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7 years ago, I fell in love with the internet. At the same time, I changed my life around by going back to school and becoming a computer engineer.
I use the internet as my news source. I use it to save money. I use it to keep track of my hobbies and culture.
But other then a quick look through WebMD when I got my original HCM diagnosis. I never used this tool for my own health. I trusted both my cardiologists to properly evaluate my condition.
A few weeks ago, my condition was upgraded to HOCM, my cardiologist was pushing for surgery, and I became more serious about research. Thus I found this website.
Now, as I peruse these boards, I realize that there is a constant theme concerning the need for the patient to educate the doctor when it comes to HCM.
Now, I’m new here. I do not know if this is constantly discussed or if it is part of this organizations approach. I would like to see an effort put forth to persuade any Cardiologist associations to encourage their Doctors to tell their HCM patients to go online as an initial starting point when they’re first diagnosed.
Is it so hard for a doctor to just say “Realistically, I see more cardio-vascular disease patients in one day then I see HCM patients in a year”?
Ok, I know we’re dealing with doctors who may have a rightful chip on their shoulders. But this diagnosis affects not only the rest of the patient’s life, but also can affect many members of their family. Because of my diagnosis, both of my children will need to be monitored. I have advised my brother to be checked, as well as his daughter.
Here is quick story that tells the need for independent research.
As part of my upgrade to HOCM status, my cardiologist gave me the name and number of another of her patients who had HOCM and had gone through a Septal Ablation.
Just like me, he was advised to have this procedure when his tests showed a thickening septum. After a 2 day stay in the hospital he was sent home where the first night he passed out (heart block), was rushed back to the hospital, almost died, and had a pacemaker inserted.
He says he is doing much better now, but still has some symptoms.
It sounded to me that he did no research on his own and just went along with what our cardiologist said.
If it wasn’t for Lisa and this website and the questions they raised, that could be me as well. Now, after many conversations with multiple doctors a different picture is being formed. It looks like a different drug therapy is going to be the next approach.
I use the internet as my news source. I use it to save money. I use it to keep track of my hobbies and culture.
But other then a quick look through WebMD when I got my original HCM diagnosis. I never used this tool for my own health. I trusted both my cardiologists to properly evaluate my condition.
A few weeks ago, my condition was upgraded to HOCM, my cardiologist was pushing for surgery, and I became more serious about research. Thus I found this website.
Now, as I peruse these boards, I realize that there is a constant theme concerning the need for the patient to educate the doctor when it comes to HCM.
Now, I’m new here. I do not know if this is constantly discussed or if it is part of this organizations approach. I would like to see an effort put forth to persuade any Cardiologist associations to encourage their Doctors to tell their HCM patients to go online as an initial starting point when they’re first diagnosed.
Is it so hard for a doctor to just say “Realistically, I see more cardio-vascular disease patients in one day then I see HCM patients in a year”?
Ok, I know we’re dealing with doctors who may have a rightful chip on their shoulders. But this diagnosis affects not only the rest of the patient’s life, but also can affect many members of their family. Because of my diagnosis, both of my children will need to be monitored. I have advised my brother to be checked, as well as his daughter.
Here is quick story that tells the need for independent research.
As part of my upgrade to HOCM status, my cardiologist gave me the name and number of another of her patients who had HOCM and had gone through a Septal Ablation.
Just like me, he was advised to have this procedure when his tests showed a thickening septum. After a 2 day stay in the hospital he was sent home where the first night he passed out (heart block), was rushed back to the hospital, almost died, and had a pacemaker inserted.
He says he is doing much better now, but still has some symptoms.
It sounded to me that he did no research on his own and just went along with what our cardiologist said.
If it wasn’t for Lisa and this website and the questions they raised, that could be me as well. Now, after many conversations with multiple doctors a different picture is being formed. It looks like a different drug therapy is going to be the next approach.
Yeah. I can't tell you how many times I've had similar --but no one really asking about it, just being stupid and telling me stuff that is out of date and acting all smug. Humph.
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