Read cuz I said so!!!

Read cuz I said so!!! (Full Version)

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SailingBum -> Read cuz I said so!!! (4/2/2009 11:50:32 PM)
I now have proof that I have a heart. Recently I had a echo cardiogram ECG NOT a EKG and saw my heart with my own 2 eyes. All you folks that were unsure I have the proof. So here is the thing. I"ve been going to the doc now for the past 3 or 4 years, You know the getting older thing. Bear with me on this as there is going to be a test at the end. I am at the doc 4 years ago explaining that I'm light headed at times. 1st clue I am at the doc 4 years ago explaining that shortness of breath when playing sports at times. 2nd clue Doc is like let me check your carotid artery again. "it's fine nothing to worry about" Go see the doc this year. again full checkup. Im like doc the reason I'm here is because you know how you bang your thumb with a hammer and it THROBS... That is what my chest felt like after a shower. Dumb ass should have went to ER that night. Doc says ok get a EKG my second one I might add. Both are fine. Doc does NOT seemed concerned, However I am I press the symptom issue with doc. Thinking it prolly won't bother her is something is seriously wrong BUT it sure as hell will bother me. So I'm a little testy with doc. They schedule a ECG which I had done a few days ago. Making a long story even longer must be the Irish in me. The Tech asks me " if anyone has told me that I have a irregular heartbeat". I'm like "That's a new one on me" The Tech who had 4 college deg on her wall yea I counted said " I'm surprised they missed it" I know your thinking why are you telling me this and why should I care. I'm glad you asked me that, cuz I'm going to tell you. In the past 4 years Ive been to various doc prolly 7 or 8 times. First thing they do check your pulse and blood pressure. Why that matters is cuz that is one of the ways to check for a irregular heartbeat is by checking your pulse. Silly me always thought the "faint/ shadow pulse" was normal. Well it's not. I have no clue what the odds are of 8 trained medical personal over a 4 year period missing the "shadow beat". Meanwhile I am explaining to the doc the my symptoms which you guessed it are indicators of irregular heartbeat. But now I have a first hand knowledge / understanding of why the US is ranked like 30 th in quality of care of industrialized nations. Yes there is a point to all of this. Doctors and their staff make mistakes all the time. As my dad used to say docs bury their mistakes and here I thought dad was being upset and dramatic. Well he wasn't! When you feel a doc is not being pro active enuff once you explain your health issue FIRE THEM which I have done. Oh and get a ECG not a EKG. As far back as I can remember I have had a "shadow beat" as I would check my pulse at times playing ball, which I have done my entire life. I'm scheduled for more test it's prolly nothing serious most times it's not. So get checked out! and get a 2nd opinion which I know is a pain in the ass. But do you really want to BET your life on it?

RCdc -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 12:02:03 AM)
I was diagnoised as having an irregular heartbeat two weeks ago. It sucks when I have an bad 'attack' and is fairly uncomfortable. Normal healthy hearts can have them. Did they give you the 'lifestyle' talk on what not to drink and eat? They can give you drugs to control it if it becomes a real bother. It does suck that it took you so long to have it noted. My doctor was fabulous and it took them a week to book in the ECG and then another week after I went in for the tests for them to find it. NHS rocks. the.dark.

SailingBum -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 12:10:03 AM)
I have more test scheduled stress being one of them. I have not met with the heart doc yet. The post was a email that I sent to my family to give them a heads up and thought I'd post it here just to let ppl know to be proactive regarding their health care. and Fire them if you have to. BadOne

RCdc -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 12:45:28 AM)
I had the whole 'don't drink caffine' - 'do you drink sports drinks' - routine. Stress can play a part, but my doctor basically said that some people have it their whole life and do not even feel it because it's so usual for them and it''s only when you get a bad 'attack' that you notice something isn't normal. I had that, it was frightening and I thought I was going to pass out but I want to try and avoid taking drugs if I can. the.dark.

MissMorrigan -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 3:31:23 AM)
I'm shocked that it's taken four years to gain a correct diagnosis. What is the plan of treatment now that you have been diagnosed, SB and do you have suitable insurance coverage? Good luck with stabilising your condition. the.dark, it must have been a very scary period for you. Both you and SB take good care of yourselves and one thing that makes me so proud of the UK - our NHS, it pains me when other countries' citizens suffer needlessly due to the greed of capitalism.

