Rick
Well-known member
I am 38 yrs old and was informed 3 weeks ago at the Cleveland Clinic that I shall need OHS in the upcoming future, undetermined time as of yet. I was there alone -- my wife was ill and my mother has cancer. The news was a huge shock to me. Prior to this, I had only had mild aortic regurgitation in a trileaflet aortic valve since 1990 (age 20)- last echo in late 2004 said same and I was only supposed to get echos every 3 to 5 years. Recent two echos, one at home and one at CC, state I have 2-3+ aortic regurgitation, a fused bicuspid aortic valve, mild regurgitation in all other valves and a slightly dilated left ventricle. Additionally, on Friday I was told by the infectious disease at CC that I have extremely high antibodies to chlamydia pneumoniae (spread thru common contact) and that this could be a culprit so I am starting a 6 month antibiotic therapy for this.
One of the decisions I have to make is about which cardiologist to work with at the Cleveland Clinic going forward. I need to communicate the latest finding to him. I live in Latin America and while in my country, healthcare is fine for day to day things, the things I have are beyond the scope of expertise of local cardiologists (my local cardiologist even mentioned not having much experience in valve related issues). Therefore, my local cardiologist and I may need to be in more close contact than the average patient in the US.
Upon receiving news from the first CC cardiologist (cardiologist #1) as to my diagnosis, I developed a list of questions for the second appointment. Cardiologist #1 told me he only had 3 minutes for my questions and otherwise to follow up with his assistant and that he'd get back to me. I felt I had little access to him and worried for 10 days (slept 3 hours per night and lost 10lbs in 10 days).
The following week I was advised to return to the CC for additional infectious disease testing. I had a follow-up appointment with cardiologist #1 but upon expressing my past experience to the International Patients people, they changed my appointment to a new cardiologist without confirming with me. The new cardiologist (#2) is a colleague of #1s and even shares the same clinic with cardiologist #1 and started the appointment by asking me why I was seeing him instead of cardiologist #1? he seemed a bit disapproving of me seeing him if I had seen #1 already and they are colleagues. Cardiologist #2? s advise to me seemed a bit more matter of fact that cardiologist #1.
In addition to my diagnosis, I am also now concerned about whom to proceed with in terms of cardiologist there, #1, #2 or a third one? I am also concerned that #1 and #2 may be upset and I certainly don?t want any personal things getting in the way.
Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?
Has anyone had any experience or heard positive or negative information about any of the following cardiologists at CC: Allan Klein, Richard Grimm or Brian Griffin? I suspect all cardiologists there are anywhere from good to great. Thanks.
One of the decisions I have to make is about which cardiologist to work with at the Cleveland Clinic going forward. I need to communicate the latest finding to him. I live in Latin America and while in my country, healthcare is fine for day to day things, the things I have are beyond the scope of expertise of local cardiologists (my local cardiologist even mentioned not having much experience in valve related issues). Therefore, my local cardiologist and I may need to be in more close contact than the average patient in the US.
Upon receiving news from the first CC cardiologist (cardiologist #1) as to my diagnosis, I developed a list of questions for the second appointment. Cardiologist #1 told me he only had 3 minutes for my questions and otherwise to follow up with his assistant and that he'd get back to me. I felt I had little access to him and worried for 10 days (slept 3 hours per night and lost 10lbs in 10 days).
The following week I was advised to return to the CC for additional infectious disease testing. I had a follow-up appointment with cardiologist #1 but upon expressing my past experience to the International Patients people, they changed my appointment to a new cardiologist without confirming with me. The new cardiologist (#2) is a colleague of #1s and even shares the same clinic with cardiologist #1 and started the appointment by asking me why I was seeing him instead of cardiologist #1? he seemed a bit disapproving of me seeing him if I had seen #1 already and they are colleagues. Cardiologist #2? s advise to me seemed a bit more matter of fact that cardiologist #1.
In addition to my diagnosis, I am also now concerned about whom to proceed with in terms of cardiologist there, #1, #2 or a third one? I am also concerned that #1 and #2 may be upset and I certainly don?t want any personal things getting in the way.
Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?
Has anyone had any experience or heard positive or negative information about any of the following cardiologists at CC: Allan Klein, Richard Grimm or Brian Griffin? I suspect all cardiologists there are anywhere from good to great. Thanks.
