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How much to say at new appointment
I have considered telling my new doctor up front that I am tired of being told I have psychological issues when I have already been tested and found to be sane, balanced, not depressed, and "even if it were depression it would not be causing these types of symptoms."
I have a wonderful husband who has supported me the whole way, 7 great kids whom I love and actually wanted (imagine that!), two sons in law, two grand babies, tons of help, and a great support system. Life has not been better.
I am angry but I know that is not going to get me very far. My MS doctor was just so insulting.
I don't know if I need to go in to this new appointment and sit quietly like I normally do or what. I do not want to seem angry and defensive.
Do I tell her the previous doctor said he agrees I have MS but to go off of all of my meds because my symptoms do not match my lesion?
Or sit quietly and answer only the questions she asks?
If this neuro works out it will be wonderful because she is only a half hour drive from my home and every thing will be local.
Not sure what to do.
LA dx'd Ms 2008
I have a wonderful husband who has supported me the whole way, 7 great kids whom I love and actually wanted (imagine that!), two sons in law, two grand babies, tons of help, and a great support system. Life has not been better.
I am angry but I know that is not going to get me very far. My MS doctor was just so insulting.
I don't know if I need to go in to this new appointment and sit quietly like I normally do or what. I do not want to seem angry and defensive.
Do I tell her the previous doctor said he agrees I have MS but to go off of all of my meds because my symptoms do not match my lesion?
Or sit quietly and answer only the questions she asks?
If this neuro works out it will be wonderful because she is only a half hour drive from my home and every thing will be local.
Not sure what to do.
LA dx'd Ms 2008
I know it is hard but try not to worry. A good friend said once everything I ever worried about happening to my son never came to pass. Other things I had not thought about happened but not what I worried about.
Worry is trying to control a future outcome and we can't.
You are a good person, be kind to yourself. Do something nice for yourself today and leave the past and the future in the past and future.
Alex
Worry is trying to control a future outcome and we can't.
You are a good person, be kind to yourself. Do something nice for yourself today and leave the past and the future in the past and future.
Alex
Thank you Alex. I am thankful I have this board to come to and complain. This doctor really did a job on me and it is very upsetting.
I will try to put him out of my mind but now I am really nervous about the next one I am seeing.
LA
I have been to five Neurologists so far. They were all "Just the facts types". I brought all my records, my medications, and my medical history. I let them lead the dance. Each had there way of approaching it.
I got emotional once because the neurologist started treating me for head aches and I had been sent by another neurologist to finish testing for MS. It was my third visit and I questioned her.She would not look at my records. She pick up my chart threw it on the receptionist desk and walked a way. I never got another appointment.
Since then I say very little. I wait until the neurologist is finished and ask my questions. With all of them I am only allowed to address one problem. They will say what gives you the most problem not what is every symptom you have ever had.
Except for the one Neurologist they have figured the MS out each on his or her own. Each meeting has been 15 to 20 minutes even the diagnosis meeting.
I have learned from talking to a lot of people and doing research that "Neurologist time" is usually months and even years". Rechecks every six months if the diagnosis is not clear is normal for the discipline. Sometimes a diagnosis is made quickly but this is the exception to the rule.
Four Neurologist said I had MS from my first MRI which was not MS protocol but I was not officially diagnosed for years even though every test indicated MS and all the blood work for other things was negative.
If anything do not waste precious time with this Doctor reliving past experiences. Go in with an open mind and let him look at the evidence objectively.
The other thing is the MS Specialty is small you do not want to talk badly about a neurologist to another neurologist. Chances are they know each other and have formed their own opinions. I have had neurologists read other neurologists' notes and think the other doctor did a less than thorough job.
I go in with no expectations and come out surprised by the knowledge these doctors have.
Alex
I got emotional once because the neurologist started treating me for head aches and I had been sent by another neurologist to finish testing for MS. It was my third visit and I questioned her.She would not look at my records. She pick up my chart threw it on the receptionist desk and walked a way. I never got another appointment.
Since then I say very little. I wait until the neurologist is finished and ask my questions. With all of them I am only allowed to address one problem. They will say what gives you the most problem not what is every symptom you have ever had.
Except for the one Neurologist they have figured the MS out each on his or her own. Each meeting has been 15 to 20 minutes even the diagnosis meeting.
I have learned from talking to a lot of people and doing research that "Neurologist time" is usually months and even years". Rechecks every six months if the diagnosis is not clear is normal for the discipline. Sometimes a diagnosis is made quickly but this is the exception to the rule.
Four Neurologist said I had MS from my first MRI which was not MS protocol but I was not officially diagnosed for years even though every test indicated MS and all the blood work for other things was negative.
If anything do not waste precious time with this Doctor reliving past experiences. Go in with an open mind and let him look at the evidence objectively.
