Second Opinions

J

Juliet

New member
It was my FOURTH opinion that landed me at a CF center (instead of a plain pulmonologist) that led to my CF Diagnosis. Doc 1 is my primary doc (good guy). Doc 2 DXd my MAC (and got me on treatment to cure it). but never got to the 'root cause' of my chronic problems. Doc 3 was a puppet for Doc 2 (get an INDEPENDENT REFERRAL!). Doc 4 is where I am now.

So yes. Second opinions can be really useful, expose you to other 'schools of thought' on DX and treatments, and are often covered by insurance as well. It can be awkward to ask an existing Doc for a referral (if you need to for insurance) but it's very worth it.

Listen to your instincts!! ~Juliet
 
J

Juliet

New member
It was my FOURTH opinion that landed me at a CF center (instead of a plain pulmonologist) that led to my CF Diagnosis. Doc 1 is my primary doc (good guy). Doc 2 DXd my MAC (and got me on treatment to cure it). but never got to the 'root cause' of my chronic problems. Doc 3 was a puppet for Doc 2 (get an INDEPENDENT REFERRAL!). Doc 4 is where I am now.

So yes. Second opinions can be really useful, expose you to other 'schools of thought' on DX and treatments, and are often covered by insurance as well. It can be awkward to ask an existing Doc for a referral (if you need to for insurance) but it's very worth it.

Listen to your instincts!! ~Juliet
 
J

Juliet

New member
It was my FOURTH opinion that landed me at a CF center (instead of a plain pulmonologist) that led to my CF Diagnosis. Doc 1 is my primary doc (good guy). Doc 2 DXd my MAC (and got me on treatment to cure it). but never got to the 'root cause' of my chronic problems. Doc 3 was a puppet for Doc 2 (get an INDEPENDENT REFERRAL!). Doc 4 is where I am now.

So yes. Second opinions can be really useful, expose you to other 'schools of thought' on DX and treatments, and are often covered by insurance as well. It can be awkward to ask an existing Doc for a referral (if you need to for insurance) but it's very worth it.

Listen to your instincts!! ~Juliet
 
J

Juliet

New member
It was my FOURTH opinion that landed me at a CF center (instead of a plain pulmonologist) that led to my CF Diagnosis. Doc 1 is my primary doc (good guy). Doc 2 DXd my MAC (and got me on treatment to cure it). but never got to the 'root cause' of my chronic problems. Doc 3 was a puppet for Doc 2 (get an INDEPENDENT REFERRAL!). Doc 4 is where I am now.

So yes. Second opinions can be really useful, expose you to other 'schools of thought' on DX and treatments, and are often covered by insurance as well. It can be awkward to ask an existing Doc for a referral (if you need to for insurance) but it's very worth it.

Listen to your instincts!! ~Juliet
 
J

Juliet

New member
It was my FOURTH opinion that landed me at a CF center (instead of a plain pulmonologist) that led to my CF Diagnosis. Doc 1 is my primary doc (good guy). Doc 2 DXd my MAC (and got me on treatment to cure it). but never got to the 'root cause' of my chronic problems. Doc 3 was a puppet for Doc 2 (get an INDEPENDENT REFERRAL!). Doc 4 is where I am now.
<br />
<br />So yes. Second opinions can be really useful, expose you to other 'schools of thought' on DX and treatments, and are often covered by insurance as well. It can be awkward to ask an existing Doc for a referral (if you need to for insurance) but it's very worth it.
<br />
<br />Listen to your instincts!! ~Juliet
 
B

Buckeye

New member
It's not going to hurt anything by going to another clinic to see what they say. You might as well find a clinic that you are 100% comfortable at since you and your child will be going there for a long time. You also might want to think about talking to the director of the cf center you are currently at and see what their opinion is on your son's treatment and state your worries about their treatment regimen. We have been to two different clinics, not for a second opinion, but just to see what the one that was located closer to our home was like. There were subtle differences and I preferred the personality of the doctor at the first clinic a little more, but we opted to go to the clinic closer to us because it would be better in case of long hospital admissions and most of my son's other doctors were at that hospital. As far as their treatment regimen and theories, etc there was no real difference.
 
B

Buckeye

New member
It's not going to hurt anything by going to another clinic to see what they say. You might as well find a clinic that you are 100% comfortable at since you and your child will be going there for a long time. You also might want to think about talking to the director of the cf center you are currently at and see what their opinion is on your son's treatment and state your worries about their treatment regimen. We have been to two different clinics, not for a second opinion, but just to see what the one that was located closer to our home was like. There were subtle differences and I preferred the personality of the doctor at the first clinic a little more, but we opted to go to the clinic closer to us because it would be better in case of long hospital admissions and most of my son's other doctors were at that hospital. As far as their treatment regimen and theories, etc there was no real difference.
 
B

Buckeye

New member
It's not going to hurt anything by going to another clinic to see what they say. You might as well find a clinic that you are 100% comfortable at since you and your child will be going there for a long time. You also might want to think about talking to the director of the cf center you are currently at and see what their opinion is on your son's treatment and state your worries about their treatment regimen. We have been to two different clinics, not for a second opinion, but just to see what the one that was located closer to our home was like. There were subtle differences and I preferred the personality of the doctor at the first clinic a little more, but we opted to go to the clinic closer to us because it would be better in case of long hospital admissions and most of my son's other doctors were at that hospital. As far as their treatment regimen and theories, etc there was no real difference.
 
