Looking for a liver specialist that will LISTEN

[Guest guest]

My hubby's first specialist passed away a while back. The clinic has assigned a

new doctor. Met her for the first time last week. Hubby doesn't like her. So,

I'm wondering if there's anyone here, that lives in central Iowa? If so, who is

your specialist? Would you recommend her/him to a new patient?

He has non-alcoholic cirrhosis, secondary polycythemia & type 2 diabetes. The

diabetes was diagnosed well after the cirrhosis & polycythemia.

Main complaint about his new doc is that she doesn't listen. She constantly

interrupted him. She'd ask him a question then didn't let him finish answering.

She also wants to do a bunch of new tests. Test for esophageal varices even

though he shows no symptoms. Some kind of protein test that Medicare won't pay

for, $165. Another blood test that Medicare won't pay for, $65. She did order

some blood work and he got those tests done, but he won't do these others.

She also wants to do another liver biopsy and a colonoscopy. Assume this is so

she can have results that aren't 5 or 6 years old. But is it really necessary?

Do cirrhosis patients get additional biopsies as a normal practice?

In all fairness, it's been about 5 years since he's seen the specialist, but his

symptoms haven't changed. I suspect she wants her own tests done and more recent

lab results, but she didn't even ask if his insurance would cover those tests.

Does anyone know if these tests are a normal part of a cirrhosis patient's life?

Also I suspect she wants to rule out liver cancer and/or colon cancer.

The only reason hubby went to this new specialist is because his last blood work

indicated he may now have portal hypertension coming on. As with most men,

hubby has no desire to go to any doctor most days. He likes his primary, but it

took us a while to find one that he'd agree to see. At this point, most of his

primary care focuses on his type 2 diabetes, since there really is no treatment

for his cirrhosis.

I would like for him to get these tests, but I won't fight with him over it.

It's his body. Even the ones that Medicare won't pay for. We can find a way to

make payments.

Anyway, the main reason I'm here today is to try to find a different liver

specialist. Central Iowa area would be best. Des Moines, Ames, Marshalltown.

His current specialist is at the Iowa Digestive Diseases Center in West Des

Moines. Anyone here know of a doctor that will actually listen to their

patients?

Thanks!

Twila