The other thing is the MS Specialty is small you do not want to talk badly about a neurologist to another neurologist. Chances are they know each other and have formed their own opinions. I have had neurologists read other neurologists' notes and think the other doctor did a less than thorough job.
I go in with no expectations and come out surprised by the knowledge these doctors have.
Alex
I'm with Quix. Try to avoid details about what other doctors did or said that made you mad, confused, or whatever. Don't tell that whole story. Just put the focus on WHAT YOU NEED NOW.
Formulate this in your mind ahead of time. Say up front why you're there and what you need. Because it seems to me that doctors mainly want to focus on what they can DO for you, not on being able to figure everything out and give you all the answers.
(Of course, there are a few doctors who just want you out of their office and don't really care about what they can do for you, but these are a small minority, I think.)
Good luck!!
Formulate this in your mind ahead of time. Say up front why you're there and what you need. Because it seems to me that doctors mainly want to focus on what they can DO for you, not on being able to figure everything out and give you all the answers.
(Of course, there are a few doctors who just want you out of their office and don't really care about what they can do for you, but these are a small minority, I think.)
Good luck!!
Hi LA
I am glad you have found a new Neurologist and I hope that this one is a keeper, you certainly have done the right thing changing doctors. I will be thinking of you, fingers crossed that the appointment goes well.
Good luck with it all, keep us posted on how it goes,
In my thoughts,
Udkas.
I am glad you have found a new Neurologist and I hope that this one is a keeper, you certainly have done the right thing changing doctors. I will be thinking of you, fingers crossed that the appointment goes well.
Good luck with it all, keep us posted on how it goes,
In my thoughts,
Udkas.
LA - I'm with Lulu. Bring the whole issue up and do it as calmly as you can. Do not go into saying bad things about the other neuro. But, you can say something about, "I'm looking for a neurologist that won't tell me I must be stressed or that doesn't see a lesion for every symptom I have." And then tell them that you have already been the psych route because of this nonsense and found to be all those things you mentioned.
I hope she is everything you need!
Quix
I hope she is everything you need!
Quix
COMMUNITY LEADER
What about saying I have MS! My mental health was questioned due to how MY MS is affecting ME. I have a clean mental health assessment and although there is no corroborating evidence the neurologist i was seeing did not believe I need any of my medications, and had the attitude of 'get over it'.
What i am looking for is a neurologist who is going to treat MY MS in anyway that works for ME, someone who i trust to advice me with my best interest formost in their mind. Are you that person?
Good luck!
Cheers..........JJ
What i am looking for is a neurologist who is going to treat MY MS in anyway that works for ME, someone who i trust to advice me with my best interest formost in their mind. Are you that person?
Good luck!
Cheers..........JJ
Thanks Erin. I hope this one goes well. I was seeing an MS specialist and he retired so I had to find another one.
The one I found was not so good so now I am on to a new doctor.
this one is a woman and I hope that will make some difference.
I hope..........
LA
The one I found was not so good so now I am on to a new doctor.
this one is a woman and I hope that will make some difference.
I hope..........
LA
my opinion would be tell her everything upfront that you feel and would want to know. She should have the whole picture about what is going on. thats just my opinion tho. Good luck with and hope it goes well!
Thank you Lulu,
I am still on my meds. I have refills and decided to stay on them until I see this new doctor.
I tried to lower my Neurontin dose but I was in a lot of pain so I went back up. I was started on these meds for a reason, stupid doctor.
I do want to address the mental issue. I will take a copy of my report from the psychitrist and hand it to her.
LA
I am still on my meds. I have refills and decided to stay on them until I see this new doctor.
I tried to lower my Neurontin dose but I was in a lot of pain so I went back up. I was started on these meds for a reason, stupid doctor.
I do want to address the mental issue. I will take a copy of my report from the psychitrist and hand it to her.
LA
That is sure a tough one - since you don't know the personality of the new neuro.
If it were me I would probably get the question of your mental state out on the table early on in establishing my relationship. I see nothikng wrong with telling her you have had the tests and got the gold star on passing.
I'm not so sure I would get into the drug withdrawal from the crazy neuro. I think I might skip that part. I would just approach it that you want to work with a neuro closer to home and let the questioning go the direction that new neuro wants to take.
good luck with the switch - it just makes sense to do this when neuro #1 took your meds away.
be well,
Lulu
If it were me I would probably get the question of your mental state out on the table early on in establishing my relationship. I see nothikng wrong with telling her you have had the tests and got the gold star on passing.
I'm not so sure I would get into the drug withdrawal from the crazy neuro. I think I might skip that part. I would just approach it that you want to work with a neuro closer to home and let the questioning go the direction that new neuro wants to take.
good luck with the switch - it just makes sense to do this when neuro #1 took your meds away.
be well,
Lulu
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