Bringing a journal article w/me to neuro?

[anon07072023]

Hi, Do you think it would be frowned upon if I brought a journal article with me to my neuro appt?  
I don't want to offend him, but then I want to show him this information. Has anyone done this and how was it received or do you have any suggestions?

Of course, I'm not going to be rude to him or anything like that (ha ha - can anyone imagine ME being rude???) :-)

Thanks,
Kelly

[anon07072023]

Thanks Wobbly, Sarah, and Eric.  Oh, I'm going to bring all sorts of stuff with me when I see him in a week or so.  I do think he will be a wee-bit overwhelmed, because some of the forms I'm bringing are disability forms.  So - he'll have those to deal with, plus my scholarly journal article, and my personal journal, too.  

Thanks,
Kelly    

[LazyFisher]

Hi Kelly,

I have to second what Sarah said.  It is all about you.

I've been where you are.  Back when I was first diagnosed (18 years ago).  I read everything I could about MS.  When I had questions I'd write them down and take the list with me to my appointment.  If I have questions about a specific article or whatever I would always take it with me.

Good luck!

Eric
- 'God does not deduct from a man's allotted time the hours spent fishing.' -unknown

[Sparkysarah]

Hi Kelly

I don't think I can add anything else to the helpful suggestions that you have already been given but I just want to pick out a couple of things you have said;  "I don't want to offend him" "I don't want to be rude to him "I don't want to overwhelm him"

You are a very kind, polite woman and I am not suggesting that you change this lovely pesonality so I just want to say..THIS IS ABOUT YOU!    It is not about the neuro's feelings as he is a professional and responsible for himself. The only person you should be concerned about is you and making sure that you say what you want to, express your own feelings and feel that you have been heard. If taking the journal enables you to find your voice then listen to your own instinct but be prepared to say this in person as well.

Let us know how you get on

Best wishes

Sarah

[Wobbly]

I brought a timeline when I saw the MS specialist, they took it and said good and thanks for bringing it.  

I've taken a timeline to other neuro before I was Dx and they just took it and didn't look at it.  They just asked questions and brushed me off.

good luck and let us know how things go
wobbly

[anon07072023]

I don't want to overwhelm him.  Although, I think it's worth a shot to talk to him about the study.  I'm going to bring it with me to my appt.      

[COBOB]

Kelly,
I think the docs at RMMS are a bit different.  Most are professors at the Med School and many are in residency and post-residency programs.  Consider, I was told to "go look at and research the different DMDs on the web and decide."  I think most of these docs can deal with patients trying to manage their disease.

At least that has been my opinion of the nurse practitioners and doctors there.

Bob

[shermay]

Well - for example - I went to my Neuro today and I forgot nearly half of the things I wanted to mention.

I am now going to have to email the questions I forgot to ask:/

I personally do not think that it would be rude or impolite, just hand over your journal and compress it down if you can - so he doesn't get bored (as they do, so appears to be the case:/)

I wish today that I had done the same thing.

Debs  (and don't forget a pen and paper to write down his comments - again just like I did)

[SarahL2491]

I say go for it, if he's a good neuro, he will politely thank you and whether or not he reads it is up to him.  it will certainly give you a LOT of insight as to how he thinks and how he reacts to suggestions..............so it will give you a "read" on him.......profile if you wish to call it !!
nothing ventured, nothing gained

[anon07072023]

These are all good thoughts to consider. I think I may tread lightly and see how it goes.
I mean, I really don't want to upset him in any way.  Sadie, I think I may take the approach that you suggested. We'll see....

Thanks,
Kelly    

[sadie405]

I think Mary laid it out perfectly-- this kind of thing can be tricky. I wish it weren't. I will say, though, that you can learn a lot about a doc by how they respond. The good ones will be respectful, even interested. They won't condescend. They will take the time to explain why or why not they think what you've brought up is  relevant to your particular case.

I say go for it. For me, I try to seem humble(obviously I'm not a doc, and I'm not pretending to be one), but not apologetic(I'm an intelligent, literate person whose entire life is at stake so yes I've been reading)  I usually say, "I've been trying to better understand and I was wondering if this might be relevant."

Let us know what happens. :)

Sadie

[twopack]

It can depend on so many things Kelly - how you present it, confidence level of doc, ego size of doc, subject matter, how bad you want to share, if the subject has ever been broached in the past, article author, source publication, year of publication, article length - to name a few.

Perfect scenario in my mind?  Your doc is as open and informed as Lulu's MSologist.  You tell him you would like to know what he thinks about something you read recently and give him a one or two line synopsis of the info essence.  You take along a copy of the article (one you are willing to part with) in case the doc sounds like he is interested in reading it.

Depending on doc's response you may decide to thank him and drop it there (and leave the courtesy copy tucked away).  You might ask how this applies to your own situation (if this is the purpose in bringing it up).  You may think of a follow-up question to ask based on doc's response.  And/or you might offer to leave the article so he can keep it to look over later.

Of course, if this is general information you want to share rather than anything specific to your own case, just make the copy and hand it to the doc (or his nurse) with a "Thought you might find this interesting" sticky note attached.  

It is entirely possible I overthink such things but years of communication challenges in offices where everyone is pressured by time restraints have taught me it often pays off.  Hope this works out the way you intend.  I know you have had many questions swirling around your head in search of answers recently.

Mary

[Ojibajo]

No, I do that all that time. I have even once had my son's pediatrician ask me to see the article that I read about something.