What to expect from the cardiologist

[Dgreenbee]

When I left the hospital after my OHS I was told to see my family doctor within a week and my cardiologist within six weeks. My cardiologist looked at my file, asked me what meds I was on, ordered an EKG and told me I would have an echocardiogram at the three month mark. There was no exam. No pulse, BP, inspection. I was not asked how I was feeling or anything. Is this the same experience the rest of you had?

 

[Greg a]

I would take your concerns to your GP I did with mine and got refered to a new cardiologist

 

[nngbwh]

My cardiologist did a blood pressure, pulse and inspection of my leg and used a stethoscope to listen to my heart. I did get a echo and EKG test. Never asked how I was feeling.

 

[ElectLive]

I find that hard to believe. So many potential issues can arise post surgery. Bare minimum: blood pressure, pulse, stethoscope to heart and lungs, EKG. Echo timing does vary, many are at 1 month or so, but many also at 3 months. I think I saw my cardiologist 3 times in the first 6 weeks, all just to double-check things, no real problems, all very thorough and attentive. In my view, that's more what it should be, you had open heart surgery after all!

 

[Jkm7]

My cardiologist kept careful watch over me and I saw him a series of times post op.
He always asked how I was feeling, if I had any issues that concerned me, always listened to my heart and took my bp. He was concerned how sore my healing chest was before he sent me for an Echo. He truly was very caring and active in my post op care and I am very grateful for that.

My PCP also was very available to me and responsive to my questions etc I knew she was readily available should I feel the need for an appointment but thankfully all went well for me post op and I only needed to see her once during my early healing.

 

[Ovie]

I find that hard to believe. So many potential issues can arise post surgery. Bare minimum: blood pressure, pulse, stethoscope to heart and lungs, EKG. Echo timing does vary, many are at 1 month or so, but many also at 3 months. I think I saw my cardiologist 3 times in the first 6 weeks, all just to double-check things, no real problems, all very thorough and attentive. In my view, that's more what it should be, you had open heart surgery after all!

Ditto to all. I saw my cardio whenever I had an issue. He always asked how I was. However I also asked alot of questions on "is this normal" "this is happening" he'd usually respond with " well how is this feeling" and so forth.

 

[epstns]

Since I had a long-standing relationship with my cardio (many years pre-op, waiting for the right time), he always does a fairly complete exam whenever I see him. When I first came back from surgery, he wanted to be sure that the surgeon had taken good care of "his patient." We also discuss in depth how I'm feeling, what changes have taken place since I last saw him, how I'm doing with my exercise program and how all of my other (minor) medical issues are being cared for. It is amazing how much information can be exchanged in 15 minutes. My relationship with my cardio is also a very comfortable one, on a personal level, so I can discuss virtually anything with him. He welcomes my active participation in planning my treatment -- we often discuss and debate alternatives to meds, etc., and I find it most refreshing that a specialist is so open.

 

[Jkm7]

When we find good doctors with whom we have trust and a good relationship, we have found a treasure.
Never a holiday season passes I don't send something to his office as a small thank you for all he has done for me and mine.

 

[Fundy]

I had seen family doctor at one week, then again shortly after for staples removed. Seen cardiologist at two months for an EKG, and manual exam, pulse, blood pressure,stethoscope.

At that meeting was told everything was great and I'd get an echo soon which she expected all wood be good. If all was good I wouldn't need another echo for three years. However, because of the pain at five weeks after surgery and the infection at six she had a CT scan order issued.

Now its just over five months and still haven't had the echo yet.

 

[Boston Tiger]

My post surgery visit with the cardiologist was with a new fellow who had just started his program at the hospital, so some of his questions were a bit basic until his attending came in. He's made progress since then, and I'll probably keep going to him until his time in the program is up. But when that happens, I think I'll ask to shift over to a doctor who doesn't train fellows, because I've already served my time as a guinea pig.

 

[epstns]

Ken - Your experience with the cardiology fellows sounds a little bit like my own - except that mine was fun. My previous cardio was the head of the cardiology group at the hospital. Each year, when he had a new cardio fellow, we played a game we called "Stump the Fellow." My cardio had the new fellow interview me and do a "new patient" exam, then the fellow had to give his diagnosis - before we let him (or her) see any of my previous test results and files. Poor fellows. . . they always got close but never got the correct severity for my aortic stenosis because I was still doing things that people with severe stenosis "just couldn't do." Our point in doing this was to help the new fellows realize that the numbers were just numbers and that their diagnosis and treatment planning had to consider each individual patient, as we all are different. I really liked that cardio, and was very sorry when he moved his practice almost half a state away from me.

 

[sarahsunshine]

Skyler’s cardiologist basically took an EKG (ok the nurse did), took out his stethoscope, asked Skyler how he felt, and said “see you in another 6 weeks”.

At 3 months, same thing.

This next time we are supposed to have an echo (we expected to have one at the past 2 appointments), but when we asked, the cardiologist said “so much can change from 3-6 months in terms of healing that if he is feeling fine, we’ll just wait. No sense in getting worried about issues at 3 months because most of them correct themselves by 6 months. Oh, and make sure you brush your teeth frequently and properly!”

So, it should be another month before we get the next appt and an “update”.

Now, if you didn’t get a “how do you feel?” and you did have some concerns, then by all means get back there and ask them!