How many of you.....?

[Quixotic1]

Recently someone challenged me that people aren't dismissed, disdained, discarded or humiliated by neurologists as often as I seem to imply.  How many of you (with a brief description) have come away from a doctor visit angry, in tears, feeling humilated, or feeling ignored?  How many of you have had doctors imply that your symptoms were insignificant or stress-related or imagined?

After the second year that my first "evil" neuro dismissed me as "okay", despite worsening spasticity and then had the gall to suggest that all I wanted was to get medical testing as an attention-seeker (specifically the LP) - I swore that no matter what happen to me, I was never going to risk that with another docotr and cancelled all further appointments.  See my Journal entry.

I would just like to see a showing of posts on who has been treated this way.

Quix

[ShadowsSister]

Hi There, I came across this OLD Post of yours but feel it hasn't become Outdated at all.
As you know I haven't had any thing nice to say about any of the Neuros I have seen in the past 23 years. Sorry to say as of this date that hasn't changed.
I did see one decent one back in 1995, but once I was no longer able to stand riding in a car19997 I had to change to a Doctor in town, needless to say HE WAS FIRED after going to him for six months ( I wanted to give him a fair chance) He was like all the others that I fired... I was treated like a #... he was disgusted with me because nothing he tried worked, he said " I think you enjoy being this way" That was the Last Straw! I knew I was right all a long..HE WAS CRAZY!!! I fired him on the spot, told him I wouldn't be making any more appointments.  This was around the time my bladder started giving me a lot of problems, he kept saying it was my age, nothing to do with the MS. I knew he was Wrong. I was 53 and I was also getting the feelings of my tush being shocked with a live wire every time I rode in a car. Yes! He seriously said, it was because of my age, and NOT THE MS! How Stupid did he think I was.
I am so grateful that Dr. Patel had the sense to send me to a GOOD Urologist who knew about MS effecting the bladder and Dr. Yamada was willing to take me on.It's hard to believe we have been together for almost ten years.
This is why I'll never go to another Neurologist.. They just haven't been worth my time or the effort I have to make to get to my Doctors. It was a Neurosurgeon who made the DX of MS when he saw my MRI. I bet a Neurologist would have missed it.
I might sound bitter, and on this subject I am..... I have experienced to many bad ones, and after reading how many others have had to suffer because of a Bad Neurologist it makes my blood boil...
Sorry for the RANT, but I sure feel better ;-)
{{{{~!~}}}}

[Eyesnlegs]

You asked for brief - so here it is:

My problems with doctors and neuros are in My Story in my journal.

In my neck of the woods we have 2 neuros - one is so arrogant it's untrue and the other is lovely but hopeless and semi retired (I have not met the latter and this is heresay)

I have been pre-menopusal and menopausal for 20 years apparently

Oh and I forgot the stress, depression, poor diet, overweight, lack of sunshine, lack of exercise, workaholic, hypochondriac, neurotic female syndrome too!!!!

If I hadn't found you guys I would have been locked up for my own good by now I'm sure of it.

Pat

[goofysmom1]

Here is my "evil neuro" story:

I too have been dismissed (neuro #1) and told that I was being too "aware" of my symptoms (neuro #2).

First neuro:  wanted to "rule out" MS - did an MRI brain without contrast and an ENG/VNG test.  Came back for my results:  everything "normal".  He said that because the MRI is normal, I don't have MS.  He thought that I might be having "some sort of sensory seizure".  When I began to ask questions, he stood up & shook my hand and ushered me out of his office. The appointment lasted 13 minutes.  I discovered later when requesting my medical reports from neuro #1, that the radiologist noted a UBO on the corpus callosum - unknown significance.  Also, the doctor who performed the ENG/VNG test put in his notes to the neuro that he felt that a CNS disorder should be ruled out as a cause for my vertigo.

Second neuro (at a very well known medical center):  The first thing he said to me upon meeting me:  I can't guarantee that we are going to be able to help you. Okay.  Well nice to meet you too.  I told him that I had my symptom list, and a timeline, which he declined to look at.  He wanted me to "tell him about my symptoms".  He did a neuro exam & told me that my exam was "mostly normal"....He also wanted to "rule out MS".

In my final appointment to go over the tests (EMG, MRI (no contrast) of T & C spine, blood work galore and VEP - all normal - he tells me that all they can find is a severe Vitamin D deficiency and that I am "too aware of my symptoms" and that "a lot of people have these same symptoms"....really?  A lot of healthy people experience vertigo, numbness & tingling, bladder issues, hip pain, blurred vision in one eye/pain in eye, sharp burning pain, fatigue, sensitivity to heat, sharp, quick pains....okay....well I guess I am normal then!  He told me to go home & "try not to think about my symptoms so much".. he also said that he "thought that something was going on, but until something shows up on a test, there is nothing he can do"...

Just recently I received all of my reports from that well known facility, and in neuro #2's chart notes - he noted that I have "left disk pallor" in my left eye.  I asked in the neurology "ask a doctor" forum here on MedHelp, what that meant & Dr. Kantor told me that it usually means that there has been some previous damage to the optic disk.  He suggested seeing a neuroopthamologist.

Why didn't neuro #2 tell me this?  Who knows.  Why didn't I see a neuroopthamologist while I was at the well known facility?  Who knows.  Neuro #2 sure didn't see any reason to tell me anything.

Where are the doctors who WANT to listen to their patients?  I would like to meet one someday.

Chrisy

[uk2]

Neuro in my visit to him 3 times in 2007 told me at the end of it maybe i had "samantha lewin disease" (my name)

and at this first appointment going back he said "i dont have your writtian notes so cant compare to last time,but i think i remember you??" we can order the brain MRI but i doubt it will show anything new"

ARSEHOLE

Rheumy

"i cant help you you dont have fibromyalgia but i see you in apin but cant tell you why" hopeyour better soon.

DOUBLE ARSEHOLE

THAT FELT BETTER LOL

[jensequitur]

Is it just me, or are specialists really the worst offenders?

I've heard lots about how I should see a specialist at least once... but the experiences of so many here with MS specialists makes me really leery.

[greenandchic]

I saw a Neurologist for the first time this past November when I first started having symptoms.  Basically he said I was “fine” and I need to stop looking on the internet.  

If I haven’t kept doing research online, I probably would have never been Dx by a competent Neurologist two months later.  I probably wouldn’t fount out until I would have been rush to the ER for now being able to stand up during the beginning of a replace two weeks after diagnosis.