Need Advice == My Dr. is Angry

**autumnlynn** · 08-17-2007, 07:59 PM

Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts. I had my Doppler today. After it was finished the tech talked to me. He said the clot was dissolved but I am at a very high risk to have another clot; especially after I am taken off the Coumadin. He also said I had extensive damage to my vein.

Well, my doctor called me and said he was going to take me off the Coumadin. I told him what the tech told me, and boy did he hit the ceiling. He got so angry and said the tech had no right to tell me anything. He said how did he know I was at a high risk and how did he know I had extensive scarring. He said that he didn't have access to my chart or all the tests I have had since the clot. He said it was like someone from the street telling me things. He asked the tech's name, but I didn't remember. He asked me to call over to the hospital and find out who the tech was as he was going to report him. He said the tech's job security was at stake.

I felt so terrible that I had said anything. I was just concerned about my risk of another clot and didn't realize I would get the tech in trouble. I have not called the hospital as I am very upset. I don't want anyone to lose their job because of me.

Help, what should I do??

**Dancing Lotus** · 08-17-2007, 08:17 PM

I wouldn't want to get anyone into trouble and thats a tuff call. But he got himself into trouble by saying things he had no place to say. What if he told someone else something stuppid? What if he told someother lady she was going to die a slow painful death and she killed herself but it turned out she didnt really have anything wrong. Or what if he told someone not to take a medicine that they really needed and they didnt take it based on his advice and then they ended up really sick.

You didnt do anything wrong by telling the doctor what the teck said to you. Now you have to ask yourself if it would bother you more to tell then it would not to. I believe you will make the right choice for you

**Marie78** · 08-17-2007, 08:40 PM

I am glad the clot has dissolved Autumn. I think you need to make the decision that's best for you with calling and finding out the tech's name. If I was okay with the tech giving his/her insight than I probably wouldn't call. If on the other hand I was offended and angry at them, then I would call. Good luck Autumn and I hope all is well from here on out for you

.

**GFNancy** · 08-18-2007, 12:38 AM

Wow. What a hard situation. The doctor shouldn't have put you in the middle like that.

The tech had no business saying that, but the doctor can easily find out who the tech is. The information should be on the report. If it's not, he can get it from the radiologist, or let him know there is a tech doing that. Then the radiologist can deal with it.

I'd stay out of it. There is no reason you need to do anything. If your doctor pushes the issue, let him know that this has really upset you and you'd rather stay out of it. If he pushes you after that, tell him he could probably find out who it was a lot easier than you could because he can contact the radiologist.

How upsetting..

Nancy

**Lorelei** · 08-18-2007, 12:42 AM

Since you're upset about it, I wouldn't call. You did exactly right by asking your doctor about what you'd been told, but if the doctor feels the tech should be fired for misinformation than HE can call the hospital and find out the tech's name. It is HIS job, not yours, to ensure the staff at his office and any place (hospital, lab, etc.) that he sends patients is providing accurate service. This sounds like something he should discuss with the hospital administrator. If techs (and how do we know it's only that one?) are giving out incomplete information, that is something that needs to be addressed by the hospital.

**frugalfarmwife** · 08-18-2007, 12:48 AM

I'm with GFNancy on this, and honestly your Dr. was not very professional at ALL putting you in the middle! No, the tech should not have said anything, the results should have been passed on to the professional to diagnose (your dr.) and for HIM/HER to discuss with you at that time.

But the Dr. should NEVER EVER show anger at you, see, now they put a fear into you, and made YOU worry about someone else's career. That is NOT your worry, your health is, that is why ALL of these people have so much schooling, to diagnose and treat you from all levels.

I'm really sorry you've been put in this position, the last thing you need is any more stress at this time.

Now, that said, I work with a man that's 36 that had a clot in his leg and HORRIBLE reactions to it, was hospitalized for nearly two weeks for it. He's NOT a personable person, nor one who cares or does followup on anything. Even with all of that his leg has finally gone down after about 9 months and his health seems to have returned to previous levels. (but his attitude has become nastier and nastier, lol, we run when we see him coming

)

kj

**autumnlynn** · 08-18-2007, 01:30 AM

Thanks so much for your input. It really did upset me because I don't want to get anyone in trouble. The only reason I mentioned it to my doctor, because it made me afraid to go off the Coumadin.

I decided not to call. If my doctor wants to raise a fuss about it, like stated above, he can without putting me in the middle.

