Well, not really trick her, but someone please let me know what are the buttons to press which will get me referred to a specialist without waiting for 6 months and 4 more appointments with the PCP.
At issue: my heart. I’d like to get an expert (Cardiologist) opinion of my heart health and get a better idea of prevention, need for cholesterol reducing drugs now instead of later, etc.
It took over a year and 5 appointments with my primary care physician to finally get to see and ENT specialist about my sinus congestion, so I’d like to know what symptoms or issues to be sure to tell the doc about (or exaggerate if necessary) to get into see the specialist.
My health status, so far: “high” cholesterol level, tested a few years ago (at 230-240 range), but not tested at the HDL-LDL(??) level. Family history of high cholesterol, grandfather dead of a heart attack, uncle dead of a heart attack, father currently with coronary artery disease possibly needing open heart surgery. I’m a little too sedentary in that I don’t really exercise aerobically at all, although I do play a little basketball, splash around in the pool, chase my toddler. I’m male, age 34, 205 lbs (probably about 20 lbs overweight for a 6 footer). I don’t smoke, but I do eat too much red meat, cheese, eggs, and fatty foods. I do get a little too out of breath and/or a little dizzy when I do something (like 1-on-1 basketball) too long. Fairly stressful job, sometimes with many concurrent deadlines.
I’m pretty sure that without any current symptoms (i.e. chest pains) she won’t be willing to refer me on to the Cardiologist because I’m too young. I’m guessing I’m probably moderate-to-high risk for heart disease down the road, but I’d like to get an expert opinion and find out what some of my options are with regard to my heart health now and prevention ideas.
So, what symptoms and aspects should I be sure to address with my PCP?
BTW, you can’t generally self-refer to a cardiologist, and I don’t want to pay $$$$ for testing if that cardiologist wants tests done without first going through the PCP (if I could somehow get in on my own). I don’t believe my PCP-HMO has my LONG-TERM health in mind, so I doubt they would be willing to automatically refer me on to the specialist because it would cost them NOW.