

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