I honestly don't think the tech meant to scare me. I think he was trying to impress me with his knowledge. After the test, he sat down in a chair and talked to me like my doctor does. Since he told me I was at high risk of getting another clot, it really shook me up and that's why I told my doctor.

I have kept all my appointments; I have had all my blood work done as requested by my doctor and I have taken all my meds. The pain is now gone in my leg even though I do have swelling. I am just going to trust my doctor and relax

**quiltergirl** · 08-18-2007, 10:10 AM

I'd fire the doctor. Sorry, but I would be more likely to believe the tech. Doctors have done too much harm to me to be very trustig of them -- especially when they throw hissy fits.

**YankeeMom** · 08-18-2007, 10:26 AM

I would be more apt to trust the doctor, who has been caring for you all this time rather than a U/S tech who has only seen you once for a very few minutes. Not only does the doctor have your health history at his disposal, but he also has many many many more years experience & training than an u/s tech. There are reasons why u/s techs aren't supposed to say anything to the patients about what they find. This is one of them.

I'm really glad the clot has dissolved, Autumn. I am keeping you in my thoughts & prayers.

**brainyblonde** · 08-18-2007, 11:23 AM

I'm glad the clot has dissolved, and that you are on the mend.

The doctor seemed to overreact to the tech's comments, and that would concern me. If it were me, I'd stay out of the drama and seek another opinion.

**dcompton** · 08-18-2007, 11:40 AM

I think both parties were wrong. The techs know better than to do what he did. And the doctor was very wrong to explode like that. There are ways to tell a patient calmly and rationally that the techs don't have all your history or the training for diagnosis and prescribing, and to be reassuring rather adding to the disturbance. I am very uneasy around people with hair-trigger tempers, and would begin wondering what HIS problem was, and whether I could trust someone so volatile. But then, that's probably just me.

I agree with the others. This is an internal matter for the hospital to deal with; employee ethics and discipline are not your concern. What a terrible thing to have happened when you were already under such stess. If the doctor wants to pursue it, it's up to him, not you.

**amecoy75002** · 08-18-2007, 02:56 PM

I agree with the Dr that the tech should NOT have said anything to you. But if the Dr wants to get the tech fired, he can pursue it, not you. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, find your happy spot and put it out of your mind and life. Focus on getting healthy! Prayers and thoughts comming your way!

**peanut** · 08-22-2007, 10:51 AM

I would tend to trust the doctor. Yes he exploded, but in all truthfulness, you don't know what walked through his door just before talking to you, or how many of the last 24 hours he got sleep.

I know enough to know that doctors aren't always angry at the person they're talking to -- it's just life overwhelms them occasionally. And understandably so. They have high pressure jobs. Even the best training is strained at times.

If you feel uncomfortable with your doctor now, I'd talk to him about it. If you don't feel comfortable with that, I'd find another doctor. You must be able to have confidence and trust in your main caregiver.

This is funny, because I'm the last person to trust a doctor, but in this case I fail to see how the tech could know enough to tell you what he did without looking at your medical history.

Jean

**AmyMCGS** · 08-22-2007, 12:08 PM

I work in a nursing home, and one thing I've learned is that sometimes a doctor's ego can get the better of them. A nurse might know a patient better and have a good idea what's wrong, but some doctors get upset if the nurse offers an opinion. So my gut reaction to your story was that this tech overstepped his bounds (which he did) and it set the doctor off. The doctor still shouldn't have put you in the middle, though.

I'm glad the clot is dissolved... what a relief!

**autumnlynn** · 08-22-2007, 05:23 PM

My doctor called me again yesterday. He said he looked at the ultasound and that the clot is dissolved but there was a lot of damage to my vein and that's why I'm still getting tingling in my toes. He said the vein was narrowed due to swelling. He again said he wanted to report the tech as he did not want him to frighten his patients.

I do trust my doctor; he is a board certified pulmonologist as well as board certified in internal medicine. He is normally a very quiet man; never raises his voice. He has brought me so far with my asthma and I feel better than I have in a long time. I guess this just pushed the wrong button with him.

Just for your info, I asked him about taking low dose aspirin to help avoid any future clots. He said that the aspirin works for the arteries which may help heart attack and stroke but does nothing for the veins so wouldn't help in my case.

In any case, I am staying out of it. If he wants to bring it up with the hospital or the tech, he can find out the info on his own. I'm just a patient who is trying to get well.