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Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,875
Registered: ‎04-27-2015

Re: Second opinion-would you get one if


@MaggieMack wrote:

OMG! In a HEARTBEAT! My 46-year-old husband was doctoring at a large clinic in the city for two or three years because he was tired all the time and had a lump in his armpit. The doc ordered antibiotics and THERAPY to deal with the grief over his young son's diagnosis of two inoperable brain tumors. Never, not once, took blood for a test.

 

Four years later, and twenty days after burying his son, he went back to the doc with a bigger lump. The doc wrote a script for a bigger antibiotic. On his way out the door, hubby called me and said, "This guy's not listening to me. Get me in to see someone else as soon as you can." Got him in the next day to our small town doc and the first thing he did was a blood draw. He called the first thing next morning and said he had scheduled an appt that afternoon with a hematologist in the city. We went and that doc said he had acute leukemia in such a late stage that he had only "hours to days" to live without immediate chemo intervention. Hubby asked about getting another opinion. Doc said he could have three more once he was hospitalized but he was putting his life at risk to leave the premises. Went into the hospital right then, stayed 40 days, lived another four years. He passed seven years ago. You have no idea how thankful I am for those last four years. 

 

You have to advocate for your own health and that means a second (or third) opinion. Always.


This is such a shocking story but a lesson to all. You were truly blessed to have those last four years. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,775
Registered: ‎07-09-2011

Re: Second opinion-would you get one if

[ Edited ]

@MaggieMack wrote:

OMG! In a HEARTBEAT! My 46-year-old husband was doctoring at a large clinic in the city for two or three years because he was tired all the time and had a lump in his armpit. The doc ordered antibiotics and THERAPY to deal with the grief over his young son's diagnosis of two inoperable brain tumors. Never, not once, took blood for a test.

 

Four years later, and twenty days after burying his son, he went back to the doc with a bigger lump. The doc wrote a script for a bigger antibiotic. On his way out the door, hubby called me and said, "This guy's not listening to me. Get me in to see someone else as soon as you can." Got him in the next day to our small town doc and the first thing he did was a blood draw. He called the first thing next morning and said he had scheduled an appt that afternoon with a hematologist in the city. We went and that doc said he had acute leukemia in such a late stage that he had only "hours to days" to live without immediate chemo intervention. Hubby asked about getting another opinion. Doc said he could have three more once he was hospitalized but he was putting his life at risk to leave the premises. Went into the hospital right then, stayed 40 days, lived another four years. He passed seven years ago. You have no idea how thankful I am for those last four years. 

 

You have to advocate for your own health and that means a second (or third) opinion. Always.


~~~

MaggieMack,

I am so sorry for your loss.  You are a very wise woman remembering to be grateful for those years, you were blessed. 

 

Yes a second opinion.  I try to gather as much information as I can about a given situation.

"Animals are not my whole world, but they have made my world whole" ~ Roger Caras
Honored Contributor
Posts: 20,019
Registered: ‎08-08-2010

Re: Second opinion-would you get one if

It doesn't have to be too serious for me to seek at least one more opinion.

 

I currently have an issue with my right heel. I've been diagnosed with three different issues and am going through physical therapy and a short steriod treatment as a first step. I really don't expect it to be a permanent fix, as the doc said it works in about 50% if the cases, the rest requiring surgery.

 

You can bet I'll be seeing a couple more docs after this initial step, before I even consider surgery. 

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Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,420
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Second opinion-would you get one if

 I would but I know a lot of people who would not, especially if they were given their diagnosis by a respected specialist. 

 

Sad but true.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,217
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Second opinion-would you get one if


@KathyPet wrote:

you were diagnosed with a very serious illness?  I was watching a news segment tonight about several woman who were told by this one doctor who was a neurology specialist that they had MS.  In each case he put them on a very expensive medication.  Some of them made drastic life changes like quitting their jobs, making extensive modifications to their homes to make them wheel chair accessible.  Evidently none of these woman got a second opinion.  As it turned out none of them had these illnesses.  Would you have gotten a second opinion for such a serious  diagnosis?

 

----------

i have ovarian cancer and also had most of my pancreas removed as well as my spleen.  Trust me, I have had multiple opinions on several treatment options.  


 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,612
Registered: ‎10-25-2010

Re: Second opinion-would you get one if

I would.  There is no reason for me not to and 100's of reasons I should.

 

Most health insurance will cover a second opinion and even a third if the second opinion is different than the first one.  The procedure code must be listed as a second or third opinion to be covered  at 100% and not an office visit.

 

I find the actions of medical doctors who harm patients on purpose for the almighty dollar to be shocking.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,415
Registered: ‎11-25-2011

Re: Second opinion-would you get one if

Tying this to a recent Mammogram thread (as of his writing),

would you get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th mammogram is something was 

spotted on the 1st film...before evasive treatment?

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,199
Registered: ‎07-29-2014

Re: Second opinion-would you get one if

[ Edited ]

Yes; people should always get a second opinion, if they can afford to do so.

Many of those even get a third.

 

One expert's opinion is not always the last word.

After all, doctors are human beings that make mistakes too.

 

It's also helpful if you can take someone with you, as they may hear things that that you, the anxious patient, may miss.

Bring something to take notes on as well, 

 

Unfortunately, many women still think that male authority figures should be put up on a pedestal.

 

And yes, there are many great people worthy of respect and praise, but all of these guys f@rt and po*op like the rest of us.

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,672
Registered: ‎05-13-2010

Re: Second opinion-would you get one if

For me, I would say it depends on what the 'problem' seems to be.  Neither my husband  nor I have had anything come about that we considered having a 2nd opinion for.  Luckily we've been blessed with good/decent health.

 

The most serious problems I've had was a very bad herniated disc lumbar 3-4 which my PCP did and MRI on and clearly knew what it was.  Referred me to a fabulous neurosurgeon who is quite reknowned.  I knew I was in special hands.  The other problem was a badly torn meniscus right knee which again the MRI revealed.  Anther great surgeon fixed that for me.

 

Yes I'm the one who's husband was diagnosed with rectal cancer after a colonoscopy.  Clearly after we saw the results, we knew what it was and had a fabulous team who knew exactly what they needed to do and planned carefully accordingly.

 

 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,305
Registered: ‎06-15-2015

Re: Second opinion-would you get one if

[ Edited ]

Guess after reading this thread I will!  I think most people are so devastated with serious health news they just want to get the diagnosis and get on with recovery... a second opinion just makes good sense though..