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ANOTHER almost comical malpractice example!

by seasoned
9 replies
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Today, I had EXTREME pains, and gave them PRECISE descriptions of everything! I spent 4 HOURS going through tests, waiting, etc.... Their claim? INDIGESTION!!!! ******NO WAY******! How can one even HOPE to claim that? I ate my last meal, went to bed 4 hours later and 2 hours after that had pain that lasted for another 8 hours, and kept me awake. It went away and, though I had nothing in several hours, the pain came back for an hour. And the pain was primarily in the upper portion of the middle(literally within .5" of either side) of my rib cage, and maybe 1" inside.

OK, the doctor mentioned just in passing that at some point, IN THE FUTURE, I might have to have my gall bladder removed. He claimed that 70% of women over 40 and men over 50 do this. He said I had gall stones. He doesn't know the size or number, only that some exist. it was one of the things noticed in the CAT scan.

Being curious, I read the details about gall bladder surgery(Removal is no longer the norm!). HERE is the kicker! It is ERIE!!!!! They used the SAME language in stating the symptoms that I did! ALSO, I found that one cause of such problems is a high destruction of red blood cells and the artificial valve I have, as THEY SHOULD WELL KNOW, DESTROYS RED BLOOD CELLS!!!! It is one of the problems with artificial heart valves. The liver problems I thought I had earlier had symptoms that round out the few here that might be missing.

If they are going to take SO long to run tests, they should have SOME idea of how bad things are. If they are not going to research the things out of normal range, they should give the patient the info so they can research it. LUCKILY, the internet has a lot of that.

They were SO sure that this MAJOR pain was indigestion! I've had indigestion before. Not as painful, different circumstances, and doesn't hurt in the same way.

I guess the question now is do I dare even trust them with the operation? It is an outpatient procedure!

Steve
  • Profile picture of the author Big Rob
    I know it is a pain in the ass to get a second opinion, let alone switch doctors,
    Sounds like you need one (or both).

    It took my wife 4 years to get get a proper diagnosis, and another 2 to find a good Cardio Doc. All the Quacks kept telling her it was panic attacks.WELL DUH! If you think you're having a massive heart attack,of course you're going to panic.

    I know you may have to tread lightly with telling Docs about self diagnosis, at least around here they tend to get pissy. However,SCREW THEM! Its your freaking body. I used to think if you raise hell, they give you shittier care, more than likely,you get crap care regardless.

    Good Luck and feel better,Man.

    Rob
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    • Profile picture of the author AprilCT
      Get another doctor and if you don't get someone that takes your best interest to heart, then find another one after that.

      I've had the same experience with lousy doctors. Seriously ill and they didn't take me seriously. Finally wised up and went to another doctor giving him all the symptoms and pain locations, making him start doing his own diagnosis without any previous information from former doctors.

      Amazing what a new doctor can find and treat when they aren't too lazy to do what a patient needs or order testing procedures to get the right information. Find a physician that works with you instead of against you because you are not a medical professional.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        Steve - I share your pain....literally.

        Severe (really bad) pain in the same area you describe - and for me, it is indigestion. I always have a coke in the fridge as I've found that to be a better cure than any doctor.

        The same symptoms often appear with an innocuous problem and a serious illness but trying simple solutions before major medical procedures is a good idea to me.

        I'm not sure where you see malpractice in this. You didn't like the doctor's simple explanation (indigestion) so he went further.
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          Steve - I share your pain....literally.

          Severe (really bad) pain in the same area you describe - and for me, it is indigestion. I always have a coke in the fridge as I've found that to be a better cure than any doctor.

          The same symptoms often appear with an innocuous problem and a serious illness but trying simple solutions before major medical procedures is a good idea to me.

          I'm not sure where you see malpractice in this. You didn't like the doctor's simple explanation (indigestion) so he went further.
          He mentioned the gall bladder ONLY after seeing it after looking for the answer to my question about the INR.

          I went to see the supervisor today. SHE said I should LIVE WITH IT, until it gets unbearable for a longer period, etc... I will go back on monday to get my records.

          So you have had a pain that felt almost like it was behind your sternum that was burning for HOURS and it even woke you up at night? And they proved it was indigestion? ODD!

          With me, it is just TOO CLOSE a match! And gall stones can vary a LOT. I guess I might find out about that on monday.

          Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    why do people who know they know more than doctors bother going to the doctor at all?
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by hardraysnight View Post

      why do people who know they know more than doctors bother going to the doctor at all?
      Why do doctors do any tests figuring they know the cause going in?

      They said they found NOTHING, and so it was indigestion! LATER, after he looked at the tests after my INR question, he said I DID have gall stones! He said that the write up said NOTHING about the quantity, etc..., but did have a notation that implies they are problematic(he mentioned the notation, that I saw on the internet that said problematic).

      So I will take indications from one doctor that match my symptoms over a ridiculous assertion by another doctor that says I am simply "FINE". I don't go to the hospital when I am feeling fine. I don't go with every little pain or ailment.

      BTW don't forget the doctor that said, after a "complete physical", that I was FINE and 2 MONTHS later, my aorta nearly blew up. A lot of sites have said this takes like 20 years to happen. ALSO, cardiologists have taken my blood pressure and pulse in a notably different way.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        So you have had a pain that felt almost like it was behind your sternum that was burning for HOURS and it even woke you up at night? And they proved it was indigestion? ODD!
        Yes and no. "They" didn't prove anything - I did. I recorded when the pain was happening and what I had eaten (and when) and saw a connection.

        I began drinking a carbonated beverage with meals and the pain came less frequently. I still wake up sometimes with the pain but a trip to the fridge and downing a few swallows of carbonated drink and walking around for a couple minutes cures it it quickly. It's gas caused by indigestion and, in my case, a well learned childhood rule of "burping is rude" which taught me to repress a natural function. My sons tried to give me burping lessons but I was a slow learner.
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          Yes and no. "They" didn't prove anything - I did. I recorded when the pain was happening and what I had eaten (and when) and saw a connection.

          I began drinking a carbonated beverage with meals and the pain came less frequently. I still wake up sometimes with the pain but a trip to the fridge and downing a few swallows of carbonated drink and walking around for a couple minutes cures it it quickly. It's gas caused by indigestion and, in my case, a well learned childhood rule of "burping is rude" which taught me to repress a natural function. My sons tried to give me burping lessons but I was a slow learner.
          Yeah, I try to burp when I have a certain type of discomfort. It works fine. I was taught, like you, not to burp, but over the past decade or so, I have found it best. I don't do it in public though..

          But that is a different circumstance. Here, no pattern. In fact, when it went away, and when it goes away, no burp or anything of the sort.

          Steve
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          • Profile picture of the author Kay King
            ,,,probably your gall bladder
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