Has anyone requested a second opinion for a medical concern?

[clh2]

Background…I saw a specialist this week, who believes I have a “rare specific condition”. The Dr. believes the only way to confirm is with a very invasive biopsy. I had a list of questions, including, why isn’t the diagnosis and disease progression being done through imaging techniques. He believes the only way to get a true result is with the biopsy. He currently has 4 patients with this issue, and has had about 40 in his 40-year career.

The dr also did not like I had googled tons of info prior the appointment. And to me, it seemed like other medical centers only use a biopsy as a last resort (Ie if there are multiple medical conditions involved), and use a variety of imaging-related procedures. In his visit notes, he indicated I consulted with Dr, Google. I had to wait over two months for this appointment, of course I googled it. He also indicated I have high anxiety-which is true not only was he not listening to me, but also regarding the potential diagnosis.

So-as it was the only option presented to me, i reluctantly agreed to the biopsy. And the following day it was scheduled.

In the meantime, I again consulted Dr, Google about who the leading medical centers are that treat this problem, and there was a list of 5, including as #1 Mayo Clinic. Ironically, my healthcare is provided by a network that is a highly regarded medical center/teaching college that also does a vast amount of research, is well known across the country for many specialties, just not the one I have.

I now have an appointment schedule 1.5 weeks after the scheduled biopsy.

If you are still with me…do I just cancel the biopsy, or do I cancel and let the physician know. My current thought is, I have a PCP appointment (3 weeks before biopsy) about an unrelated issue, and can get her thoughts too.

And, just a side note, I do not appreciate this Dr’s use of the term in my notes…that this patient consulted Dr. Google. It is just not sitting well with me.

 

[fla4fun]

Background…I saw a specialist this week, who believes I have a “rare specific condition”. The Dr. believes the only way to confirm is with a very invasive biopsy. I had a list of questions, including, why isn’t the diagnosis and disease progression being done through imaging techniques. He believes the only way to get a true result is with the biopsy. He currently has 4 patients with this issue, and has had about 40 in his 40-year career.

The dr also did not like I had googled tons of info prior the appointment. And to me, it seemed like other medical centers only use a biopsy as a last resort (Ie if there are multiple medical conditions involved), and use a variety of imaging-related procedures. In his visit notes, he indicated I consulted with Dr, Google. I had to wait over two months for this appointment, of course I googled it. He also indicated I have high anxiety-which is true not only was he not listening to me, but also regarding the potential diagnosis.

So-as it was the only option presented to me, i reluctantly agreed to the biopsy. And the following day it was scheduled.

In the meantime, I again consulted Dr, Google about who the leading medical centers are that treat this problem, and there was a list of 5, including as #1 Mayo Clinic. Ironically, my healthcare is provided by a network that is a highly regarded medical center/teaching college that also does a vast amount of research, is well known across the country for many specialties, just not the one I have.

I now have an appointment schedule 1.5 weeks after the scheduled biopsy.

If you are still with me…do I just cancel the biopsy, or do I cancel and let the physician know. My current thought is, I have a PCP appointment (3 weeks before biopsy) about an unrelated issue, and can get her thoughts too.

And, just a side note, I do not appreciate this Dr’s use of the term in my notes…that this patient consulted Dr. Google. It is just not sitting well with me.

I would get a second opinion. It seems you and the current doctor aren’t seeing eye-to-eye regarding diagnosis and treatment, and this is a perfect reason to get another opinion. If you want to consult with your PCP first, that’s okay too. You could potentially have several appointments with whichever doctor is treating you and it’s important for you to both be on the same page and to have respect for one another. Belittling your personal research is not respectful.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I would get a second opinion. I once asked a doctor why he was changing my blood pressure medicine. He turned to his assistant and said, "Mark her record as non-compliant." I never went back to that doctor. I was just asking a simple question. It sounds like you have a similar situation -- a doctor who does not want to be questioned.

 

[pirate33]

By all means get a second opinion. I do so for anything serious and one often gets differing or even conflicting opinions.

 

[china mom]

I was just having this conversation with my son. I was telling him that when you are young, you tend to see your doctor as an authority figure and the expert but when you get old like me you realize that they have no authority and instead are an equal partner in your care team, with you being the most important member of that team.

Yes, 1,000 times yes. Question, research and get second and even third opinions. And don't feel guilty about it. I have a rather unique/rare condition and I honestly believe that I know more about it than my primary care physician (and he would probably agree with that statement). I have a specialist for routine care for that condition and you know what? I have bypassed him on a couple of occasions when I have had issues that I felt he was not the best doctor to treat me.

With a different issue, my opthamologist examined me and was very dismissive. Second opinion, there I went. New guy was great, immediately scheduled me for much needed surgery. And now, I am moving my entire family to the new guy's practice.

And if I ever became aware that any of my doctors put anything negative in my chart about me being an advocate for myself, they would find themselves off my care team.

