Is Dr confident or cocky?

I just had my consultation with a male gyn who specializes in the latest lap procedures. He spent an HOUR with me!! He saw my notes, took them from me, read them and answered every question I had listed on there!

He was very confident that he could do a myomectomy on my orange sized fibroid and a uterine lift all laporascopically. He said he spends time getting to know his patients, telling them all the choices they have, the risks involved etc, and for that reason he has never had a lawsuit filed against him in 11 years of practice. He has only had 4 patients whereby he had to open them up abdominally because of complications and he wanted to know what my preference was as to how to procede if he ran into a heavy bleeding problem during the myomectomy. He explained that he had a better way of lifting the uterus than what is normally done by other doctors. I forget the terminology already.

All I have to say is that I'm glad this website was available for me to do research on as well as some of the other helpful links. At least I was familiar already with my choices. I was prepared to hear him say that I need a hyst, but according to him, it's not necessary. Guess I won't be a princess after all.

I was just wondering if anyone else had a doctor with such self confidence almost to the point that he seemed like he was selling himself? I never spent an hour with a dr in my life! If he's so great, how come he has so much time? Am I being too paranoid here?
Rainy

Hi Rainy,
I think its great that you have a gyn who was able to spend an hour with you, and actually took your list of questions and went though them one at a time.

I also think its great that he is confident in his ability, and success rate etc. And perhaps thats just what he likes to do with new patients to ease their mind. I as well am surprised he did have that much time to spend with you, although I have an oncologist who has on several occasions spend 30 minutes with me after a checkup. And this was a clinic setting where he had a ton of patients to see that day. And I think the world of him and he is one of the best here. So...it may be that this is just the way he works.

However if you have questions or doubts you can always seek a second opinion. Do you know anyone else who has been to this doctor? If not than perhaps a second opinion would ease your mind, and then you could go from there.

Best of luck to you!!
Hugs
Maria

Hi Maria,
Actually this doctor WAS my second opinion. My original gyn suggested a hysterectomy because she thought that the fibroid being so close to the bladder might be too risky to remove. She doesn't do myomectomies, so she referred me to this other dr.
I think he's ok. I don't know any other patients who have gone to him, but the nurse at my gyn's office said she worked with this guy in the operating room and said he's excellent. She said he does all that "fancy" stuff. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go ahead and "book" my reservation as it were. I'm anxious to get this over with. I'm tired of worrying about this fibroid and wondering how much bigger it will get and how much more discomfort it's going to give me. Ahhh, being a woman. Fun, isn't it?
Thanks for responding to my post take care.

Rainy

Have you considered a third opinion? I would also try to check this doctor out with your local American Medical Association. See if he's really as good as he claims and if there has ever been a patient complaint.

Ask your friends and co-workers if they know anyone who is a patient or has been to see him.

Make 100% sure that you are comfortable with whatever decision you make. Also discuss with him what will happen if he can't do the repairs laproscopically? Would he do a hysterectomy if things are worse than originally thought?

Bless you in whatever you decide to do and PLEASE keep us up to date. Even if it's just to say "hi".

Hi again Rainy,
Oh I see..so this was a second opinion. Well you know in that case......I think if it were me, and I trusted the nurses opinion, that worked with him in OR, than I would probably go with him.
I might ask this same nurse, if she required surgery would she feel she was in good hands with him, but it sounds like her answer would be yes!! I have a sister who is a retired nurse and I know that I would trust her judgement completely as to who was a good doctor. They work with a lot of doctors, and get to know who is good and who isn't!!
All the best to you Rainy!!
Hugs
Maria