Got in with a specialist!! What to ask/talk about?!?

[Ally1561]

Hey everyone!
I had sent my MRI report & referral to Dr. Menezes in Iowa City & he accepted me! He called me last week saying he could see me in TWO weeks!!  Sooo... next week is my appt!   What should I all ask/talk about when I see him?!?

[selmaS]

Me too and most Chiari Drs are aware of our brain fog and how long it takes for us to compute...lol.....so they r more willing to work with us via e-mail.,

Most Drs staff r not worth their weight in salt....I found very few that actually knew how to work and keep things straight as far as info goes.

[Ally1561]

That is a great suggestion to ask the Dr. for post-visit contact info! I have never asked a dr before and without fail the moment I walk out of their office I start listing off questions that I should have asked!  I usually call back & ask a nurse who pretty much always gets the info wrong or calls me back with some completely un-related answer! I hate going thru nurses!

[selmaS]

  It seems to happen to all of us so be open to the possibility and have someone with u and u will be ok, the best info u can ask is how can u contact the Dr after the visit once u have time to digest what u r told : )

Mine gave me his e-mail....and was prompt in replying.

[Ally1561]

ugh... I fear that happening!  In that way... I am Terrible!  When I go in to an appt and it goes nothing like I expect and I get surprising or different results... I am like a deer in the headlights and just stand there til the truck comes! Lol

In the next week, I will try to remember to be prepared for that possiblity!

[selmaS]

  Well by open mind I also mean u may come out with a diff dx then u expect too...u just never know. I went in for Chiari, they wanted to do tethered cord release...so it can throw u off balance and we r already off balance....so take someone u can count on to keep  on point with the questions and write down the key points of the visit.

I did not get the TC release surgery yet as the Drs changed their minds,,...so u can never be ready...lol...

[Ally1561]

Thank you for the list, I just printed it out so I can add them to my notebook!  I definitely have an open mind regarding conservative treatment options! I absolutely do not want surgery & pray it isn't recommended at all!!

[selmaS]

  Hi...first go in with an open mind, some NS's like to try PT and PM first and do more testing to see just how ur r being affected by the chiari.....we do have a list of questions for the NS in the Health Pages to make it easy, but it does depend on what he tells u.....so it can be diff to be prepared.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological%20Disorders/Questions-for-a-Chiari-NS/show/1155?cid=186

Congratulations and Good Luck- keep us posted : )