Ashelton80 Posted January 17, 2013 Report Share Posted January 17, 2013 I know people think Vandy is great and all, but I live in Nashville and with POTS this has just not been my experience. I had an appointment with Dr. Cherdak in the autonomic clinic today, and it was not a good experience.Today my appointment was at 10 am so I arrived at 9:45. Called me back at 12:30! I waited almost 2 hours in a waiting room in an uncomfortable chair under flourescent lighting.The appointment with the doctor was not a good use of my time and energy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khaarina Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 Thank you for this report. I can't afford to go to any doctor I choose. So if I had gone to see this doctor and ended up with no answers, it would have been total devastation. That's why these types of reviews are so important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerAmy Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 Sorry you had a terrible appointment and thank you for this post!I can't believe they had you sit in an uncomfortable chair for over 2 hours in the AUTONOMIC CLINIC. Seriously?!? You would think this would be the one place where they might have recliners in the waiting room! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyLane Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 So sorry you had this experience. There's no way I could have waited two hours just for starters. That's so disappointing. Ruby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopeSprings Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 This is so bizarre. They seem to be the tops for dysautonomia research, but I've heard this before about the patient experience. Ugh, it's disheartening - if you can't get help at Vandy, where can you get help - right? Maybe it depends on who you get to see there? I'm sorry you had this experience today - I know how upsetting an appointment like this can be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience. It's frustrating when you think you've found a place or a doctor who can help you, but then have a bad experience. I hope you'll be able to find the right doctor soon.I usually end up lying down on the floor in waiting rooms. Unfortunately the wait time is sometimes long at doctor's offices. One time I even went back to my hotel and took a nap, and then came back an hour later! I've learned to come prepared with snacks, water, and sometimes even a blanket and pillow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 As a reminder to everyone, forum posts dealing with a bad experience with a doctor or at a hospital must be brief and general in nature. Defaming doctors and hospitals on the forum opens DINET up to liability. In order to protect our members and the future of DINET, we cannot allow disparaging remarks to be made when a particular doctor or hospital is named.Thanks, everyone, for understanding, and for helping to keep the DINET forum as a resource for us for years to come!From the forum rules:Doctors and HospitalsYou agree to refrain from making disparaging remarks about hospitals or medical professionals on this forum and to refrain from naming doctors or hospitals when elaborating on negative experiences.Clarifications: It is fine to make a general statement, such as "I had a negative experience with Dr. ____ ," however, per forum rules, statements naming a particular doctor or hospital cannot be defamatory in nature.Defamatory: "1. Harmful and often (but not necessarily) untrue; tending to discredit or malign."You may elaborate on negative doctor or hospital visits as long as the particular doctor or hospital is not named, and therefore not defamed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitt Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 Since you live in Nashville, am wondering if it might be worth your time and energy to apply for one of their research studies. Have you read Kelly's diary of her experience on the thread called 'Diary of a patient at Vanderbilt'?Might be a better/different experience for you. You wouldn't have the expense of travel, and it would not be charged to you or your insurance.Sorry you had a bad experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YolaInBlue Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 I have an appointment scheduled with the same doctor at Vanderbilt for May 22nd. I was so looking forward to it. I don't know the cause of my dysautonomia and was hoping for some tests there.Did the doctor order any tests?I wonder if it's worth to drive there all the way from Florida. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopsmom Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 My experience there was excellent. So I think it is different for everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashelton80 Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) I can only speak for Dr. Cherdak's bedside manner, not the other doctors within the autonomic clinic. If I had traveled a long way to see her I would have been devastated, but since I live in town and have another appointment with a different doctor on Tuesday, it was bearable. BUT I will never grace her doorstep ever again.Hopsmom are you saying you had a good experience with Cherdak? or Vanderbilt in general? Edited January 19, 2013 by corina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bebe127 Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 So sorry for your experience Ashelton80! It takes hours sometimes when I go into see my GP for an appointment. I give my cell number to the receptionist and tell her to call me when they are ready for me as I go recline in the hubby's truck. I also always call ahead of time to see if the dr. is on time. I explain to them that with my condition, I just cannot sit upright for hours waiting to be seen. They are always accommodating and I can relax in the truck until they are ready to see me. Again, sorry to hear of your experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bebe127 Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 Also, we so need to heed the rules of the forum as per Rachel as I (and many others I'm sure) need this forum to stay active and not get in the crosshairs. I am truly sorry for your experience Ashelton80! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
looneymom Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 Sorry you had such a bad appointment. I would like to take my son to see someone to figure out some more things. Our cardiologist wants to send him to Vandy. Sure don't want to drive a long way to have this kind of experience. Hope your next doctors appointment is much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E Soskis Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 I will not name the two "top" facilities to which I was referred. I had absolutely horrible experiences at both places. There are so many people with so many problems that they see every day, they treat us like cows in a cattle mill. You are just another number to them and they really don't care diddly squat whether or not they solve your problem. I have found my answers right here at home - I have local physicians who care and dig deep to find solutions. I will never again drive miles and miles to a facility that supposedly is "the best". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdlady Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 I haven't had any luck at these "top facilities" either. At the place I went to, the nurse who took my history and symptoms, told me I was lying about my symptoms or exaggerating them because I looked normal as I walked back to the exam room... I was not exaggerating my HRs in the least. She insisted over and over again I was wrong. After my TTT that nurse had the nerve to come in and say, "well it makes sense you are so skinny now. You were right about your HRs". /sigh I never again went back. Even if I didn't get the same nurse, most of the visit was a disaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bebe127 Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 I actually went to an EP that was supposed to be an expert in POTS and he asked me what I do for a living. I told him, I'm a stay-at-home mom and I homeschool my two teenagers. He had the nerve to say..."well, that's pretty stressful". As if staying home and homeschooling my gems was stressfull enough to contribute to my illness!!! Dr.s can be so insensitive!!! Even though I wouldn't wish this illness on anyone, sometimes I can't help but wish that some of these dr.s could live just one day in our shoes (albeit, they probably couldn't even make it through a day), that way they could see just what we go through on a daily basis.BTW, my gems are brilliant (maybe I'm a bit biased), but they have always scored high on tests and my oldest is now a junior in high school and taking college courses via dual enrollment!! I'm fairly certain they could pass any Jay Leno quiz as well as being awesome when we play Jeopary on the Wii. That has to account for something!! LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bebe127 Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 Jeopardy* My keyboard isn't working too well, or at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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