How much do they need to know?

[ddiggit1000]

I have been told by my primary care physician that she wanted me to see a cardiologist as the EKG showed "abnormal".  
The cardiologist explained from what he saw on the EKG that the bottom of the heart was not pumping as hard/fast as the upper part of the heart.  He ordered a stress test and a test where they injected a radioactive isotope into me and took lots of pictures before, during and after stress on a treadmill.

The doctor again told me (at the visit to get the results) the same exact thing...but then proposed another test...a VERY expensive test..., which I am sure will tell him the same thing.

I have told this doctor that the only modality of treatment I will accept is drug therapy...that I will allow nothing invasive at any time for any reason!  

Does he not know enough NOW to prescribe the proper medication?   Do I have to be put into the poorhouse before I can be treated?  I am told that the test he wants to do is only available one place in our state, and that the machine is "millions and millions" of dollars...so I know my 20% plus deductible is going to be more than I can possibly pay.  

How tough is it to know what drug to prescribe for the condition he described to me...and how much more does he need to know to prescribe it.  I am about to walk away entirely due to financial constraints and not be treated at all, which I know is not optimal.

[itdood]

I could probably offer more alternatives and advise if I knew what your DX is.    If the nuke-stress warranted more testing I'm thinking stenosis.  If it's stenosis your choices are angiography, CT, MRI.  

Nuke-stress tests aren't all that great at pinpointing where the stenosis is or to what degree.  Nukes are a gateway test to see if more testing is warranted which apparently is the case.

Talk to your doctor about the situation.  There are many options available to you but you will have to navigate the issues.

[Mom2four85]

it's frustrating to say the least, and I can totally understand where you are now

even with insurance we have to pay a $3,000 deductible a year..when I first got sick, we had to pay that 3K in a month's time - just to get insurance through out business is almost double ($981 mthly) what it was for personal insurance, but we had to go that route

most of our savings have gone to pay out of pocket expenses and health insurance for the past year and our agent messed didn't tell us after 6 mths our deductible would renew and we would owe another 3k...so now I'm picking and choosing what dr's I go to and I don't take any meds even with major medical problems

it sounds like maybe they want you to have a cardiac mri? only you can choose - but they wouldn't send you for the follow up tests if they didn't think there was a great cause - maybe ask if you can pay monthly or assistance with the tests

[chuparosa]

I can relate to your frustration and money concerns. I went thru a year and a half with lots of dr's appointments, several 30 day monitors, trips to the hospital and an ep study to get my diagnosis. With all that, I had a recent hospital visit and now dr's aren't totally sure what's going on. Seems like dx and treatment for some heart rhythm problems is not so cut and dry. I'm supposed to have a pvi ablation but can't afford it and I have insurance. Hang in there....you're not alone.