The Good And Bad Of Doctors

 

   Yesterday I had an initial appointment with a new GP or general physician. I also was hoping that she'd spearhead my team of doctors. That was not the case. It was an awful, she didn't listen to a single word I said. Every time I would try to explain what was going on symptom wise she would interrupt me every two seconds. She only wanted to treat my labs and not the heart rate or the syncope. She wrote me off as some one who was over reacting. I was in the ER the other night and she didn't really seem to care. She spoke way to fast and got frustrated when I asked her to slow down and reexplain everything. It makes me feel terrible that I asked for clarification. When my parents came in she finally started to listen which was twice as frustrating. I'm 21 years old why wouldn't you listen to me in the first place?! My parents were finally able to convince her to refer me to a cardiologist and she decided to refer me to an endocrinologist. That itself was terrible. I hated that doctors appointment and I left in tears. I felt like it was a total setback and that we weren't going to get any answers.
   
     Today I had my cardiologist appointment. The cardiologist and all of his nurses were AMAZING! They actually took about an hour to listen to me. They looked at all the paperwork that I had brought in from other doctors. I asked them if I could show them the jump in my heart rate when I stood up and we did several tests in the office. Do you know how great it is to be heard?! While I was there he officially diagnosed me with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). I am seeing a different kind of cardiologist in two weeks. He will discuss the diagnosis and how we will further treat it. But, until then we increased my blood pressure medication because it hasn't done much yet. I also talked about how terrible the side effects to that medication have been and he discussed how to combat that and make it a little more effective. I'm ready to try it again! He also talked about life style changes I can make until my next appointment as far as diet is concerned. We also scheduled a stress test so that we will know how much exercise my heart can tolerate so hopefully I can start slowly working out again which will eventually help make my symptoms better. I left yesterday's appointment feeling so drained but left today's appointment with answers and a plan! I'm so excited to continue looking for answers to my potassium problem next week with the endocrinologist. There is so much hope in me now! I've been so discouraged lately and now I feel refreshed and hopeful!

     There is so much hope friends! Whatever you are trying to figure out, what ever answers you are searching for, or what ever you are discouraged about... There. Is. Hope. I am praying for you and rooting for you!

With Love,
Elizabeth <3