I would think it would be better to be up front about it, rather than have him just find out. Have any idea how he will handle it? Do you still want to work with him? He may even think it's a good idea! I was struggling with this issue as well. I think I am going to have to get a 2nd opinion from a thyroidologist - it will mean going out of state - so I have been trying to put it off. I do respect my endo and would want to continue to work with her,but she has no explanation for why my body is reacting this way, and no other patients "like" me. She had me go to 2 different ENT's for surgical 2nd opinions, so I hope she won't have a problem.I am still nervous about bringing it up, though!

I think I will just reply to his e-mail saying that I hadnt heard back and it was getting worse, interfering with my rotation, and I was concerned. So when one of the attendings I was working with offerred to to set me up with someone for a second opinion it seemed like a good idea to me....I dont know if I want to work with him in the future. I am sort of pissed at him (I think a lot of it is honestly "transference" - this is a crappy injury which I am annoyed at so I get annoyed at him) and dont totally like the way he is managing it. But I dont know - part of it depends on what the orthopod has to say this week. If I were you, I would just tell her you want a second opinion because you are still having trouble. Most doctors are totally happy to recommend someone - if she is any good, she should be confident enough to know that what she is offerring is appropriate, even if it isnt working, and while the second opinion might have other recommendations, he or she will probably respect her decisions. (Remember - medicine is an art! There is no perfect approact to a problem, and there are many different appropriate treatments.) Easy to say when it isnt me telling my doctor I dont want to see him anymore, huh!

I think that sounds great - it was a good approach. Your advice helps me too . BTW, I not only respect my endo's opinion, I also like her as a person, and I agree that medicine is an "art". The all about us thread! Tomorrow we can start fresh! Good luck with that appointment.

My broken tibia's healed, find out the results of my knee MRI on Tuesday. I don't care what's wrong with it, i just want to know how to fix it. I've been going stir crazy with no real running for the last few weeks and being unable to remember the last time I ran pain free.

I got an e-mail back - 2 sentences. "no problem. who are you seeing?"