Goodbye, doctor. It's been interesting.

Hmmm...  My neuro #1 -- I should get used to calling him my ex-neuro now -- had one last chance to redeem himself in my eyes this afternoon, but he was true to form.

He dismisses my MRI results as insignificant, when that is the only test of the many I've had that came back abnormal.  He blamed the MRI tech for making my ventricles look asymmetrical.  I don't think he really looked at the MRI pictures at all.

Oh, and he "corrected" me when I said that the cisterna magna is an area behind the cerebellum that is filled with CSF.  He insisted that it holds blood.

For my main symptom, dizziness, he's referring me to a neuro-otologist, and for the rest of my symptoms (visual problems, pain behind the eyes, headaches, vibrations, zaps, chills, sensations of warm patches, worsening of tremor, difficulty concentrating or staying focused, short term memory, etc.) he has no explanation.

If I wasn't one of those obsessive patients who reads all the warnings on the stuff the pharmacy gives me with each new prescription, I might've had a pretty serious drug interaction problem from the drug he prescribed for that one episode of migraine -- a drug, incidentally, that one normally takes for the rest of one's life..  That fact surprised him when I asked about it today.

He still insists that I have carpal tunnel, even though I have no symptoms, offered no complaints about it, and saw my wife struggle with it for quite a while before having it surgically repaired, so I know what it looks like up close.  He wants to do an EMG on my left arm.  Funny, though, today he thought it was in the right arm.

I'll put him up on that ratings site that Quix pointed out after I've had a chance to digest all of this.  Might even pass the story on to the state medical board.

[jensequitur]

That's pretty sad... I can google up cisterna magna and find out what's going on in five seconds.  Sounds like he doesn't know what he's doing.

Kinda like my neuro - he's okay when it comes to spasticity and muscular/neurological problems, but when it's everything else, he's out of his depth.  When I talk about muscles cramping up unexpectedly, he perks up!  But then he goes and schedules me for a .7 Tesla MRI, so I know he has no idea what he's doing.

[CareBayer]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with your neuro as I did with mine this week. Its a terrible experience when they treat with such disregard. Im moving on from my neuro and not looking back. Please do the same. I know we are going find the good one's who will take us seriously and actually listen to our symptoms.

[PastorDan]

Yes, I read some of your posts earlier in the week.  I am moving on; all my records and documentation are at the clinic where LuLu's doctor is one of the four MS specialists, and I'm told I should expect to hear soon if they will be willing to give me a good proper exam.  If they don't see anything with which they think they can help, there's another MS specialist in the same area, strongly recommended by my wife's lead ortho, and known by reputation to my PCP.  I haven't formulated a Plan D yet; praying I won't need C, of course.

[CareBayer]

I've done the same thing with the exception my insurance company is not quite in compliance with my plans so there was a detour, but know eventually I will be on the right path. Im just hoping my body holds up.

[opie74]

I know that you will be provided with an answer.  I hope that the timeing is soon!
Ann

[Heather3418]

I hope you had your best running shoes on, when you walked or hobbled or rain out of this man's office....Left arm or is the right arm?  I can't believe the man wasn't sure which arm it was.  VERY SCARY STUFF!

Run for your life, Dan.  You need a major league doctor, not one still in the minor leagues.

Still praying for you.  I am sure that God's angels are down here on Earth with their protective arms around you, guiding you into the right direction of a GOOD Neuro.  

Many Blessings, Pastor Dan, to you and your family.

Heather

[Rena705]

I can relate to having a neurologist that doesn't quite have his own brain intact...it is a very scary thing knowing our lives are in their hands.  I have to agree with Heather...run in the opposite direction of this "doctor" as fast as you can and don't look back...only look ahead. I certainly hope that you can find a neurologist that is worthy of you and your illness and that you get some answers soon!

Lots of Hugs,
Rena

[nette573]

I am so sorry you had a bad experience with your neuro and I hope you can find one that helps you  - they are so hard to find.

[meg321]

Oh, Dan, im sorry you had to put up with that..I would report him too if I were you, but then you caught me in that mood right now

I am really fed up with Ds....my MS  specia;ist is geat but i need a pimary Dr here, i have a new one and she is nice but the only way i can even talk to her is by appt.  I dont believe her lousy office staff even gives her messages.

I just always thought Dr.s should be more acessable, mine always have been up to now. I have to make an appt to even talk to her or ask a simple question.  Or have a med changed..I dont think i am wrong...am I?  

I can't see paying a Dr and taking time off for something like that.

Oh, and the stroke I had 6 yrs ago, NOT a stroke.  NO carpel tunnel either..on and on.

Keep us posted..meg

[Sarahsmom46]

Another neuro for  the weenie roast tonight, eh?  You'll have better luck with your next neurologist.  It is good to get a fesh set of eyes to look at you and give an unbiased objective opinion.  I fired my first neuro for simialr reasons that you did.  They develop an opinion right from the start and keep looking for ways to prove themselves right.  The only one that hurst is us - the patients.  So, lets give his guy the heeve-ho.....  

Julie

[Wobbly]

well..off you go and good luck with the next one...if you find one that helps...let me know...take care

wobbly
undx

[wonko]

I think you are wise to not waste further time on a doctor who obviously can not help you.

My 1st neuro dismissed my abnormal MRI, saying "anyone can have spots."  The two other neuros who saw it (one of whom is at a large teaching university) visually recoiled when I showed them my MRI and told them about his take on things.

Like you, my MRI was my only abnormal test for a long time, and the lesions on it can be explained by my diagnosis (Lyme).  I can't believe that a doctor would ignore signs of damage to the brain of a person with neuro symptoms!

I find it odd that doctors seem annoyed or irritated when patients show interest in learning about their illness/symptoms.  Several doctors that I've seen (note my use of past tense) expressed their disapproval of anyone who researches their condition online.  

Really?  I don't get it.  If I'm in the market to buy an item I don't know much about (like, a new computer, and I want to know what's the latest and greatest), I research the matter.  Why on earth would I not do the same when it's my own body that I have questions about?  I don't think I would have my diagnosis yet were it not for my online research.  

Maybe they worry about people imaging that they have every condition they read about.  But somatization and hypochondria existed before the internet, and are not the same as taking interest in your own health!

Personally, I think doctors who are against patients researching for themselves are just insecure.  :-)

Good luck finding a better doctor to help you unravel things.  

[deborah0904]

So sorry you are going through this.  I really, really, really feel your frustration!
I'm praying for you.

[ChunkyMonkeysMommy]

It must be in the air, from all these posts I'm reading, eh? I'm truly sorry, but I'm sure that you know, in your heart of hearts, that this just wasn't the right one, plain and simple. Think of it as God protecting you from a nutcase, lol. God will send the right one your way. I pray that it is soon and that you can get some relief and peace of mind, friend.