Question for those who choose NOT to medicate.

[peastalker]

Hello,
I have chose not to use meds in my treatment of my MS. I am doing well. My question to those of you who do not medicate is: Do your Dr's  and/or Neuros seem to push them every visit and dismiss or not take your concerns seriously when you visit. Every time I go in for my 6 month, and let him know whats going on (changes in vision or new sensations or whatever he says it's because I'm not on any medication and until I relent, there is nothing he could do. I mean he would have me on over 10 different things.I guess my rant is about the approach based on my choice. My insurance seems to only pay for certain Dr's. No naturopaths or DHM's , only those that want to give me a pill to silence me. Just would like to hear your thoughts and advice. Please no responses from those questioning my decision or advice or statistics to try to change my mind.
Thank You.

[sllowe]

Hey - Ho - What's all this hollaring going on in this corner! LOL....just kidding!

Welcome peastalker, thanks for coming our way.  I can appreciate your position.  Afterall, there are no guarantees either way you choose.  This was a dilemma for me when I was diagnosed.  To me, I looked at it as 50/50.  I could progress, or not, w/or without meds.  But, the more I dug, the more proof I saw on the med side of the house.  I won't get into it since I'm sure you've heard it all.

You'll find we are quite the bunch.  We respect and support each other through our choices.  It's our differences and our similarities that make us special.  We don't always speak w/kit gloves, or beat around the bush, and are quite to the point oftentimes. Your note to us seems your that way too, so the responses were right there along the same line.   I've counted on this style when I really needed it most.  It's pushed me along when I needed a shove.  We rant a lot too, seems to me that your frustration is w/the docs and insurance coverage.  It is horrible how the insurance companies do have a strangle hold on the medical profession, their hands are tied unfortunately in a lot of situations in order to make sure your care is paid for.  Shouldn't be that way, but it is.

You are on the money w/some docs, but not all.  Unfortunately, if you have one that is not willing to write you for PT, etc., and you've asked, and still don't get it, you have to move on.  You going to call the D.O. today? I wish you all the best w/that.  

Be well,
Shelly

[monotreme]

My husband has tried to get insurance just to reimburse us out of our flex spending account for medical massage and they will not.  And they are holding our money in this account!!

So sometimes even if a doctor will write a prescription and a justification letter for something that falls in the alternative realm, the insurance company (Blue Cross in this case) can choose to not even reimburse you from your own health care spending account.

Good Luck!!
Elaine

[santana8]

Thanks for the information. Hope you find a doctor who will work out for you!

~Santana~

[peastalker]

During my first attack, as I said I was a uninsured 24 yr old college student. I went to the emergency they did a CAT back then no MRI and a spinal tap. Spinal tap was negative for what they were testing for. They said maybe an isolated incident did not know what was wrong and to follow up with Dr. I walked out of the hospital and never looked back. I could not afford it, was going to Europe on an exchange program in 3 weeks. Young and in denial I guess, but felt fine. No testing in between attacks. Fast forward 18 years marriage, kids, home , job, smooth sailing then boom woke up with Optic neurosis. The only difference I now have insurance, responsibilities, family and the desire to know whats going on. Did MRI showed lesions on PONs and Cerebellum. Spinal Tap inconclusive, EVP negitive. 3 months later 2 new lesions on new MRI no symptoms. Dx'd based on new lesions I had my last MRI in June of this year no new lesions no black holes. I never pusued a dx I was given one. I can understand the frustration of those that are in Limbo and I hope it works out.

PS I did get my records from 1990 for the current Neuro and I am sure he based his dx on that info as well

peastalker

[smittygirl]

Good for you cjacks, surprised that more folks here were unaware of what a D.O. is.  Best of luck to you peastalker.

[Rena705]

hmmmmmm......

[santana8]

I was wondering if you ever showed lesions either on your brain or spine on MRI?  If so, did your MRI's stay inactive(no new lesions) from 1990 to 2007?  I would really like to know if you had regular MRI's during this 17 year period between the first and second attack? What took them this long to definately dx MS, and did you ever have a spinal tap?  Hope you don't mind the questions, as I am just curious!!!!

~Santana~

[peastalker]

Thank You for your comment. I just looked up what a D.O. is and that is exactly what I am looking for, someone that sits on both sides. My insurance book has 2 out of 38 listed in there and I can't wait until tomorrow to call. I had no idea.

Definition of a D.O.- D.O. is short for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

DO's are complete physicians who, along with MDs, are licensed to prescribe medication and perform surgery in all 50 states. But DOs bring something extra to the practice of medicine. Osteopathic physicians practice a "whole person" approach to medicine, treating the entire person rather that just the symptoms.

http://www.osteopathic.org

Again, I am not against conventional medicine. I am having surgery in 2 weeks. If I have an infection I will take a antibiotic, if I loose my legs or vision I go in for solu-mederol in the hospital for 4 days. ( happenend twice in the last 18 years) What I am saying is that I am not on any daily medications by my choice. If I have spasms I have other ways of dealing.  I know the Dx is a scary thing. I had my first experience with MS in 1990. I woke up and could not walk or feel my legs I was 24. No insurance, in college. Never got or pursued a Dx. Walked out of the hospital. Woke up with Optic neuritis in 2007 left the hospital with a pending MS dx. Confirmed 3months after. Have been fine since. My story. I do not know what the future will hold for me, but what I do know is that I have way more good days than bad and I hope that you will and do also. As is my wish for all who are struggling.

