I was getting ready for my surgery and discussing my pm with surgeon. The procedure they planned to use would interfere with device (pm) function, so we were discussing what to do. I suggested they call Medtronic and/or my cardiologist (who is not in the same system). After 2 hours of trying to find someone, they got the anesthesiologist involved in the discussion as they are in charge of heart function while under. Oh, what a winner!!! He wanted to know what prompted the device placement and I told him my dx, high grade av block. He said that wasn't good enough, "high grade av block is a fluff diagnosis - I need more information." When I told him it was intermittent and they couldn't label it 2nd or 3rd, he got angry with me, telling me I was making up my diagnosis!! He also suggested I not play around like this as it could be dangerous. Oh my gosh!!! I was soooooooo angry with him! I could not make him understand. I referred him to my medical records from my cardiologist (at Mayo) and he said they were not good enough. I suggested he call the cardiologist but he said he didn't have time to "monkey around." Wow!! Needless to say, I was very concerned about this guy maintaining my heart during surgery and requested someone else. I was told he was the head of the dept! I was a mess day of surgery, very worried about this but all fears were calmed when a different anesthesiologist walked in. Thank God!

By the way, seems when someone with a pm is under general, they use a magnet to pace the device at 85 bpm to assure nothing goes wrong.

Anyway, had to share what idiocy can exist in even the seemingly smartest people.

 

 

They do not like it when you question their God status!
Docs forget it is our body and we have a right to know!
Good for you.

 

I’ve found that the best arrow to have in our quiver is knowledge. It’s great that you ’made some noise’ and voiced your concerns. All patients must do this in the healthcare setting. I’m glad all worked out well with your surgery. Take Care.

Jeff

 

Well, me being a former Marine, I make no bones about it when medical professionals try to talk down to me or shut me up.

I remind them that I am a human being and you WILL treat me like one.
I know they become very jaded and it is expected seeing as how they deal with this kind of thing day in and day out, so it it is easy for them to to become short, but 99.9999% of them are very compassionate and a little reminder (gentle if possible) goes a long way in their attitude towards you

 

Im glad I had a different hospital and surgeon. They took care of pm/defib info 2 weeks pre surgery. I cant believe some of the things I read in here. So thank god I dont have those types of things happen to me. Good luck.

dave

 

I once gave a cardiologist a severe dressing down. He at least had the decency to apologise and accept he was totally and utterly in the wrong. Its good to let the doctors know that we also have a functioning brain. They do not have exclusive access to specialist medical knowledge. Cheers Peter