Conflicting Info Between Doctors - How Do You Handle?

[TOBEY32]

When instructions differ between types of doctors?
When a nurse advises one thing and the doctor another?
When you have to see another doctor in the same office because yours wasn't available (and his advise differs)?

Doesn't always happen, but when it does (yesterday at my kidney appt) it's confusing and disheartening.

David

[Dirty Don]

David...YOU are the employer, it's YOUR life & body, YOUR time & money...my tendency is to 'make' them get it straight by 'telling on' each & every one of them...such a brat I can be. BUT, it's for my own good...I don't know you at all, but 'assertive/aggressive' behaviors w/ a touch of common decency here is what gets them cooperating & sharing & talking with one another. And, if that doesn't do it, I'm outta there, and seriously looking for help elsewhere that is conducive to my getting better, in all facets of my life. Confusion & disheartening does not set well with the patient at any time...you need clear info, not opinion...you need proactive & uplifting help, not internal medicinal points of view...best of luck...keep up the good fight...

[JanW]

What Dirty Don says -- you have to ask the docs to clear it up amongst themselves and get back to you. If you know that the information conflicts with what the first doc says, ask for clarification right on the spot.

[Lightwarrior]

When instructions differ between types of doctors?
When a nurse advises one thing and the doctor another?
When you have to see another doctor in the same office because yours wasn't available (and his advise differs)?

Doesn't always happen, but when it does (yesterday at my kidney appt) it's confusing and disheartening.

David

My initial response is to always trust the nurse first (I'm a nurse so take that with a grain of salt) seriously, is the nurse a registered nurse or an office assistant? Often people call anyone in a doctors office in scrubs "nurse". Make sure you are taking medical advice from a RN. I am an ICU nurse and I see this all of the time, each specialty has an opinion and the patient/family are left confused. One of the things I do is to have the patient/family ask for a family meeting. If you can get all of the docs in a room at the same time you can get your questions answered and if the RN is there she/he can interpret for you to put medical jargon in regular language.

In your example I would make sure that I write down my questions and then I would ask your regular doc, the one you trust the questions. Ask why there were different answers. You need to be clear on what you should do and why. Good luck.

[Dirty Don]

Totally agree with Lightwarrior...RNs are the best people within the medical environs to trust and communicate with...they aren't so removed from us common folk! LOL RNs tend to be able to tell the truth without damaging the patient or leaving us in confused states...when I was in ICU & recovery, I do remember all the docs and their opinions, but it was the RNs who took care of me 24/7 and put up with my BS to whom I am forever indebted for getting me through...in fact, I truly believe one male RN saved my life by telling me like it is...sighs...I need to go back and thank him personally....

[Al]

David, I agree with the other comments. You didn't mention the bone of contention, but often all it takes is to ask the question: "You said that, but Dr. X said this. What's the skinny here?"

Al

[Sangye]

I agree with what Dirty Don said. Tell them "Talk amongst yourselves and get back to me." LOL

I don't agree that the nurse is always trustworthy. I've had nurses who gave me better info than the doctor and nurses who gave me instructions that could have seriously harmed me if I'd followed them. Basically, both doctors and nurses have put me at risk numerous times.

[TOBEY32]

My docs aren't all in the same office. Would be hard to get a consensus. And, no, they don't talk alot between each other - far as I know.
Went to see my Internist yesterday regarding non-Weg's stuff (don't see him re Weg's). Had my latest test results with me, seemed concerned about some, has plans to talk to my Weg's docs. Do appreciate his bull-by-the-horn approach.
I may be a little more docile than some. Appreciate the reminder.

[Dirty Don]

Just a thought: I would gather all pertinent contact info for each of your docs & hand deliver to each of them w/ a written request...at least it will get their attention...??? Good luck to you!

[Lightwarrior]

I agree with what Dirty Don said. Tell them "Talk amongst yourselves and get back to me." LOL

I don't agree that the nurse is always trustworthy. I've had nurses who gave me better info than the doctor and nurses who gave me instructions that could have seriously harmed me if I'd followed them. Basically, both doctors and nurses have put me at risk numerous times.

Okay, okay Sangye, I said take that with a grain of salt (LOL) With Wegeners we can't really trust any profession, we have to find the individuals, doctors and nurses who we can trust. One of the things I look for is someone who doesn't know all the answers. Someone who claims to is always a red flag for me. I trust my pulmonogist because he cried when he told me I had Wegeners and told me that I would have to study Wegeners and become the expert because very few docs had ever had a patient.

I know that you should go to a Wegeners specialist and this is absolutely the gold standard and what I would recommend. I feel like I'm trying to flare again...hope I'm wrong.