Prior to dx, how much total face time did you have with a neuro?

[Artanis12]

There really is method to my madness here.  I'm interested in some general non-scientific info about how much time we all spent communicating with the neuros who diagnosed us.  Not the nurse, or PA, but the doctor him or herself.  I'm going to put poll choices that include actual face time, not phone, although if you want to add a post about how much extra time you spent in phone conversations, post away.

[Artanis12]

Well, other than a trip to my GP, and  a visit with a neurologist I had been previously seeing for nerve pain in my legs that was made much worse after a heart surgery (5.5 hours flat on your back can do that) and who passed me off to an MS specializing colleague, I did not actually meet the neuro who diagnosed me until he already diagnosed me. He didn't get my actual history or meet me until he already knew I had MS, talking in person was almost a formality, rather than necessary.  So I put in less than an hour.  (We did talk quite a bit over the phone though)

[kwarendorf]

It's not really black & white for me. I saw a general neurologist twicew, each visit lasted about 30 minutes. Towards the end of the second visit she said "I'm 85% certain you have MS. You need an MS specialist and I'm not an MS specialist." (The most accurate and helpful information I have ever gotten from a doc!)

The MS specialist to whom I was referred was a nightmare. FIrst visit took 3 hours, of which I was in his presence for 20 minutes. The rest of the time was spent in the waiting room or in an exam room that he kept leaving. He was fired ;-) The next, and current, MS specialist is a gift from God. THe first appointment lasted 3 hours, of which I was in his presence for about 2:15. Then amonth later the second 3 Hour apointment, and agian I was with him for 2:15!

Kyle

[HVAC]

I saw my neurologist three times for 20 minutes a time. My first visit he looked over my notes from other neurologists. Second visit the MRI the third MRI and LP report.

Since 2010 I have seen my Neurologist twice. My joke is I see him more at MS Society Dinners. The guy has thousands of patients and there is not a lot he can do for me. If I really needed him I could get in. Th PA spends an hour with me.

Alex

[Corriel]

I saw my neuro for the first time and gave him my biggest symptom along with a complete medical history of every major illness/surgery I could think of. He did a 2-minute neuro exam but never shared the results.

He read it my history  while speaking to me and told me I didn't have MS and that if I did it would be so minor (because I didn't present typically) that I wouldn't require treatment.

He told me I could wait a year and do an MRI or do a spinal tap. I opted for the tap. He also said he wanted to rule out a few things with blood tests. That appointment lasted about 30 minutes.

I saw him a few weeks later for the tap. About 5 minutes for the procedure so I'll count that. A week later his office called me to see him.

I got my DX at appointment #2 and he gave me a list of meds to research and told me to come back in a month to tell him which one I wanted.

All total 35 minutes pre-DX and then the DX during the first minute of my second appointment.

Corrie

[immisceo]

About 30 minutes when they did rounds in the hospital for a quick exam and to discuss my test results (= CIS) and then about five minutes to confirm the ON that clinched the MS diagnosis about five weeks later. Under an hour. I've spent a LOT of time with them since then, however. Being on a clinical trial gets you lots of face time.