When doctors don't listen

About a month ago, I complained about Dr B who blamed me for my high blood pressure. He has been collecting cases of high blood pressure for his entire career, only found 11, and blamed me for my high blood pressure. The only test he did was to take my blood pressure. I am not sure he even read my chart.

I found out a few days later that my thyroid levels were messed up and could contribute to high blood pressure as well. Hypothyroidism can cause the bottom blood pressure number to go up. Hyperthyroidism can cause the top blood pressure number to go up. Then my next blood tests showed my thyroid levels in the normal range. So that theory was put to rest. But I did gloat a tiny bit.

Well, I have found out all sorts of things in the past few days about how badly he listened.

First I found out that he filed two reports in my medical record - one was for another patient who had come to see him about a rash. So when he typed up his notes in the electronic medical system he couldn't even get that part right.

Then I went to the follow up appointment he arranged for me with a blood pressure specialist yesterday. I learned a few things in addition:

- My thyroid levels are up and down and up and down and require monitoring and be stabilized. A longer term project but can definitely affect my blood pressure as I noted above.
- Two of my medications should not be taken together and can affect my blood pressure as well. One is a back pain medication that is working very well. The other is an antidepressant that my doctor had consulted some one else about before putting me back on it with my back pain medication.

So the plan is to meet with my psychologist this week and straighten out my anti depressant. I don't care what she says that in her opinion they can be taken together. I don't want to take something that could have a major interaction with my back pain medication.

Next I will continue my monthly blood tests to get my thyroid levels straightened out. I see my endocrinologist in July and if the monthly tests are continued by then we'll have more data.

In the meantime, I am gloating about Dr. B with the ego who blamed me and missed the opportunity to 'collect' another patient with a secondary cause of high blood pressure. Maybe that's why he doesn't have very many.

Don't blame the patient

Yesterday I went to my oncologist, or actually to my oncologist's nurse practitioner as she is out on maternity leave. My blood pressure was a 'tad' high. She did not like that. Especially since it has been steadily rising for the past six months. She called my new PCP who I haven't even met yet who agreed I should be seen by a doctor. Since I was complaining of headachy/pressure she also mentioned imaging of my head - not something to look forward to.

My new PCP couldn't see me so she sent me to see another doctor in the same group, Dr B. He started by telling me that he 'collects' cases of high blood pressure with underlying causes. He thinks my blood pressure is because I am overweight, eat badly, don't get enough exercise, have too much stress in my life, and eat too much salt. I tried to tell him:

- my weight has been stable for the past year even though I have been trying to lose weight.
- I don't eat badly. In fact I eat lots of fruit and vegetables, don't eat processed food, make most things from scratch, and use skim milk and reduce fat foods.
- I go to the gym 3x a week and go for walks regularly.
- I don't cook with salt.
- I have been trying to reduce stress. The higher stress in my life for the past month due to meds changes and my BP has been going up before then.

He dismissed it all and told me a story about a guy who came to see him and had high blood pressure and basically had been living as a couch potato. He lost 50 lbs, ran two marathons and came back six months later and still had high blood pressure.

There is no high blood pressure in my family at all. In reply, Dr B also told me I might just be genetically predisposed to have high blood pressure.

He then gave me a handout for healthy eating. It actually is not helpful as I have a five page print out of an article - page 1, page 3, page 5, page 3, page 5. So I didn't quite get the healthy diet that he wanted me to have but didn't realize this until I got home.

As a follow up, I am supposed to measure my BP at home every day for six weeks and write it down and switch to his healthy diet. Then I am supposed to meet with a BP specialist to see what my real BP is.

I left very aggravated. He didn't care what the root cause was other than to blame me. I am glad he is not my new PCP. I think he raised my BP just by blaming me. As patients we go to doctors to find out what is wrong with us, not to be blamed. Its not my fault I didn't fit into his 'collection'.

But otherwise, the oncologist nurse practitioner thought I was fine.