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For Those Living with Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure
Does anyone have input on finding a cardiologist with good communication skills? I’ve been with current Dr for 5 years, since CABGx3. I either feel talked down to or dismissive regarding symptoms. I’ve had 1 appointment with two younger drs, underwhelming. I talked about the level of fatigue I experience and neither addressed that or the fact that I have both cardiomyopathy and HF, which seem to be the root cause of these symptoms for a number of people.
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@retirement75
Do you have access to state of art medical centers like Cleveland Clinic, Mayo, John Hopkins? If you go there almost certain you will get excellent care.
For many years I drove 4 hours to get to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville to make sure I was getting the best treatments for my HF and cardiomyopathy. I have been coming to Mayo Jacksonville since 2006. I moved back in 2015 to Jacksonville area both to be closer to Mayo but I also loved the community I found with an indoor heated pool, and great expanses of conservation areas.
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3 ReactionsExcellent advice. I follow these providers on their websites for research. Mayo Clinic is 4 hrs from where I live. Cleveland Clinic is also 5 hrs or so.
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4 Reactions@retirement75 I imagine it become more and more difficult to push for answers with every dismissive response you get. I agree with @jc76 recommendations and it has been well worth my 7 hour drive to seek care.
You may not need to be permanently close, just willing to be available and walk through the steps offered to you. I have been a Mayo Clinic patient and I wouldn’t trust anyone else at this point. My daughter is a different example, traveling for a consult and ultimately getting help to find a surgeon just right for her in her own backyard.
You can contact Mayo Clinic for an appointment here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
You mention fatigue. Are there other symptoms you are having, additional concerns needing addressed?
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4 Reactions@retirement75
You can't get any better medical facilities than Mayo and Cleveland Clinic. They helped me find a local cardiologist that was Mayo trained as they wanted me to have a local cardiologist who would work with them as a team.
I never minded the long drive to Mayo as I knew I was getting the best care from one of the most experienced medical institutions in the world.
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3 ReactionsMy (many) docs are excellent clinicians, but they all have different personalities ranging from EVERYTHING needs more medication to NAH, if you are not feeling well go to the ER.
It's to much work finding and adjusting to new docs, until I find out what quirks they have.
So I've learned to adjust my thinking to include my expectations of tx based on the psychological profile of the doctor. It works, and they have no problem with me.
I do have an advantage with a friend who's a really good ENT (ret.) who tells me how doctors are. He has the same problems with them as we do when he's a patient even when he tries the good old boy network routine.