Went to the doctor

[coyote]

The health care system is in a really sad state. It seems that we as patients are required to take a more active roll and essentially become advocates for ourselves. It is good that you are doing research. I can understand the loyalty that you feel toward your DR. 20 yrs is a long time. The reality is that your DR is betraying your loyalty by not actively listening to your concerns and proactively treating your health. You are right when you say you should not diagnos yourself, you can't treat yourself so why bother. It is really important to educate yourself so that you can guide your DRs toward your better health. You say you have symptoms more like hypo-thyroid, maybe your thyroid is getting ready to blow, maybe you are having endocrine problems. I imagine that you have really scaried yourself with the thought of congestive heart failure. What I really want to know from you is WHAT is the name of your new DR and WHEN is your appointment. If I seem a bit harash please understand that I am speaking from experience, my SO has a life altering disease and I can not sit silent we have to fight so hard to get DR to listen but once one does good things happen.

[short cut sally]

Definately get this issue checked out. See if your present or new dr. would run a BNP, not a BMP panel on you. Its beta natriuretic peptide, something we use to determine if and how bad a person is in CHR (congestive heart failure) and how to properly treat.