Vendaval -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 3:39:47 AM)
Sailing Bum, The American Heart Association is an excellent resource and can help you navigate your choices and options when dealing with physicians. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200002

barelynangel -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 4:15:14 AM)
I would like to add this -- not as a slam on doctors but something i learned that people may want to know. Let's just say, ove the course of my life, i have experienced doctors frequently and ad nausuemly. However, i went to a new one last week to get some tests done and in the exam he actually "listened" to my neck with his stethoscope. I don't remember anyone doing so before and i am so familiar with the "routine" lets say, i asked him why he did that. He said ALL doctors should listen to your neck because that is the best place to listen to see if you are in danger of stroke -- the caradid artery and all that jazz. He said he gets that same question from like 95% of his new patients every year. Which indicates to him that other doctors don't do it very much. He also said he has sent quite a few people to the hospital because of what he has heard ad this has saved them from stroking out. Just some additional knowledge that you may want to question your doctor about. angel

pahunkboy -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 6:02:59 AM)
I used to marvel over DRs. I am going thru a phase- where I really don't want to see them anymore. I dont care for endless tests. Then they must exhaust treatment A before going to treatment B - which we know from the beginning is what is needed. A recent DR, ran way too many tests on me. Then, I was on lipitor which fried my liver. Add to that Bextra and Celebrex and Neurton. All of which was rxd for me. So- If I die= I guess thats how the cookie crumbles. Meanwhile- I dont care to jump thru all the hoops.

subangi -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 6:18:04 AM)
Good thing you pursued that. Sometimes the people with the most education and position brush off the "laymans" concerns. I have seen it many times. When I worked pediatrics a baby came in with what the parents said was "breathing difficulties". The docs on call (and this was a childrens hospital), ran tests and decided there was nothing wrong with the baby, but with the insistance of the family, admitting him for observation. I kept observing this baby, and noticed something wasnt quite right with the breathing pattern, and was unsure of what I was hearing when I auscultated the lungs. During my shift, I called the dr with my my concerns about 5 times, and the last time I called he called me an idiot nurse in front of the parents and fellow staff. When the pediatric intensivist came in, I told him of my concerns, he looked at the xray, and saw that part of his lung was collapsed....the baby was whisked to surgery within 20 min to have the lung removed. He said the baby would have stopped compensating, and would have died soon . Before I left , the dr that I was calling, appoached me and said I had no right contacting a different dr because he was taking care of things....I just smiled and replied, "I didnt do that to hurt your feelings", and walked away. So, tinman, for those who didnt know you had a heart, they do now. lol.

pahunkboy -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 6:29:09 AM)
DRs tend to verbalize as little is possible. Often the other medical staff is willing to tell you more. I have already looked at my chart- and crossed out an item. ....I have some injuries. I read everything I could find on the topic. Then I handwrote a list of questions before a DR appointment. I have also pumped the pharmacist for info. (free) The internet enables a ton of info at your fingertips. I am not a DR, stroke, blood clot can also cause light headed.

pixidustpet -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 10:29:09 AM)
there is a STILL PRACTICING doctor in my hometown. one of his patients, a 14 year old girl, suffered a heart attack while competing in gymnastics. he'd cleared her in her physical. turns out she has a congential abnormality in her heart, which should have been caught before she entered school. the doctor? "doesnt listen to hearts because he cant hear the hearbeats any more." direct quote from him to my mama on my grandmother's LAST visit with the man. my grandmother had heart problems. he was STILL treating her....even though he cant hear a heartbeat??? needless to say mama found her a new doctor. and yes, the guy still has a practice. kitten

Lockit -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 10:49:05 AM)
SailingBum, I do hope that you will get better medical treatment and will be well. I know many with a similar story, including myself. It took 36 years to properly diagnos one of my illnesses and that is because for three years I told them what it was and finally someone listened and three other doctors agreed. I saw hundreds of doctors in the meantime. The other took over 40 years. They treated me badly and called me every name in the doctor book and didn't treat me all that time. When someone knows something is wrong.. they feel it.. they know their body... they should never stop looking for the answer and should always change doctor's. I have yet to find a doctor say they were sorry for a mistake unless there was a risk to his/her bank account. I hope you did tell your doctor and got an apology for maybe risking your life at worst and at minimum... worrying you.

sirsholly -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 10:57:37 AM)
quote: I had the whole 'don't drink caffine' - 'do you drink sports drinks' - routine. you said no to the sports drinks, right? Please?

