I Would Appreciate Any Opinions

[sue1234]

I have had POTS for five years. At first, the doctors seemed to do thorough evaluations, with labwork, etc. In the last couple of years, most first appointments go well, and then the follow-ups get rushed, very little conversation on the doctor's part, and almost like they WANT me to stop seeing them! I do have one or two that don't treat me like that, but the majority do.

The question is, does anyone know if it is a practice for doctors or medical offices to Google patients' names?? The weird reason I ask is, I had a cousin-in-law(husband's side) that had the same legal first and last name as me, but she always went by her middle name. She was a couple of years older than me and lived in a city about an hour away from me. I knew she had some kind of bipolar or something similar issue, as I had accidentally been given a med from a pharmacy that was meant for her(long time ago) and some kind of hospital called me about a bill that was not mine, but apparently hers. So, our names have had a few crossings in the past.

I Googled my name for fun about two years ago, and under my name, according to Google, it shows that I was a psyche patient in a psychiatric ward, was attacked by another patient, and subsequently sued the hospital!! Because it was a legal matter, of course they used her legal name, which is the same as mine. There is NO distinction between us, such as full name, date of birth, etc. There is nothing that distinguishes her from me! Since I found it, I am horrified that others will look up my name and think it was me! It is hard enough when I suddenly developed POTS and dropped out of the town scene. Now for people to possibly think since they don't see me anymore that that could possibly be me has been hard to deal with. She died last year--I can just imagine the gasps in my small town when the similar name was listed in our large, regional newspaper in the "pending" section of the obituaries.

So, my point is, I am beginning to feel like doctors/staff might Google my name and think "oh, cr*p! We don't want to have her as a patient". Am I thinking too much into this?? I see how alot of you have been tried on so many different meds, and mine just offer one the first visit, and when it doesn't work, on the second visit they are "avoiding" me like the plague. These are doctors that, on the first visit, said,"Give me about a year and we'll work things out. It will take that long to get this under control". Well, at the second visit he said there was nothing else he could do. My and my husband left, kind of in a daze.

Sorry, I just don't understand how no doctors will help regarding the POTS. My endos seem to try to help with that part of my issue, but cardios just don't want to. I know, I probably am reading too much into this.

[kayjay]

I really wouldn't worry about it. If you see a doctor that has time to google you... he must not be good enough to busy.

Finding a good doctor and getting proper help took me 10 years. I was even sent for a drug test by one doctor. Many doctors will think that people with pots are a little crazy because our problems are so seemingly random and vary so much.

I would guess that most of us have been misunderstood by many doctors.

Find one who is at least willing to learn about POTS and move on if you are not treated with respect. best wishes.

[sue1234]

Thanks, Kay. I guess I knew that doctors themselves didn't really Google, but if there was some kind of medical "background" check or something similar. I guess I'm thinking of how corporations/businesses do all kinds of media background searches on potential hirees. I was wondering if somehow, somewhere, there could be that kind of search that puts up a "red flag" on a prospective patient. You cannot imagine how odd doctor visits have been in the last year or so!

[brethor9]

I agree with Kayjay, Sue!! Don't put that stress on yourself......just chalk it up to Doctors that can't be bothered with dealing with patients who dont fit into neat little boxesand take longer than 15 mins to diagnose. Keep looking! You will find a Dr. to listen.....it took me almost 4 yrs after seeing multiple Dr's and specialists. Nobody knows your body better than you! keep going forward......I know I finally found the right specialist when my POTS Dr last week said "I want you to know none of this is in your head and you have no control over it!)Dr's like that do exist and you will find one! Stay Strong!!

Bren

[HopeSprings]

Truth? I don't believe Dr's think about us for more than 2 seconds once we leave the office, let alone take time to google us. I can understand why you'd be concerned about having the same name as this person, especially if you have an uncommon name, but I don't think this is your Dr. problem. I have the same problem with Doctors- they're all gung ho the first visit and then there's no follow through. Once all the intial testing comes back negative -you're informed of the results and then there's no plan B. This has been one of my biggest frustrations. And then you have to bug them and push for answers and bring in your own research/ ideas, which leads them to think you're a pain in the rear or just plain nuts. As far as treating POTS, I think once they've exhausted the first line approaches, either they don't have the desire or the knowledge to dig deeper. Have you considered going to Vanderbilt or a place that specializes in dysautonomia? I'd love to, but life circumstances don't permit right now.

[sue1234]

Naomi, after my first year of POTS, finding out what it was and where the experts were, I faxed my information to Vanderbilt to try and get into their research. They NEVER got back with me. And, of course, they did not have a phone number to contact them. I think I found an email a few months later and emailed asking if I could find out if they received my information, and they never emailed back. I gave up. I was hoping to do it through the research, so I could get a thorough work over, instead of a quick one-day visit.

I may have to resort to a quick, one-day visit afterall, just to see someone who actually gets POTS and will make an effort to guide me.

[HopeSprings]

"I may have to resort to a quick, one-day visit afterall, just to see someone who actually gets POTS and will make an effort to guide me."

That's what I would do. My (limited) experience with being a research subject was frustrating - they aren't there to diagnose or treat you. You may get answers along the way, but that's a big maybe. I'd cut to the chase and make an appointment as a patient.

[Dizzysillyak]

Hi Sue,

I don't think it's you, it's how medicine works. Traditional doctors are taught to use drugs and procedures for diagnosis "X". And if your condition can't be treated with these then you're on your own. Some, but not all, holistic doctors do the same thing. If they can't find supplements or chiropractic treatments that help, then they give up ...

A few years ago, I discovered is that my traditional doctors only want to deal with what is in their realm of expertise / what they've been trained to do. And that's a good thing ...

My cardiologist told me once that my heart problems, LBBB, could be from nutritional deficiencies since I'm a celiac. And referred me to my integrative doctor for further testing ... Granted anyone can have nutritional deficiencies though. But since I didn't need surgery, he was done with me ...

My gastroenterologist did the same when I started asking him about probiotics and digestive enzymes. From what I could tell he knew quite a bit but wasn't comfortable in his knowledge.

I'm fortunate that both of these doctors knew my doctor when she was an MD and spoke highly of her. She's an integrative doctor ...

I fought this idea at first but now I understand it. There are rules that they have to follow ... And it appears that those who don't follow these rules are frowned upon. Some are even hounded out of practicing medicine.

Not to mention that doctors make money on procedures, not running tests. FWIW. I'd probably be doing the same if I were a doctor and was trying to run an office, had spent that much money on my education and had bills to pay...

hth ... d

PS.. My integrative doctor never treats me like she wishes I'd go away, even tho my case is very complicated and I'm a pain in the toosh ...