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If it were me I would say to the 2nd doctor that you already went to one doctor and he/she said this but that you wanted to get another doctors opinion just to be sure it's accurate before deciding on treatment options. If you don't mind telling us, what's wrong with your wife? best of luck to you.
I wouldn't. Doctors often want to feel their diagnostic skills conform to established medical norms. Unfortunately, this sometimes encourages herd mentality. I would want to hear the doctor's presumptive diagnosis for my condition and the justification for tests or procedures. If it was the same as the old doctor's, then I would jump in with the info.
On the TV show Mystery Diagnosis, one sees how the patients go from doctor to doctor, dragging copies of their medical records, and how often their latest doc just goes along with a previous doc's conclusions.
I've gotten second opinions a few times over the past year. I always sent the records from #1 to the second place. I felt it worked well for me. The second doctor I saw was able to explain why and in what way he/she agreed with the first doctor, and why and in what way he/she disagreed with the first doctor. And usually (but not always) doctor #2 was even able to explain why they might have differed in opinion, different research indicating different schools of thought. Of course, this is in the cancer world, where second and third opinions are the norm.
I feel like, if you want the best information and guidance, being forthcoming with the information you have already gathered can only help you.
I wouldn't tell him, or at the least not until he himself had given his diagnosis. I think doctors really back each other up and if you go right in and say so-and-so said she has ____, he is going to be more likely to concur.
I wouldn't tell him, or at the least not until he himself had given his diagnosis. I think doctors really back each other up and if you go right in and say so-and-so said she has ____, he is going to be more likely to concur.
^^^ excactly.
You get your first opinion, then go get another opinion and if that doesn't agree with the first one then you get a third one. Then you make a judgement as who is correct.
Thanks...I think we might go with a 2nd opinion and not say anything...and then maybe go for that 3rd. Won't withold other facts though.
For those who asked what happened...wife had an episiotomy in 2007 giving birth to our 2nd child. Stitches broke leading to fecal incontinence. Another doctor fixed it...sort of...but not quite.
Went to her obgyn who said that it was an easy repair but did not want to take care of it since it has failed more than once.
Referred us to the only colo rectal specialist in town. Colo rectal specialist referred us to his "friend" Doctor 70 miles away.
Started off as something supposedly easy to fix but now she will have to wear a bag for 3 months before they actually go in to fix it.
I'd tell my doctor that I'll be looking for a second opinion. I won't tell him where (I wouldn't be able to, because I don't ever know in advance that I'm planning on getting one), only that I will.
Then, I'd go to the second doctor, tell him these are my symptoms, please do what he feels is appropriate for diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
Once he's done that, I'd tell him I'd like him to please consult with the first doctor, and have the two of them discuss their findings, and meet with me so that we might all come to an agreement.
Too many times, people flit from one Dr. to the next, simply because they don't like the diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. So they just keep going til they find a doctor that says something they want to hear. But often times, someone ELSE was right. So it's important to have them all communicate with each other at SOME point during the process, before the patient ends up doing something unneccessary, or even dangerous.
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