Vendaval -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 11:06:20 AM)
angel, That is very important information, thank you for sharing this. quote: ORIGINAL: barelynangel He said ALL doctors should listen to your neck because that is the best place to listen to see if you are in danger of stroke -- the caradid artery and all that jazz. He said he gets that same question from like 95% of his new patients every year. Which indicates to him that other doctors don't do it very much. He also said he has sent quite a few people to the hospital because of what he has heard ad this has saved them from stroking out. Just some additional knowledge that you may want to question your doctor about. angel

sirsholly -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 11:12:21 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Vendaval angel, That is very important information, thank you for sharing this. quote: ORIGINAL: barelynangel He said ALL doctors should listen to your neck because that is the best place to listen to see if you are in danger of stroke -- the caradid artery and all that jazz. He said he gets that same question from like 95% of his new patients every year. Which indicates to him that other doctors don't do it very much. He also said he has sent quite a few people to the hospital because of what he has heard ad this has saved them from stroking out. Just some additional knowledge that you may want to question your doctor about. angel can i add....if it is not done, ask that the pulse be taken by listening to the heartbeat (stethoscope to chest) for a full 60 seconds, as opposed to 15 seconds x 4.

RCdc -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 11:44:19 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sirsholly quote: I had the whole 'don't drink caffine' - 'do you drink sports drinks' - routine. you said no to the sports drinks, right? Please? Never drink them. I take enough sugar as it is and all the chemicals... no thanks! Particularly since my kidney stones last year, I have become so aware of what I drink, cutting my milk and increasing my plain water which I make sure I flush through. The one thing I am having the biggest trouble cutting out is my sugar - it is the one thing I have. I don't smoke, drink and not addicted to caffine or anything like that and I eat really healthily. But sugar is my one sin and I won't go the chemical route. the.dark.

Lockit -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 12:51:21 PM)
Milk? Milk is bad? I live on the stuff... literally! Okay what can it do to me? I drink at least half a gallon a day... at least. It helps me so much... I can't stop using it, but I might like to know what could come up! lol

hlen5 -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 1:02:10 PM)
Subangi, Way to go for hanging tough for that baby!!!! And how kind of you not to tell the "doctor" to go piss up a rope!!!

DemonKia -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 3:10:30 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lockit Milk? Milk is bad? I live on the stuff... literally! Okay what can it do to me? I drink at least half a gallon a day... at least. It helps me so much... I can't stop using it, but I might like to know what could come up! lol Some people tolerate it throughout their lives, so if it brings you pleasure, keep going . . . . I'm lactose intolerant, which I discovered in early adulthood . ... . I can get away with occasional small quantities of uncultured milk products, but I get all the usual symptoms if I stray too far from that . . . . I also cannot do more than a spoonful or two a day of aged cheeses due to migraine-with-aura; I'd stop eating -- period -- to keep the migraines away, they're truly evil & vile . . . . . . There are also concerns that dairy consumption might be implicated in some cases of kidney stones . . . . . Other people are concerned about dairy's 'phlegm producing' characteristics . . . . . As per always, individual data points vary enormously . . . . Best, The Demon, Kia (Plus, not related to health issues, but I had regular access to raw super-fresh milk throughout my childhood (I come from farm people) & the regular commercial stuff is nasty & disgusting in comparison, especially as I get older & pickier . . . . . For whatever that's worth . . . . )

DemonKia -> RE: Read cuz I said so!!! (4/3/2009 3:21:44 PM)
&, yeah, as to the main topic: If the doc screws up, at most s/he might get in trouble & the patient will be worse off / dismembered / dead / etc . . . . . Ie, the medical-malpractice risk is almost entirely the patient's to bear . . . . . .. As near as I can tell, American healthcare absolutely relies on the patients pushing the issue . . . . . American medicine seems to assume that if it bothers you enough, you'll seek out medical care, & if you don't seek out medical care it must not bother you that much . . . . . The de facto template for allocating scarce / pricey medical resources . . . .. . (I emphasize 'American' because it's all I know . . . . . ) Best, The Demon, Kia

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