A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Does this profession make you question your diagnoses?

Posted: Nov 18, 2011

I find that I am not open to accepting dr. advice without questioning as I have worked many years in this profession and have heard a lot, a little knowledge is dangerous but has also aided me in escaping many "bullets." The latest was a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and recommendation to be shocked into normal sinus rhythm and go on blood thinners for the rest of my life. I have said no to this as 1) I am afraid to be shocked, either by paddles or the T-method. 2) I am reluctant to go on coumadin (warfarin) and feel Pradaxa is too new. It is not that I don't trust the docs, it's just that I know the risk factors. Managed to lower my BP significantly but told this is not enough. Am I just a victim of my profession? I don't know -- I think the docs think I'm "nuts." Years ago I elected lumpectomy over mastectomy at a dr's total disgust with my decision, told me I would be full of cancer and dead by now. I am 11 years out and cancer free. What to do? I didn't post on health issues as this is more of an attitude issue, methinks. Please don't scare me, try to give me some positive input. Can one reverse atrial fib? Dunno. I'm doing nothing but taking 3 heart meds and hoping for the best. This is a tough profession! I don't jump at the first diagnosis/treatment.

;

It's ok to question, but - Trampled underfoot

[ In Reply To ..]
In your case, I think warfarin would be a good idea; the A-fib puts you at a very high risk for clots. Warfarin has been around for years and is relatively safe when closely monitored. I myself would stay away from Pradaxa for the same reasons as you - far too new.

I'm not sure how I would feel about being shocked back into rhythm, but I know being in A-fib would make me very anxious and I probably would go along with what they recommend.

Playing Your Own Doctor - JT

[ In Reply To ..]
There's nothing wrong with questioning the physician and getting a second opinion or something, but I think you're trying to BE your own physician. They don't go through 12+ years of rigorous schooling and training for nothing. Sorry, I was "out" that day when they were teaching a-fib, but I heard it can cause strokes.

P.S. - JT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm just a fellow MT, as well.

Rigorous training.... - Carol

[ In Reply To ..]
and then the facts change constantly. Doctors can help a lot but at times give bad advice. You are your own best doctor. Most healh problems can be helped with less toxic methods and procedures than doctors recommend. They are not God and don't know everything. In fact, being too trusting can cost you your life. Ever heard of death from iatrogenic causes? Going to doctors these days can be scary, not at all reassuring.

I also question - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
what the doctors diagnose. I'm not sure if it has to do with listening to doctors all day who can't even pronounce diseases and medicines or not. Part of my problem is also the fact that the drug companies pretty much rule now days. When I tell my doctor I am having a bit of problem with stress during my time of the month, he wants to put me on an antidepressant. Uh no! I am not depressed. I type reports where blood sugars are high at 110. This is because the drug companies want to sell their medicines so the numbers for normal have been dropped. When I was diagnosed with diabetes, 70-120 was normal, now 110 is high. My Dad was on so many pills for his heart and his new doctor could not believe it. She took him off of most of them and put him on a few that did what he needed to have done. I think it is like anything, there are good doctors and bad doctors. You can always get a second or third opinion if you need to. I agree you have to do something about your AFib, but I would get more than one opinion if something is not sitting right with you.

original poster - Gem

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for your responses. I will take them into consideration. My husband is also against my going on coumadin and that doesn't help. A lot to consider, just venting. I don't think I'm a doctor, I put a kid through school for that so I know what it entails. I just wanted to speak to some peers before I said anything to anyone else or made a decision. Thanks for your kind consideration and valuable time. Just another MT who thought I could have someone to talk to who perhaps might have walked in my shoes at one time. Enough said, thank you.

www.askwaltstollmd.com - Healed

[ In Reply To ..]
Dr. Stoll's website is a great resource. He is an M.D. who practices complementary medicine -- allopathic in some situations, wholistic in others.

He has archives containing info on just about every medical problem. Also his bulletin board is a great resource.

I commend you for NOT jumping into medical treatments and procedures without first doing your own research and analysis.

Take care.

Not sure if you know, but Dr. Stoll passed away - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Here is what is posted on that web site. I would be very careful about taking advice from them now - a CMT and "volunteers" are not physicians.

