https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 20:58:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783363 Tue, 31 Oct 2017 21:33:31 +0000 misolee 2783363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petitenoisette</p> <p>Really? For all 3 of my pregnancies, at my gender and anatomy scan, the tech did it, and then the ob would come and explain it. </p> <p>First pregnant was with Kaiser. Second and this one is with the same practice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783345 Tue, 31 Oct 2017 17:37:34 +0000 petitenoisette 2783345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@smocks: agreed. </p> <p>I'm so sorry you went through this, I had a similar thing happen where our first LO was suspected to have turners syndrome but she was actually healthy. Despite the trauma it caused, the Dr. had to tell you of her fears though obviously it sounds like her bedside manner could use work. Like @catomd00: said, I am also a little confused why a regular OB would be doing your anatomy scan, at my practice it's a specialist who either does the scan or interprets them. So that is also something to inquire about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783291 Tue, 31 Oct 2017 12:51:26 +0000 catomd00 2783291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unless specifically trained, OBs aren't trained to conduct ultrasounds. That's why a specially trained tech should be doing them and a specially trained perinatologist reading them. I think it's always best to air on the side of caution and refer, but she should be practicing within her scope of training. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783269 Tue, 31 Oct 2017 11:29:29 +0000 smocks 2783269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry for the emotional trauma she caused, but I'm glad you were able to be put at ease by the MFM doc. I went through a similar situation with my first, where my primary OB office thought my DD might have IUGR and then I had to wait multiple days to get in with the MFM doc because it was around Thanksgiving - needless to say, ruined a lot of my weekend. It ended up being nothing and the MFM was like "why are you even here?"</p> <p>That being said, for your situation I wanted to note that I can see her side of it - if she was a fresh attending, she has probably SEEN a lot of the crazy awful complications that comes through her OB (which is a surgical) residency. I don't believe most residencies are through regular OBGYN standalone practices - she was probably at a teaching hospital and had all the emergency cases shipped her way to manage and treat. She was trying to protect you and your baby from something that could be devastating down the road if not identified early. At least, that is what I hope.</p> <p>I would probably bring it up with either her or another doc at the practice what made you uncomfortable about the scenario. I'm assuming it is a democratic group and they all have ownership in the practice, and can bring it up in a meeting about best practices for bedside manner, referrals to specialists if there's any doubt, etc.</p> <p>ETA I also wanted to note that OB has by far the highest malpractice rates. If she saw something that made her uneasy and she DIDN'T refer you to a specialist and something actually was wrong... she was covering both you and herself from a liability standpoint. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783095 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 17:00:38 +0000 misolee 2783095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2LITTLEPUMPKINS I have an appointment with my primary OB this week (whom I love) to go over these test results and scans so I think I will def say something. </p> <p>Fingers crossed that I avoid this doctor during labor </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783093 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 16:58:56 +0000 misolee 2783093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MS. RV and @ KIDDOSC and @MAMA BIRD I agree that ultrasounds are interpretive and things can seem harder to see. So I did give her the benefit of the doubt. I'm just wondering why if she wasn't sure of what she saw, why she would tell us what we're facing, what we need to do prepare, etc. It wasn't Down Syndrome, but something more chromosomal related. </p> <p>@MUFFINSMUFFINS I have aged too this past couple of weeks and major sleep loss. My mom was also worried sick for me too</p> <p>@JOSINA Agreed! It was expensive. We haven't gotten the bill from the MFM yet but if you add up the outpatient hospital fee, extra scans and testing we had to pay for out of pocket, etc...we're looking at $1000 too and that's with insurance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783083 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 16:04:16 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2783083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misolee: I would bring it up with the primary OB too. Even if she didn't DO anything wrong, and the appointment was precautionary, her behavior was not great bedside manner. My dr recently sent us for a growth US because I was supposedly measuring 3 weeks behind. She told me "don't worry about it right now" but that was only after running out of the room with a look of terror to "double check something on my chart." 🙄</p> <p>@starchild: I didn't know you were officially diagnosed already. Thinking of you! ❤️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783072 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 15:32:43 +0000 ShootingStar 2783072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a MFM doctor I saw during my 2nd pregnancy that was like this. I had the harmony test that showed everything was great to the extent the test could show. I later met with this doctor who participates in my practice and she did an ultrasound and said she found a marker for Downs and made me kind of panic. I told her about my Harmony results and she kind of pooh-poohed them. I also happened to tell her that I had some birth trauma and she essentially told me to get over it.</p> <p>I ended up refusing to see her again and I told the practice I would go out of my way to see the other MFM specialists in the hospital (vs the one out of their office). I also had the other MFM look at the area where the one doctor saw the marker and she said there was absolutely nothing there. And that the "marker" only has meaning if it's seen in conjunction with something else. My baby ended up being perfectly healthy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783041 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 14:36:23 +0000 josina 2783041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not pregnancy related, but similar situation, where a new-ish young dr. scheduled my DH for an MRI to 'rule out a brain tumor' after he'd been complaining of headaches for months.