Cardiologist-reasonable expectations?

Have you talked with your current cardiologist concerning the additional questions you have and answers you need to see if he/she can meet those needs? Also , you might ask your endocrinologist for a referral to someone she/he respects yet? Good luck. Keep us posted.

How did your CTA go?
I’ve been with my cardiologist for 11 years. I recent landed in the ER with myocardial ischemia. I sent my cardiologist a text and he called me in 5 minutes while on vacation. I had a 45 minute visit with him as soon as he returned. He’s called me 5 times in the past 3 weeks since. It’s so hard to build a good medical team but with 5-7 minutes you will not have your questions answered. It sure seems like you could find someone more attentive.
Sorry you’re losing your great endo. I have a great one too with vast knowledge across all specialties but waited 5 months for my first. Hopefully whoever buys your endo’s practice will be good.

I have an ascending aortic aneurysm and a (very) high CAC score. I see different people for the two conditions. The aorta is monitored by a cardiovascular surgeon. The CAC is treated (or not treated) by a cardiologist. The cardiologist seems entirely unengaged. I see him once a year. He listens to my heart and asks about my symptoms. My PCP manages the lipids. Given how high my CAC score is and the fact that I have high (but not stratospheric - 90th percentile?) lp(a), I thought he might measure hsCRP or prescribe a PCSK9 inhibitor. He answers questions tersely. When I asked about training for a half marathon after I was first diagnosed, he asked me why I would want to do that and suggested I keep my heart rate below 135 as the "safe" way to train.

I've come to learn he is entirely symptom driven. So until I have symptoms, he's not going to do anything. I think that's a reasonable philosophy, but it doesn't align with mine. I live in a rural area so he's the only cardiologist within a two hour drive. I'm working on if/how to find someone with a more preventive mindset. BTW, cardiovascular surgeon is great. He meets with me even after screenings show no growth, explains what was found, and answers all my questions thoroughly.

lizzyhope, I've had these 7minute consults. When you look at the visit notes you'll see how you were in a time warp because the notes say the doctor was with the patient face to face for 60 minutes, and they answered all your questions.
I can see how the doctor doesn't want to get ahead of the labs. There are probably a lot of interesting thing he could tell you, that might even upset you, but in the final analysis looking at everything have no relevance to your situation.
The echo may have suggested something that the CAC disproves.
You might want to get copies of all the reports meanwhile. You may, in eventuality, want to change cardiologists. Some doctors are amused by our questions thinking that we don't need to know.
I waited almost a year to see a particular cardiac specialist. He passed in briefly to say "I'm surprised you aren't dead." He answered two question. The first of which was, "Why am I not dead, in your opinion." The he left me with a fellow who certainly didn't intend to go into cardiology. I had almost 3 minutes with this doctor according to my phone, (as I always record my consultations ). He isn't at Mayo, I should add.
As frustrating as it has been, you might as well have the comprehensive review. This doctor could be excellent.
You might toss your questions out here.

@californiazebra and others here-thank you so much for the replies, I wasn't sure I'd get any and yet it was so helpful to hear your experience. Your cardiologist sounds amazing! Guessing you are not in South Carolina?!
Thanks for asking-scan was supposed to be this morning but I had to cancel last night-I've had a bad cold all week and they said if it wasn't improved to cancel. Now it's scheduled for August! But I plan to keep calling and try to get sooner. I was finally (emotionally) ready!
Side note--anyone on metformin? I keep reading not to take before the angio with contrast but they aren't telling me not to. Anyway, I may just skip on my own to be safe.
My Endo is 2 hours away-in my old city, we moved away from last summer. He retires in a year and doesn't know of anyone in my new city.
I think once I get the scan behind me I will take time to find a new cardiologist. I don't expect to have any urgent need yet and now that I know they do exist, it's worth waiting for a good (or at least better) one. 🙂

@lizzyhope
August? Darn. Sorry you’re sick. No, I’m not in S Carolina, rather S California.

You many not need a cardiologist or even an endocrinologist right away, but given it can take months to get an initial consult with specialists, it’s best to build your team before you have an urgent need so you can get in quickly when you do need them. You can choose to schedule a visit for months from now.

When selecting a new doctor my target age is 40s and 50s. I want one with experience but not someone who is going to retire anytime soon. It’s a little like dating trying to find a doctor you’re compatible with who shares your philosophy. Sometimes you have to go through some frogs to find your prince. LOL Ask your PCP for a few recommendations but still read reviews to help narrow it down. Ask friends and family too.

Hope you feel better soon!

@bitsygirl I totally get the limiting factors of where you live. Same issues here. Lucky on the doc issues but could just as easily been bad.

I have a couple of suggestions. One, you could tell your cardiologist that you want a 20 minute (or whatever you think you need) appointment. If he is closed to that, then shop around for a different cardiologist. Another thing you could do is to write out your questions before the appointment, and then at the start of the appointment show the doctor your questions that you need answered. What may be driving the short visit times is that he works as an employee for a medical corporation and they want to maximize revenue by having him see as many patients as possible in a day.
Another idea is if that cardiology office has a PA of NP who have specialized in cardiology, they might be more open to taking more time with you. Regarding the statin, a statin can cause muscle pain and/or memory impairment. You could probably get your lipids in good shape by exercise and eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and some nuts and seeds. I use to work in a lifestyle center where we employed those modalities and almost always got spectacular results. In 18 days the guests would drop many excess pounds, and their lipid panels would improve significantly. Many of them were able to decrease or stop completely their cardiac and diabetes medications. they were under the control and supervision of doctors, and any changes like that should always be under medical supervision.

@larry1844 thank you so much for this--very good idea on the cardiologist appointment--I will try all of those ideas!
As for my diet & exercise--I jog/run 6 miles every day and have for 35 years, I'm vegan and really clean with my diet. They did genetic testing for me because I have a strong family history of heart disease. I'm low weight (BMI 18) and physically fit, but have a lot of metabolic issues (hypothyroid, prediabetes, a few others) that are all genetic. So, I really don't have more I can do. My HDL is great (96) but my LDL and triglycerides have been borderline for years. So now with the low EF, my endocrinologist felt it's time for the statin. He's my best doctor, so I'm willing to try--just planning on half-dose and 2x/week and then will see if it's helped at all!

I had been seeing the same cardiologist for about 20 years. He had prescribed various drugs and had me get some echocardiograms and a pet scan over the years. Like you, very short appointments, look at the drug list, listen to my heart and "see you in 6 months," every time. Well, 3 years ago he referred me to another cardiologist and, to make a long story short, I now have 3 stents in my LAD artery and a nearly completely blocked circumflex. So, 4 months ago, on a neighbor's recommendation, I went to UCLA because I was feeling terrible. The UCLA doctor appointments have been 30-45 minutes. Med changes have made me feel a lot better, and I wish I had been going there at least a decade ago. They have reviewed all my records, including the weeklong ordeal in the hospital 3 years ago. The stents are too small for a man my size, the circumflex had been ruptured because the doctor tried to "muscle" the balloon in it, and so on. I now have plaque everywhere, do not understand how my cardiologist let it get that way over the years, and am fed up with, flippant attitudes, and 5 minute visits. I will be back in the cath lab, and this next time, at 82, will be at risk. My recommendation is find a cardiologist you can trust.