"Walt Stoll passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2011. Volunteers, including Jan DeCourtney, CMT (co-author of Recapture Your Health and Director of the Stoll Foundation for Holistic Health) are continuing to run the bulletin board and to answer questions based on Dr Stoll's teaching and their own experience."

Advice. SM - Healed

[ In Reply To ..]
No, obviously I was not aware that Walt had passed away. How sad.

What you quoted only is with regard to the bulletin board. That board has been up for years. Just about every malady known to man has been addressed by Dr. Stoll, and his answers are preserved in the archives. They are a gold mine of information.

That said, you seem to misunderstand what most people like myself use the board for. The board is for input, ideas, feedback. I do not take ANYONE'S "advice" at face value. If an M.D. who is a Harvard medical school grad with honors gives me information or an opinion, I will be researching it to check it out and getting other opinions. I disagreed with Dr. Stoll on a couple of points, and we discussed it. I understood his position, and he understood mine. We respectfully agreed to disagree.

Also, those "volunteers" over the years have consisted of several prominent DCs, Ph.D.s, and NMDs. So don't be so quick to dismiss them, as you never know who might pop up there.

Asking the wrong crowd!! - Independent

[ In Reply To ..]
Like many in the medical field, MTs are notoriously pro-establishment. This is evidenced not only in their blind faith in the medical profession but also in their political views.

Once in a great while you will come across an MT who is a free thinker, but it is very rare.

I would encourage you to continue what you're doing; obviously it's working for you, as evidenced by your lumpectomy success. "Everyone" (or almost everyone) on this board will encourage you to blindly follow mainstream medicine recommendations. I say don't listen to them and do your own thing -- obviously you have already been doing it, and it has worked.

Thank you - Gem

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks again, appreciate the above and will do more research. I hesitate to mention my breast experience as I had an unusual situation, my husband at that time was unexpectedly disabled and I had to work to keep our home, etc., running. I would not want to encourage anyone not to have a mastectomy. However, I sought second and third opinions on this, all experts and had a good outcome. It was not for cosmetic reasons to have the less invasive surgery, it was because my posture/arms/back were affected enough already from this profession, and painful. It's so difficult to go for other opinions but sometimes it's necessary to make an informed decision. I realize we are just a chart on someone's desk in some cases and yet we are also someone's wife, mom, grandmother, daughter, etc., and we have to explore all options. I try never to make an emotional decision and weigh all my options. I don't want to be right just to say I'm right, but I don't want to be dead or disabled either because I didn't think it out. As for the shock/coumadin therapy, I was warned I could have a stroke without it or during treatment as well -either way it is thought provoking. Thanks for your reply, I needed encouragement today.

Would like to know how you significantly - lowered your BP. nm

[ In Reply To ..]

lowered BP - Gem

[ In Reply To ..]
Totally gave up caffeine, read all labels for caffeine and sodium content. Already on a beta blocker and ACE inhibitor but doc also put me on metoprolol for rate. Tried to "stress" less without giving up being active and overall, watched myself more carefully for things that usually got me upset. In general, I was scared. My rate and BP went so low on next visit, he cut my lopressor in half. Much to my surprise, with all low BP readings, I was still in a. fib, I thought I had solved it, not so, still adamant about shocking the heart and coumadin or Pradaxa lifetime. Go figure. Enough from me, I'm tired of talking about it and ready to cry.

The majority... - Carol

[ In Reply To ..]
of health problems can be corrected by simply a change in diet, more exercise and giving up bad habits...smoking, drinking excess alcohol and even giviing up foods we think are good for us (which I won't mention because too many are addicted to their comfort foods which is cause for irrational comments). I got off high blood pressure medications 11 years ago and my blood pressure lowered significantly just doing that. Drugs are toxic but yet doctors these days want to give more and more. No matter what your problem, the first thing most doctors want to do is put you on antidepressants (my experience). I've made several doctors angry by refusing their recommendations and treatments and have gotten better without their "help." Research and question before being compliant. Take the good advice and ignore the bad. Of course, you won't find a doctor who thinks he/she is giving bad advice so that will be your call. Many health problems these days can be helped WITHOUT drugs but only the rare doctor will tell you that and they are hard to find but I find that my health is worth it.

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