Cardiologist vs. Thorasic Surgeon

[Der Biermeister]

One of the posts I read earlier, in discussing the advice from a cardiologist vs. a heart surgeon made me think -- now that I am on the other side of the mountain, just who is my main man?

I already have an issue with the release instructions on some meds. The surgeon instructed me to take 1mg Bumex, 2 per day BUT only 20 meg of Potassium!!!! Before my surgery, I was taking the same amount of Bumex (plus a Metalozone 3 x per week) but had to take 80 meg of Potassium to get my blood work right.

So .... who do I call first, my cardiologist or my surgeon. And knowing it will take at least a couple of days to get a consensus, should I take my old regimen of Potassium? (I think the answer is yes!) Allowing your potassium levels to get too low can cause a heart attack).

Then -- thinking even further ahead -- do I now see BOTH docs on a regular basis? Do I see the surgeon only for a 4 week post op visit and then revert back to just my cardiologist? Btw, I agree that the cardiologists seem to shy away from surgeries until it becomes urgent.

[tobagotwo]

The surgeon fades away fast. He's only interested if something goes wrong that is directly related to the surgery. You'll be lucky if he removes the staples himself. My opinion is that you should trust your cardiologist for meds.

Best wishes,

[RandyL]

You only needed the surgeon for the main event. After he releases you to normal activity he will be a thing of the past. Your cardiologist will be there with you for life, writing scripts, doing tests, etc.

[MikeHeim]

My surgeon wiped his hands clean from me after the initial follow-up (where the tape holding me together was removed). In fact, I didn't even see the surgeon at the follow-up (one of his assistents checked me out).

[Der Biermeister]

I don't have any stiches, staples, tape or anything on my incision. My wife thinks they must have glued it??

[tobagotwo]

Hee, hee...Don't get it wet...:D

[Karlynn]

My incision was glued and had steri-strips going across it.

I only saw my surgeon 1 time after surgery. My cardiologist was the one I saw the most while in the hospital.

[RCB]

is your main man now! No need to see the surgeon again unless you need more surgery.:eek:

[Georgia]

If you're now taking an ACE inhibitor, they'll likely reduce or eliminate potassium.

[paulk]

I don't have any stiches, staples, tape or anything on my incision. My wife thinks they must have glued it??

They used strictly glue on me. The surgeon said it is quite similar to super-glue.

-Paul

[Kristy]

I am thinking I got glued too! No staples, steri-stips or anything.

As far as your post op med instructions/doses go, I would start with the surgeon if he wrote the post op med orders. There may have been a reason he wrote it that way and maybe didn't explain it, or, he may have overlooked something (like your previous dosing regiment) and seems he should know there might be a mix up and given the opportunity to get it right. Meds are not something to mess with. If he can't explain why it is different now -- besides his personal prescribing preference, I would ask the cardiologist to review and make a recommendation.

Just my 2 cents!
Kristy

[Der Biermeister]

Kristy -- right you are. I actually got all this straightened out yesterday. I had left some voice mail for my Cardiologist's PA (Jodi) and she returned the call around noon and was very clear about the way the process works: that until I am released by the surgeon (in 3 weeks or so), I am totally under their care. BUT she went ahead and addressed my questions and those that were still in doubt, she called Margaret over at the surgeons and went over my concerns. Magaret got back in touch with me in the afternoon and I am to call their office first thing this morning to set up my post-op appointment.

Btw -- this begins my second full day at home --- I feel really good. AND my weight is now only 2 lbs heavier than pre-op. SO .... I almost have all that excess fluid gone.

[hensylee]

ditto cardiologist. We get to see the surgeon only once after surgery (that's when you need to find out how many wires you have - from the xray they take at that time). Then he/she has forgotten your name, puts you in the closed case file. Your cardiologist will have you for life, with six month visits.

[OldManEmu]

The surgeon saw me twice in hospital, (I was there 10 days post op as they were not certain if I still had active endocarditis) and at a 6 week post surgery follow up. As I received a tissue valve, he will get to do another surgery on me in 10+ years. I still see him once a year after my yearly tests. I also see the cardio once a year; the cardio is the controller of the heart drugs. :)

[perkicar]

Now that the exciting part is over, the cardiologist gets to keep the car in tune! Since I had my surgery in Cleveland, I'm followed routinely by my local cardiologist. But I'm going up to Cleveland next month for a 1 year follow up with the cardiologist there. I just feel better knowing they're keeping track of me with my funky history. Since I didn't even start seeing my cardio here until after my surgery (my original one moved away) just not as comfortable with his knowledge of my history. I'll be curious to see if Dr Griffin (Cleveland) makes any changes to my current meds, although now that I think of it, they haven't changed much since I came home from Cleveland, just took me off the sotalol and put me back on the lopressor dose I was taking before I went on the sotalol.
Sounds like your recovery is going FANTASTIC! Just keep those lines of communication open!

[sue943]

I saw my surgeon several times while I was in hospital but haven't seen him since. He told me that it wasn't worth me flying to England to see him for five minutes and that I ought to see my cardiologist in Jersey. This is not the same cardiologist that I had in hospital in the UK, this is the one who visits this island every month.