I wish you well as well :)

peastalker

[cjacks]

Peastalker

I get what you are saying.  I just got dx.d this week .  Until a couple of months ago I was thinking of staying with the natural route.  But I got to frightened, sx.s getting worse and more lesions w/sx.  I couldn't let it go any further .  

I have several drs. , my pcp is a D.O. .   He's great , he  figured this and a few others things out (that conventionals were poo pooing ) and steered me in the right direction for the conventional docs .  Yes I got some conventional treatment ( surgery for one ) .

He was tx.ing me holistically and would have preferred that I stick to that course. Treating on the cellular level .    I was too nervous to do that ,  so I'm doing both.  He never hesitated , he got on board immediately .  Investigated dmd's with me , we both liked Copaxone because its a four chain amino acid , seems the most natural of the lot.

I take a ton of supplements , get massages and  do a little  reiki   all out of pocket  ,
meditation is free  :)    I eat almost all organic , quit diet foods and additives,along with processed foods and trying on the sugars ( agave nectar is a good substitute )

My insurance covers my regular chiropractic visits and my D.O does many things that are also covered ,  adjustments and acupuncture.  

I would say a D.O.sits on both sides and can offer many different holistic approaches to disease.   Have you tried one ?    I'm not pushing anything , just giving my experience.

I wish you well ,    HUGS

Jo

[Heather3418]

I hope you find what you are looking for.  Most of us here, prefer conventional medicine.  I don't know of any actually, that choose non-tradional medicine to treat their MS.  But do hope you find what you are looking for, for relief.

Best Wishes,
Heather

[Quixotic1]

okay!

Quix

[peastalker]

I do go with the alternative medicine. I am happy with MY choice. But what angers me is that I have to pay alot of money out of pocket for things that work as well if not better than pharmaceuticals. My insurance does cover a chiropractor and that is my only alternative choice. Would you feel more comfortable just skipping regular Checkups? NO. I want to stay on the radar with my Dr.s and have things documented. Unfortunately, other types of medicine practices are not recognized by agencies providing services. (durable medical equipment, SSI, unemployment.)  I do not want a debate on which way is better, I want my doctors to open their minds and think out of the box and have the insurance company compensate.. What is insurance for? I don't want to debate. I am looking for others that feel the same way I do.  I am not looking for an argument or disagreement.

[peastalker]

You wrote:

* "We often toss around things here, that are non-pharmaceutical, for relieving various problems."

That is what I would like my Dr's to toss around as well.

* "I am truly not being critical of your choice, but wondering what it is you expect from them if you are not going to accept what they offer."  

They don't give me any choices, I don't accept everything I am offered.

Intellectual brilliance is no guarantee against being DEAD WRONG!
                                                                                           --CS

I am relatively new to the site and am looking for others that share my views and support my decision, as I do theirs. My rant was to see if anyone else encountered this as well and how they dealt with it. My Dr's and I are on agreement that with one phone call I would be directly admitted if and when needed. That is why they are my conventional doctors that provide conventional medicine. It would just be nice if he would right a Rx for a hour long massage and justify it in letter form so insurance would cover it. That would make my pain feel just as good as a Vicodin if not better. Yes I have asked, and have been denied. An Rx takes seconds to write and a justification letter, well. Any ways thank you for your advice on writing other Drs in my plan. I just want more choices and have them paid for by my insurance plan. Not a pill with side effects.

[essdipity]

I can understand the frustration of doctors who want to give you medications, because that's what they're trained to do. Your insurance seems to cover only traditional medicine, and given this reality, what is it that you want conventional doctors to do for you that they're not doing? It just doesn't seem like a good match. Would you feel more comfortable just skipping regular checkups?

I think Quix has given you a good response, and I disagree that it is "advice" in the way I think you meant it. She has simply suggested a means of finding alternative medicine. I hope you succeed in this, because otherwise the 'bumping heads' thing is bound to continue.

ess

[Quixotic1]

What services or help would you like them to give you?  I  understand that you are seeing conventional doctors because that is what your insurance pays for.  But conventional doctors mostly provide conventional medicine, which is highly dependent on symptomatic or therapeutic meds.  It would be great if they were trained in - or interested in - naturopathic medicine or holistic practices, but, for the most part,  that is not what they trained in or chose to do.

They are left with giving you referrals for things like rehabilitative med, physical therapy and the like.  I'm not sure what you expect of them.  I am truly not being critical of your choice, but wondering what it is you expect from them if you are not going to accept what they offer.  I suspect they feel frustrated also.  This would be especially true of neurologists.

We often toss around things here, that are non-pharmaceutical, for relieving various problems.

If you are looking for a convention western MD who also practices complementary and alternative therapies, you might write up what you are looking for in a physician (PCP or Neuro) and send it addressed personally to each of the doctors listed on your insurance plan who is within a reasonable distance of you.  Send it out, asking if they provide whatever it is that you are looking for and see if you get any responses.  Include your phone number and email so that they can reach you if they practice the kind of medicine you are looking for.  Alternatively, if you prefer to treat yourself, tell them this and ask if they would work with you and provide emergency care if you should need it.

On second, thought, what I have just said falls into the "advice" category.  Disregard at will.

Quix

[peastalker]

All medications. I do take the occasional Excederin. This is MY choice. I respect the decision of those that do choose medications and need them. (like those for pain, spasms, spasticity etc.).

Peastalk

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Welcome to the forum.  Would you clarify if you have chosen not to take ALL medications (like those for pain, spasms, spasticity etc.) or just the Disease Modifying Drugs?  My repsonse would be different depending on your answer.

Quix