Danielle doesn’t feel like a medical miracle. But after experiencing a stroke at the age of 33, being misdiagnosed for several months and enduring complications from brain surgery, her health journey is truly extraordinary.

Unfortunately, Danielle and her husband Stan had a number of difficult conversations with the not-so-sympathetic specialists who treated her along the way.

What were those conversations like? Should we tolerate a certain amount of arrogance from medical professionals at the top of their field? And what is the best way to approach healthcare conversations when your life is at stake? 

On this episode of Tell Me More, Danielle joins me to explain why her husband, Stan questioned her initial diagnosis of AVM and walk us through her interactions with the three high-profile neurosurgeons she went to for a second opinion. 

Danielle describes how she learned that she had been misdiagnosed and was still in danger, sharing her experience with surgery to fix the irregular connection in her brain and why she didn’t love her doctor’s bedside manner—but trusted his confidence.

Listen in to understand why it’s crucial to have an advocate when your health is compromised and learn to listen to your gut in challenging conversations with healthcare providers.

Key Takeaways

Danielle’s experience of having a stroke as a 33-year-old mom

Why Danielle’s husband Stan questioned her initial diagnosis of AVM

How the neurosurgeon reacted to a request for a second opinion

Danielle’s interactions with the 3 high-profile specialists her husband sought out

How Danielle learned she had been misdiagnosed

How the vascular neurosurgeon delivered the news that Danielle was still in danger

Why we tolerate arrogance in a physician when paired with skill

How Danielle was blindsided by the possibility of needing a craniotomy

The relationship between a positive attitude and a positive health outcome

How Danielle’s doctor reacted to her complications from surgery

Danielle’s advice on listening to your gut when talking to healthcare providers

Why it’s crucial to have an advocate if your health is compromised

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Email christine@christinemeyermd.com