Want to Switch my Cardiologist

I want to switch my Cardiologist due to two reasons.

1. I think I am overdosed. Had my 2nd visit to hospital and I am back but still not well. In hospital I was better but at home I am miserable.

2. This Cardiologist and Hospital where I have to go is far off from home and I want to be near the home. Far off means 50 mintues extra round trip and we are really short of time.

How do switch you Cardiologist. My wife has placed a call to him asking for his recommendation.

10 Comments

Bingo for TraceyE

by ccmoore - 2010-03-08 10:03:00

Her comment pretty much nails it.

I changed cardios because his staff could not find there rear end with both hands. Everything that I sent them they lost. They seemed more interested in office gossip than working. Moved on to another more professional group.

Later,
Charlie


changing doctors

by Tracey_E - 2010-03-08 10:03:55

Once you get a name, just make an appointment with the new doctor and let them know the name of your old one so they can send a copy of your records.

If you suspect you are overdosed, you might not want to ask the current doctor for a recommendation. Drs tend to recommend other drs who think like they do. Some are a lot faster to give us a list of prescriptions than others. My personal preference is a dr who is open to alternatives other than meds and considers the meds a last resort. but that's just me, I'm a drugophobe :o) Maybe ask your internist or other people you know who they see and like.

New Doctor? ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2010-03-09 01:03:07

So many times since May 2009, I have had thoughts of changing my Cardio. Dr. due to his lack of "bedside manners", his "hurriedness" to get to the next patient, his statements to/in front of me derrogotive of his "right hand" Assistant. His words/thoughts re: PM Club. I mentioned to him in the latter part of 2009 I belonged to the PM Club and rec'd. a lot of good, helpful, educated info. from fellow members. In front of me and a family member with me in his office, his statement to me was, "You may need to look for another Dr. if you continue to chat".

My Cardio. Dr. is known over the World as one of the best heart Dr's. and has rec'd. top ratings. He is also the Dr. who gave me no answers which made any sense to me of my need for the PM. I posted many times on this site of what my Cardio. Dr. would say and the "comments" back from the good regular "posts" did not understand why I did not get a 2nd opinion.

I have not pursued another Cardio. Dr. because the next one could be even worse in communications/bedside manners or could be a "bud-bud" of my Dr. I see this Cardio. Dr. in mid April since my 10/09 implant.

Bear Hugs to All, Carolyn G. in TEXAS ( :

Finding another cardiologist

by ElectricFrank - 2010-03-09 01:03:11

I see from your profile that you have a Boston Scientific pacemaker. I suggest calling them and asking for a list of cardiologists in your area that use their pacers. Use that as a starting point.

frank

Additional Point - He does spend tons of time with me.

by mvashist - 2010-03-09 01:03:56

My cardiologist spends tons of time with and I asks right questions, I am more like take with me a list of To Dos and I am quite persistent. He did the same in the hospital, will sit and explain for half an hour each visit. Although I heard he is super nice like this with all, I thought I am special.

I know he will not listen to me not that he is arrogant because he does not want me to die and I don't want to take only pills and live miserably rest of my life. I would rather die and move on. Moreover I heard it takes around 3-4 months to recover and I want to fast forward little bit. He did so much to get me on Heart Transplant and got the name of the Dr.

From the PM Dr., actually a good point came, I am going to ask him he wants to be my Cardiologist, he actually fits all the requirements, except he is very young and we had huge fight on PM implant. I did not want it and he was saying it is the right thing to do.

shop around

by justme - 2010-03-09 03:03:04

It's time to go shopping for a new doctor. Calling for a recomendation from him is a good idea, and the distance is a perfect reason as to why you are shopping around. Don't be afraid of standing up for yourself in your care, but also don't start your relationship off with your new doctor by complaining about the old one, it will not benefit you in any way. Calling your device manufacturer is good too, audition a few people. Call their offices and see how receptive and attentive their staff are. Don't settle, it's your health that matters.

Is bedside manner important??

by ted - 2010-03-09 04:03:04

Im just curious as to how important "bedside manner" or distance from the office is to a patient. For me, I don't care about my doctors' "bedside manners". I just want them to be smart and honest with me. I would rather have a doctor who is knoledgeable and some distance away than some used car salesman type whose office is down the street, and who smiles and looks good and chats with me and makes good eye contact, but who is a dummy.

bedside manner

by Tracey_E - 2010-03-09 07:03:57

Ted, yes and no. It's nice if a doctor is friendly and personable, but what matters is if they are thorough and will take the time to answer all my questions. If two drs are equally professional and capable, I'm going to pick the nice one. My cardiologist has 6 partners. All are good cardiologists and I'll see any of them in a pinch, but I prefer to see only my main guy and one of the partners if given a choice. Two have accents I can barely understand, one doesn't answer questions, and one is very brusque so I prefer the other two.

Understand what you want

by ElectricFrank - 2010-03-09 11:03:23

In a rare moment of defense of cardiologist's on my part consider the following:

How much do you really know about your heart and the roll of a pacemaker? The docs are constantly faced with patients who "don't want that artificial thing in my body", yet have a cardiac problem that the doc knows is going to cause problems without one. They have plenty of experience with such patients who after turning down a pacemaker show up in the office or ER in a state of severe panic when they experience the first episode of SOB or light headedness. In this emotional state they then blame the doc for it all.

This is what I have faced in developing a trust with my cardio. My initial implant was done without anesthesia and I know they were sure I wouldn't last 10 minutes in the OR. Then a couple of times of handling the pacer turned off for a short time to see how dependent I was, and having my HR drop to 25.still no panic. Then my episode of loss of capture with skipping 4-5 beats in a row..still no panic. I realize he was finally developing confidence that he could trust me to accept whatever happened without taking it out on him.

just a thought,

frank

Bedside Manners Are Important ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2010-03-09 11:03:33

Bedside Manners: Part of being an educated Dr/Specialist is how well you can get along with your patients. If you have a good Dr./patient relationship, your Dr. can usually "read" his patient by looking/talking to his client & looking into their eyes.

Part of being a good Dr. is the ability to "read" his client when he walks into the room. A good Dr. would ask the client how he feels, make the client comfortable to his voice/feel. Being abrupt, "cold", sarcastic, hateful, rude, "mean", etc. does NOT make a good Dr. I can not even think of any questions, knowing when the Dr. comes in the room, his attitude is "above you" and you are "just" his patient. Why fear your Dr?

Yes, it is a pity if you have to drive a hundred miles extra because you fear the Dr. or he is rude/crude!
The difference DOES matter ~ ~ I pay for his rudeness.

And, thanks, just one more time, to Electric Frank for your good advice on calling the PM Company.

Bear Hugs to All, Carolyn G. in TEXAS

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I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish.