I just want to make sure we are talking the same person. Cardiologist, not surgeon.
Correct, I mean the cardiologist rather than the surgeon. I was released from the surgeon's care and assigned to a cardiologist familiar with my case.
But I've only been able to see (& talk) to my cardiologist exactly one time after I got out of the hospital. His assistants are the only ones I have been able to talk to since then and it is difficult to even reach them. And one of them has already demonstrated a lack of knowledge/communication as to something the cardiologist told me himself; these people just seem too busy.
The one appt. I had with the cardiologist I was shocked to hear him say that he didn't even need/want to see me again until FOUR MONTHS later. After the most serious illness and surgery I've ever had in my life the doctor I thought was in charge of my case post-surgery didn't see the need to have anything to do with me until 4 months later. I was pretty much in shock and felt abandoned.
He did recommend a new GP for me who he knows well and wanted me to get with him asap. This did take a couple weeks though since the GP would not see me until after he got all my medical records.
Luckily my (new) GP appears to know what he is doing and is very responsive, easy to reach & get appts with, and has basically taken over most of my case management, keeping on top of things and ordering all kinds of tests without my having to ask for things which I think are necessary (eg: my liver function now that I am on these meds). He even suggested that he take over managing my coumadin dosage/INR testing from the cardiologist's office (I told him that was fine with me but I don't know if it is going to go that way or not).
It appears to me that the cardiologist role at this hospital/health center is only for problems and that the GP handles the daily stuff and daily/weekly management, and cases only get escalated to the cardio specialist if necessary (?).
None of this was explained to me as being how it is supposed to work, but in our first meeting I told the GP that I felt abandoned by the cardiologist and that I need a doctor I could rely on to manage my care and look out for me, keep on top of both my cardio health, surgical healing, and related cardiac progression (in addition to health in general), be sure I am getting the kind of tests/rehab/medicine/etc that I need and he assured me he would be that guy.
Maybe I am doing so "well" (am I?) he (cardiologist) feels he has no time to spare for me, & needs the time for patients with more problems. I have no idea how this is supposed to work, I'm new at this (needing a cardiologist in the first place).