B

Buckeye

New member
It's not going to hurt anything by going to another clinic to see what they say. You might as well find a clinic that you are 100% comfortable at since you and your child will be going there for a long time. You also might want to think about talking to the director of the cf center you are currently at and see what their opinion is on your son's treatment and state your worries about their treatment regimen. We have been to two different clinics, not for a second opinion, but just to see what the one that was located closer to our home was like. There were subtle differences and I preferred the personality of the doctor at the first clinic a little more, but we opted to go to the clinic closer to us because it would be better in case of long hospital admissions and most of my son's other doctors were at that hospital. As far as their treatment regimen and theories, etc there was no real difference.
 
B

Buckeye

New member
It's not going to hurt anything by going to another clinic to see what they say. You might as well find a clinic that you are 100% comfortable at since you and your child will be going there for a long time. You also might want to think about talking to the director of the cf center you are currently at and see what their opinion is on your son's treatment and state your worries about their treatment regimen. We have been to two different clinics, not for a second opinion, but just to see what the one that was located closer to our home was like. There were subtle differences and I preferred the personality of the doctor at the first clinic a little more, but we opted to go to the clinic closer to us because it would be better in case of long hospital admissions and most of my son's other doctors were at that hospital. As far as their treatment regimen and theories, etc there was no real difference.
 
K

ktsmom

New member
I know of a situation in my city where different CF docs had different treatment recommendations for PA in a 1-year old. In this instance, the mom opted for what she felt was a more aggressive treatment (TOBI and Cipro) versus the wait-and-see attitude of the previous doc. (I'm missing some detail but that was the gist of the situation).

So I would say to educate yourselves, which it seems like you have done, and then ask questions of your current doc. If you are not satisfied, then by all means seek a seond opinion. Like others, I would be interested in the details of your situation. Welcome, and good luck!
 
K

ktsmom

New member
I know of a situation in my city where different CF docs had different treatment recommendations for PA in a 1-year old. In this instance, the mom opted for what she felt was a more aggressive treatment (TOBI and Cipro) versus the wait-and-see attitude of the previous doc. (I'm missing some detail but that was the gist of the situation).

So I would say to educate yourselves, which it seems like you have done, and then ask questions of your current doc. If you are not satisfied, then by all means seek a seond opinion. Like others, I would be interested in the details of your situation. Welcome, and good luck!
 
K

ktsmom

New member
I know of a situation in my city where different CF docs had different treatment recommendations for PA in a 1-year old. In this instance, the mom opted for what she felt was a more aggressive treatment (TOBI and Cipro) versus the wait-and-see attitude of the previous doc. (I'm missing some detail but that was the gist of the situation).

So I would say to educate yourselves, which it seems like you have done, and then ask questions of your current doc. If you are not satisfied, then by all means seek a seond opinion. Like others, I would be interested in the details of your situation. Welcome, and good luck!
 
K

ktsmom

New member
I know of a situation in my city where different CF docs had different treatment recommendations for PA in a 1-year old. In this instance, the mom opted for what she felt was a more aggressive treatment (TOBI and Cipro) versus the wait-and-see attitude of the previous doc. (I'm missing some detail but that was the gist of the situation).

So I would say to educate yourselves, which it seems like you have done, and then ask questions of your current doc. If you are not satisfied, then by all means seek a seond opinion. Like others, I would be interested in the details of your situation. Welcome, and good luck!
 
K

ktsmom

New member
I know of a situation in my city where different CF docs had different treatment recommendations for PA in a 1-year old. In this instance, the mom opted for what she felt was a more aggressive treatment (TOBI and Cipro) versus the wait-and-see attitude of the previous doc. (I'm missing some detail but that was the gist of the situation).
<br />
<br />So I would say to educate yourselves, which it seems like you have done, and then ask questions of your current doc. If you are not satisfied, then by all means seek a seond opinion. Like others, I would be interested in the details of your situation. Welcome, and good luck!
 
N

NoExcuses

New member
i flew across the country to see Dr. Warwick after reading this article......

you'll never think about CF the same when u read this article....

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/12/06/041206fa_fact?currentPage=1">http://www.newyorker.com/archi...6fa_fact?currentPage=1</a>
 
N

NoExcuses

New member
i flew across the country to see Dr. Warwick after reading this article......

you'll never think about CF the same when u read this article....

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/12/06/041206fa_fact?currentPage=1">http://www.newyorker.com/archi...6fa_fact?currentPage=1</a>
 
N

NoExcuses

New member
i flew across the country to see Dr. Warwick after reading this article......

you'll never think about CF the same when u read this article....

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/12/06/041206fa_fact?currentPage=1">http://www.newyorker.com/archi...6fa_fact?currentPage=1</a>
 
N

NoExcuses

New member
i flew across the country to see Dr. Warwick after reading this article......

you'll never think about CF the same when u read this article....

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/12/06/041206fa_fact?currentPage=1">http://www.newyorker.com/archi...6fa_fact?currentPage=1</a>
 
N

NoExcuses

New member
i flew across the country to see Dr. Warwick after reading this article......
<br />
<br />you'll never think about CF the same when u read this article....
<br />
<br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/12/06/041206fa_fact?currentPage=1">http://www.newyorker.com/archi...6fa_fact?currentPage=1</a>
 
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