I wish you well in your diagnosis and treatment.

 

[tvguy]

To directly answer your question, I have never requested a second opinion, but I have had multiple Doctors refer me to other Doctors with the result being I got a second opinion. That can be very frustrating because I frequently am sent back to the original Doctor with questions the second Doctor wanted me to ask. I end up not with answers, but questions. And a lot of finger pointing. "Why didn't that Doctor do this?" And THAT Doctor, when asked, responding "because that would be in the OTHER Doctor's specialty"
My conclusion, Medicine isn't always an exact science.
And the individual patient and their age and health can vastly shape treatment. In 2012 my mom had a health crisis, one that over a year later resulted in her death. She was 89 and the Hospitalist ran down the normal treatment options.......that were NO LONGER options simply because at age 89, the treatment had greater risks than doing nothing.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Absolutely get a second opinion. This doctor seems to be quite dismissive and affronted by your desire for additional information. Good doctors, and insurance companies, recommend second opinions., best medical practice for sure. My best wishes as you move forward.

 

[hardcorestitch]

It’s good to have a 2nd opinion. You’ll be able to consider which treatment is better. Good luck!

 

[monsterkitty]

Dr. Beachgem is an ER doctor who posts on YouTube. She posted a video yesterday after she sat in her car and cried because the doctor she had just seen was brushing her off. She has had a dark discharge from her breast, and she was finally able to get in for a biopsy. Of course, there was no discharge to be seen so the male doctor told her to come back when the discharge came back.

As she was getting dressed after the failed procedure, the discharge reappeared. She immediately went out of the dressing room and alerted the doctor. He brushed her off and said to wait until next time.

She sat in her car and cried because she failed to advocate for herself, something she preaches on her channels for parents to do for their children, and she felt she wasn't being listened to. She reiterated that if we feel as patients that something isn't right, advocate and get another opinion if needed.

I would meet with your regular doctor and ask her opinion. Show her what the doctor wrote. I would probably cancel the biopsy because I would have no trust in that doctor.

 

[LuvOrlando]

We go to Dr's for their expert opinion and experience, not to regurgitate information so in that Google is not great. Think about how the conversations are going and what is fueling them? Is it fear? Are you asking your Dr to debate Google? A second opinion is important but sometimes time is so important there isn't much of it to squander, is this life or death or do you have time? You should probably ask yourself why you are talking to this Dr in the first place?

I'm BRCA2 positive, I'm high risk for pancreatic cancer, I having some weird GI stuff and the oncologist following me wants to do another sonogram guided endoscopy colonoscopy biopsy, next available, I need general anesthesia. This year I was supposed to skip that and just do a MRI but what do I know other than if it is bad the faster trouble is uncovered the better. Do I love it, no, but I trust that they are trying to help me so that's that. I know my new symptoms are weird so I know something is off, I just donlt know what is off and how serious it is so I need to trust the experts.

Consider this, if the biopsy is definitive your Dr must have a good reason to want this degree of certainty. Is this rare thing particularly dangerous or just annoying? Is time crucial to a good outcome for intervention? On the softer side of things, is it crucial for your state of mind to have a firm answer so you don't obsess? I generally tell my Dr's all I want to know is if a thing is dangerous or not and if not I can ignore it, sometimes it isn't easy for the Dr to give me that binary answer so I gotta do what I have to do.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Doing so as we speak. I suffer from a rare and severe condition that makes me very vulnerable. Unfortunately, my NHS expert is very much of the mind of "wait and wait, softly softly". I need a solution! I've seen another doctor a few times before and he was the first person to diagnose me and successfully treat me. I'm seeing him again in a few weeks. I am fortunate enough to be able to afford private healthcare.

 

[fla4fun]

Dr. Beachgem is an ER doctor who posts on YouTube. She posted a video yesterday after she sat in her car and cried because the doctor she had just seen was brushing her off. She has had a dark discharge from her breast, and she was finally able to get in for a biopsy. Of course, there was no discharge to be seen so the male doctor told her to come back when the discharge came back.

As she was getting dressed after the failed procedure, the discharge reappeared. She immediately went out of the dressing room and alerted the doctor. He brushed her off and said to wait until next time.

She sat in her car and cried because she failed to advocate for herself, something she preaches on her channels for parents to do for their children, and she felt she wasn't being listened to. She reiterated that if we feel as patients that something isn't right, advocate and get another opinion if needed.

I would meet with your regular doctor and ask her opinion. Show her what the doctor wrote. I would probably cancel the biopsy because I would have no trust in that doctor.

Women in particular are treated poorly when it comes to healthcare. No matter what your symptoms are, 99% of the time they brush it off and say it’s your weight (too fat or too thin). If by some miracle they think your weight is appropriate then you’re exaggerating or making it up. Having a female doctor helps, but even some of them don’t take their patients seriously. It’s so important to find a doctor you feel comfortable with and who actually listens to you.