Ever had a Medical Scare?
 

I recently had a medical scare that turned out to be nothing. What did I learn from this?

1. Some members of the the medical profession do 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?

I don't know what doctor's office you deal with. My experience with the TVHS is the opposite. Whenever I have had a significant test I get a call the next day or day after with the results. Sometimes the doctor himself calls. Just had that experience with an echo cardiogram. Granted, that is not the case with routine blood test preceding a scheduled doctor's visit.

Depends on the test, some are money makers and some could save your live. If I did not agree to a digital rectal exam during my annual physical a few years ago, I would probably be dead now. Instead I am very alive and healthy.

I've had a few medical scares, but nothing that would be similar to yours.

In 1983 I was in a horrible accident and broke my left radius, ulna, femur, clavicle, three ribs, traumatized my spine, and knocked my front teeth loose (but not out). I was in CICU because of an embolism climbing up through an artery from the broken thigh bone, with a tube down my throat breathing for me, my leg and arm both in traction, and shot up with morphine every 4 hours for 3 days. At some point during this, my heart stopped beating and my brain waves showed no activity for several seconds. I was "clinically" dead. But before they could get me juiced up with electricity, my body switched itself back on again spontaneously.

I guess somewhere deep inside I knew it just wasn't my turn yet.

Yep. After a routine blood test my doctor (who is an international expert) said I have Multiple myeloma. I had maybe 5 years left. I had two young children at home. I was so scared of this news I could not sleep, I could not eat, I could not go to work. Eventually I pulled myself together enough to get another opinion and went to the head of oncology at a very established hospital. This man was an incredibly compassionate man, he saw my degree of anxiety and took blood himself in his office and analyzed it. He made me wait in his office till we had the result. Then he said, “You don’t have MM, you are as healthy as I am.” Then I could actually breathe again. That was over 20 years ago.

You're condemning the entire medical profession based on on experience?

I'm sorry that you went through this but it's not fair to lump all medical professionals together.

This is like saying that all cops are racist killers or no school teachers care about their students.

You had one bad experience with one test facility.

Extending an isolated or minority incident to a general condition is done all too often!

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.

I have had other similar experiences, but you are correct. I modified my post.

Never had a medical scare, all of my diagnoses were correct

Similar experience no. Thankful testing is done.

Agree! And why would you be interpreting your own results.?? If you get a copy of the scan or xray, you obviously would have no clue what your looking at. So, just wait until the Dr reads it to you. Youre causing your own anxiety. Dr has alot of patients, youre not special. And think about it, if hes in no rush to call you then its more likely than not that the tests came out fine.

Medical testing results
 

I encourage everyone to obtain a written copy of all test results for your files. And while you might not understand what you read, have it in front of you and ask, what each thing means. I won’t accept, “ your MRI has nothing to worry about “. Explain the report to me, I am not stupid and that makes me feel better

I have heard from several sources, that the providers are not good and don't have your best interest in mind. go elsewhere

Sorry you had a bad experience. I can’t believe some people who have no compassion for another person’s experience with testing , and condemning them for posting their experience. Thankfully they posted the group they belong to as a warning to stay away from this group .