<br /> Cue a week and a half of panic where he thinks he's dying, the terror of the MRI (he's claustrophobic) and a nearly $1000 bill, and after we changed dr's, its just allergies. </p> <p>Since you're at a practice, I would just not schedule with that dr. anymore, and express your concerns to your primary OB and get his/her thoughts on it. Hopefully she's not on call when you go into labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783037 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 14:29:34 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2783037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh this story brought back memories. A brand new midwife was our primary midwife as part of the rotating practice with our son. At an ultrasound around 33 weeks for increased fluid, something extremely rare was allegedly found on the umbilical cord and our primary midwife told my wife about the issue: over the phone, NOT to look it up because it was super bad, and nothing could be done other than a referral for another specialist US which would take a week. We were beside ourselves. I honestly don't know how we made it through that week. </p> <p>We went for the US and the tech and high risk OB were also confused because they didn't see the issue. We were so relieved but I had the same feelings as you. Our son was born literally 4 days later and it ended up being a transfer of care due to PPROM so we didn't deal with the midwife anymore. In the end, we sent them a letter with feedback and filled out their survey very honestly. I was appalled at the way it was handled for something that basically gave our son a 50/50 chance of survival. I think you should absolutely follow up on this and give feedback so this physician learns and realizes that they need to handle things better. I mean, I understand a lot of things turn out to be nothing and they have to screen for everything but we were left on our own to deal with a terrifying problem that came out of nowhere and ended up as nothing. I swear I aged 10 years in that week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783016 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:39:22 +0000 Mrsbells 2783016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misolee: I feel mean even saying this but I have experience this with new doctors and dentists. Thinking something minor is actually major and I think there is just such a disconnect between being a resident and actually being the "real" doctor that has to make a decision. I think when they are newer they are over cautious and can cause unnecessary trauma over this. My old dentist was brand new and made me had a completely unnecessary gum surgery and it turned out I didnt need it at all.I had my gum sliced open and 5 stitches in my mouth for no reason! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783011 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:33:59 +0000 starchild 2783011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: this x100! </p> <p>Glad everything worked out ok! If you have her again, I would tell her directly that her handling of the explanation made you uncomfortable and exacerbated your concern. She may be less experienced and not have realized it, but she still shouldn’t be painting worst case scenarios without a confirmed diagnosis and never sending patients to google. We have been diagnosed with IUGR and my MFM doc specifically told me not to google and not to stress about it, that we will monitor everything. Of course I googled anyway but still found his approach very reassuring, he explains the tests we do and what he’s looking for so that I know the probabilities and feel grounded and realistic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783006 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:22:54 +0000 Mama Bird 2783006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry that happened, but glad it was a mis-diagnosis. I know someone who was told their son likely has Down Syndrome, which turned out not to be the case based on further testing. I don't know the particulars, but it sounded like the doctor that initially brought it up made it sound like enough of a possibly that they were worried sick. </p> <p>I've also had experience with an OB telling me that they won't make me do all the required blood tests in an early visit until they're "sure the pregnancy is viable." The only reason for them to doubt this was that I measured a week behind, so it was just a case of them running their mouth without thinking (not the only time that happened, either :bummed: )</p> <p>I don't know how to deal with doctors like that, other than possibly changing your practice. I suppose it can't hurt to bring it up nicely that they terrified you for very little reason, on the off chance that it'll help them be more thoughtful. Maybe some doctors just think that everyone finds having more info about absolutely everything that could go wrong comforting, and don't realize that showering their patients with info about the worst case scenario might come across to the patient as the doctor being sure this scenario will happen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783005 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:22:06 +0000 kiddosc 2783005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely bring it up. I can understand that she saw something and wanted you evaluated by a specialist, but I can't imagine a doctor telling you to google a serious pregnancy complication! That's always going to be nightmare fuel! </p> <p>She made an honest mistake (probably), but her delivery and handling needs a lot of work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2783003 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:18:36 +0000 Ms. RV 2783003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am sorry this happened to you. I would mention it to your primary OB. I would be more upset with the new OB diagnosing and telling you to google it over the misdiagnosis. It is really difficult to get a conclusive scan sometimes based on the baby's position. I know plenty of people who had something show up at an anatomy scan only it to be dispelled by a MFM. Things change, too. My DD had enlarged ventricles at 18 weeks and they were completely resolved by 23 weeks. A week may seem like a short time, but lots changes in that time. But for an OB to make a definitve diagnosis before the MFM is just unacceptable for something that serious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2782995 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:09:05 +0000 jhd 2782995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely bring it up to your primary OB. I’m sorry that happened to you. That must have been terribly stressful. Glad to hear your babe is ok! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2782993 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:05:17 +0000 misolee 2782993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I go to a fairly big OB practice with several locations, 10 doctors that rotate, 4 midwives, etc. This is my second pregnancy with them so I've seen pretty much everyone...and never had any regret with any of them. Sure there are some doctors and midwives who I like more but I don't have anything bad to say.</p> <p>Couple weeks ago we had a gender anatomy scan. My primary provider was at the hospital so I saw another OB. This doctor is fairly new to the practice and I was also surprised how young she looked. She saw something alarming and referred us to a specialist. She also went on and on about this condition, told us the worst case scenarios, and even suggested I read upon this condition on google to know what we were facing. I was so overwhelmed, scared, and nervous. Thankfully, the perinatologist was able to see us the following week. This doctor came and sat in the ultrasound screening and was confused as to why I was referred bc she did not see what my original OB was seeing. To make sure, we also did some blood tests to confirm and luckily everything came out okay. Probably will be on pins and needles until the baby is born but at least I have a sense of relief.</p> <p>Now, in hindsight, I'm wondering if this is common or if this new OB is being extra cautious or just if the doctor wasn't too sure. It also makes me mad that she went on and on about this condition and what we could be potentially facing if she wasn't even too sure if the baby had this condition or not. I'm glad we went to the specialist to get concrete answers but man, it was expensive bc it was also considered an outpatient service of the hospital. Bc my doctors rotate whose on call, I'm also worried this particular doctor will be on call when I do go into labor.</p> <p>Should I just stop worrying? express my concern with my primary OB? </p>