Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123
I recently had a medical scare that turned out to be nothing. What did I learn from this?
1. The medical profession does a lousy job of dealing with the patient's anxiety regarding medical testing. They need to be more responsive to the patient's need to know when and how test results will be conveyed to the patient. They actually told me to wait a week to receive a test result that was available the same day. So, I had to get the results and interpret them myself. It would have been better if the doctor had called me as soon as the results were published.
2. Medical tests often reveal incidental problems that were not even tested for. Some tests, like CT scans, are extremely accurate, and often reveal potential issues that result in more testing and more anxiety for the patient.
3. In the future, I will be much more selective in agreeing to tests that a doctor wants to perform. I will not blindly accept a doctor's recommendation for testing. I want more information about the potential benefit of the test before I agree to it.
4. Nobody lives forever and I realize that I am not as afraid of dying as I used to be.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
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I too had a scare and was taken to the hospital and had lots of tests. They were trying to figure out why I had a seizure. So CT and MRI plus lots of blood tests. But I was glad they did the extensive testing, and if they had found something serious but unrelated, I would have been glad. Yes, anxious, but happy they found something. I feel their extensive training should be enough to trust their decision for more tests.
I don't disagree they could do a better job conveying information. I had a great GP doctor up north who would call, but near the end had less time for this, he was calling after dinner and obviously working late making the calls. Lots of information now comes to you via a portal. I think doctors are busier than when we were young and just don't have the time, and are not compensated to follow up. I eventually went to Mayo in MN for my issue, now here they do have one doctor who coordinates all the visits with specialists and who then reviews the results with you. But Mayo also charges much more and many insurance plans (I am not yet on Medicare) don't cover a visit to Mayo. I do recommend them.
So I think you might have just not gotten the best doctor. The good ones are hard to find and you don't go "shopping" (have a serious event) that often.