The neurosurgeon’s office phoned again this morning, this time to reschedule the operation to put a stent in Andy’s carotid artery. I told her we had cancelled the appointment they had originally scheduled because we didn’t want to do it. She was friendly about it and didn’t ask why. If she had asked I would have told her we did the research and decided the operation was dangerous and not the best treatment.
Bless Google! I found a lot of good articles on the subject, and this study from the Lancet, plus asking the Mayo Clinic for an appointment, convinced us. We had already decided that unless it is a life-or-death emergency, we won’t agree to invasive procedures until we have done the research.
Then last night I read this web article, Most Dangerous Medical Procedures You May Want to Avoid If You’re Over 50. The first one listed is carotid artery disease. When tammy and I were talking about the article she sent a link to this Atlantic article — When Evidence Says No, but Doctors Say Yes. Just one more confirmation that we can’t believe everything doctors tell us, even when they’re well meaning and doing their best. It’s our health and it’s best not to believe everything we are told.
I could not agree more.
Thank god you are doing research.
I don’t have a lot of faith in most doctors,
Although there are some truly brilliant ones out there.
I hope you don’t mind me comparing doctors to veterinarians but I know that at the clinic where I work, many times there will be three opinions on something from the four vets.
Thankfully I know which one I feel most comfortable with and have complete faith in her recommendations.
I’m praying you find a doctor that makes you feel the same.
xo
We were impressed by the neurologist. So far it looks like her treatment is helping, and even if it doesn’t we would/will give another chance.
ok….keep up the research, but try to remember somewhere within there may be a “golden nugget” that you overlook… sometimes we focus so much on the negative (I’m very bad at that) because we are taught that things are always “bad” (look at the news, what makes profits is negative things) and we do not see something really positive in the model…
bought 5 cards today – not to use as such, although one shop thought I should start a card-drawer, so I always had just the right card – these were for research for my “photo/collage presentations” – more later on my blog, possibly over the w/end..
?? I don’t understand your comment about focusing on the negative. I was looking to see what treatments worked best, and the study I cited was a good one.
oh, sorry I should have said I hadn’t even clicked through on your links as I suspected they would full of jargon that I never understand…and that it would be about the “side effects” more than the positive effects…my bad
We’re relieved the stent wasn’t the preferred method. The potential side effects (stroke, death) are scary when you go poking around in old arteries. Antiplatelets plus aspirin (and plus vitamin E in Andy’s case because of his macular degeneration) can cause bleeding problems, so one has to be observant there too.
I am beginning to think that with so many strands to medical practice, and many of them overlap – there really needs to be a “whole body physician” who takes everyone’s ideas into account but acts as the top of the umbrella to ascertain whether something might not work – relating to something else…
life has got a whole lot better, through to a whole lot more complex…especially since medical world has advanced in many avenue…
I couldn’t for example have certain BP medications due to the Asthma meds (which of course is no longer an issue…for me anyway)
the comment and link from Rummuser makes me think – that maybe the episodes are not related to the “potential” stent issue at all…sometimes and I’m not saying “I”m a specialist” – what ails us has nothing to do with “bad, bad, bad” – which is probably why I said “whole body physician” v just one or two who’s a specialist in xyz field…
it feels like such a minefield when you think of the consequences…hope you are both taking care of the small things in life, your combined happiness is so VIP right now…gentle hugs to you both from NZ and my apologies for jumping on the wrong “garden path way”
Thank you for the good wishes and don’t worry, we’re not wasting time worrying and are still enjoying life.
“Stay curious and open to life. No matter what happens keep learning and growing,” and “Play your part well and let go of the results.” They seem to be working. 🙂
http://www.rummuser.com/down-the-garden-path/
Yes, best to get another opinion before letting the surgeons have at it!
” We were impressed by the neurologist. So far it looks like her treatment is helping, and even if it doesn’t we would/will give another chance.”
this sounds good! keeping informed and keeping an open mind. but with caution and good sense. I’m so glad Andy is feeling better. perhaps it was just also time to assess what might be too much to take on in regular routines. sometimes it takes a warning to do that. but life can still be enjoyable.
I’m like Tempi enjoying the view from her place on the table! that is worth a lot!
He did manage to clear two trees off the road and walk down to the orchard and back Thursday. No episodes but he says he’s really out of shape. It may be the Keppra — he actually lay down this afternoon even though he didn’t get any exercise. It will be interesting to see how he feels after he stops taking it.
Very valuable refreshers, including the references to articles, etc, to info that I kind of knew but was getting hazy. And as you said: TG for Google, and TG for educated, sceptical caution as well. Sounds like you’re making some really sound decisions at a difficult time.
Is the Mayo appointment definite? When is it?
I’m sorry I didn’t answer this sooner, for some reason it was marked as pending. We still haven’t heard back from Mayo — I’ll phone them in a day or so if we don’t hear from them.