who the hell gives these doctors their licenses?

[DVS]

Back in 1996, my best friend was having back pain. If I remember correctly, he was also having pains in his left arm, but I don't know that for certain.

He was being treated for muscle strain, because his back hurt. His doctor was very close to sending him to physical therapy, because his back pain wasn't going away.

Well, he never got to go to the physical therapist, because he passed out in a friend's front yard, a few days later. He then woke up and said he was OK, but a few minutes later, he was dead.

Those back pains and pains in his left arm were classic heart pains. But, because he was only 42, and a large guy and always physical, nobody bothered to think it could be his heart. and, I don't think his family had a history of heart problems.

His wife was an RN, and she didn't seem to notice it, either. I don't know what was going through everyone's head, but even I knew it might be his heart and a simple stress test or two could have told them.

I guess I do understand that they just didn't think it could be his heart because of his strong body. But, it had to be some genetic heart thing or maybe a clogged artery. I lost my best and oldest friend because nobody bothered to check it out.

There are good doctors and bad, just like in every other profession. We have to be smart enough as patients to know when we are not seeing one of those smaart ones.

Ask questions. Read up on the Inernet, if you can. Talk to the nurse, and other doctors, when possible. You should get the same answers (to a degree) from all sources, or it's possible you need another opinion.

I hope everything turns out OK. From reading this thread, it sounds like you have a lot of good help.

 

[SweetDommes]

*hugs DVS* Unfortunately, things happen. I happen to be one of those that will assume the worse, who is absolutely paranoid, and will insist that something be done, if possible (of course, insisting does nothing if the dr is an idiot). After having a guy come into the ER at the hospital that I work at - 37 year old in with a heart attack, and no, he didn't make it - and knowing that one of the guys that I graduated from high school with has already had two massive heart attacks (he had them at about 22 or 23 ... it's been awhile now) - I make no assumptions based on age or condition (the guy I graduated with was always in pretty good shape, on the basketball and baseball teams in high school, and I think on baseball in college too).

I've learned through experience that if one doctor can't fix things, go to another one ... like the one who told me that I just had a cold and she couldn't do anything for me when I really had mono, a sinus infection, strep throat and bronchitis ... I almost ended up being admitted to the hopsital for it - I went to another dr and got the right treatment (fortunately before I was so dehydrated that I needed IV fluids).

I do know that not all of the drs are idiots and most of them aren't really assholes ... but the ones that are just make me want to give up on all of them.

 

[bdsmToy]

*hugs DVS* Unfortunately, things happen. I happen to be one of those that will assume the worse, who is absolutely paranoid, and will insist that something be done, if possible (of course, insisting does nothing if the dr is an idiot). After having a guy come into the ER at the hospital that I work at - 37 year old in with a heart attack, and no, he didn't make it - and knowing that one of the guys that I graduated from high school with has already had two massive heart attacks (he had them at about 22 or 23 ... it's been awhile now) - I make no assumptions based on age or condition (the guy I graduated with was always in pretty good shape, on the basketball and baseball teams in high school, and I think on baseball in college too).

I've learned through experience that if one doctor can't fix things, go to another one ... like the one who told me that I just had a cold and she couldn't do anything for me when I really had mono, a sinus infection, strep throat and bronchitis ... I almost ended up being admitted to the hopsital for it - I went to another dr and got the right treatment (fortunately before I was so dehydrated that I needed IV fluids).

I do know that not all of the drs are idiots and most of them aren't really assholes ... but the ones that are just make me want to give up on all of them.

I whole heartidly agree with you, the heart is a volitle group of muscles and sometimes defects go unnoticed untill a major event unfolds. Juts for the record my dad is a Cardiologist and mostly does surgery to correct congenital defects.

I am sure my dad have came accross an ass when he was learning as a doctor also, I mean seeing many patients its inevitable to happen. But seeing that he is 62 now he seems to have the whole patient-doctor bond going real strong and actually lectured a few times on medical ethics.

I spoke with his and somewhat mentioned this cause it was on my moind and he said to go see another physican that has better communication skills basically.