Can someone help me know what to say tomorrow?

[BloominHeather]

So tomorrow I see the Neuro. Even though I don't like him and I plan on finding a new one, he's all I have so far.
I wrote down my symptoms..new and old.. even the weird eyeball thing that happened and now my heels and sides of my feet and toes taking turns buzzing and tingling.  I am wanting to know if it is acceptable to ASK for an LP or a MRI of the spine? Would any of these help in ruling out MS or being diagnosed? My blood work has all come back fine as far as I know..at least I know the glucose and CBC and all the normal blood work has. Anyone have any advice on what to ask? He didn't do a physical exam on the first appointment. What should I expect if he does one?
I'm so nervous!  I don't want my mind to go blank, and I don't want to be dismissed and I don't want him to talk over me about stupid migraines again. We already have a language barrier (he is from India) and I am already unhappy about my first appointment with him (he talked on the phone with a friend instead of doing an exam, his nurse talked on the phone and made a YMCA appointment for her son in the middle of my EEG AND they ran out of doctor gloves... ugh)
Help me.

[Quixotic1]

Basically if this guy was comfortable in wasting your time with his phone call and in doing a consult that did not include any kind of exam, he does this with many people.  Likely his neuro exam is incompetent.  I'm quite serious.  He doesn't do it because he doesnt know how or how to interpret what he does.  I shudder to consider his skill at an LP!!!

I think you should get what you need out of him, without requiring that he touch you.  Say that the cardiologist or your trusty friend who is a doctor with MS (me) or both think you need an MRI of your C and T spine.  DO NOT attempt to get an LP from this guy unless you can be assured that it will be done by a radiologist under fluoroscopy.

You have got to get the heart arhythmia thing sorted out.  What does your cardiologist have planned?

Underinformed - I'm so sorry you feel underinformed.  Would you tell us your story on your own thread on the main page?  That way we can all see you and maybe help point you toward more and better information - about MS.

Quix

[BloominHeather]

Thank you. Very good idea Holly I am going to do just that. And Rena thanks for the heads up, I know you are just concerned. Thanks for opening my eyes.
Underinformed... I really hardly know anything about MS.  I only know that if it turns out that I do have it, my identical twin sister has I think a 31% chance of having it. I think siblings have a higher chance.    What kind of tests have you had done by your doctor for your heart?

[underinformed35]

Hi,
I was just reading over your post and I know exactly how you feel. I have been having heart problems which started about a month ago, with headaches everyday, fatigue, heart going too fast and then going too slow and missing beats, chest pressure, numbness in arms. They have done so many tests and can not tell me anything. Now I am seeing spots, I guess what you would call floaters( I looked it up). I was just wondering if maybe I need an MRI. They have been focusing on my heart but what if it is coming from my head? Is that even possible? You mentioned heart issues and it just got me thinking maybe they could go together somehow. I have a half brother with MS. Should I worry?

[hbananas]

YOU get to pick and choose from the menu of tests.  My neuro didn't want to put me through an LP until she got the c-spine MRI showing lesions, so don't even bring it up.  If he does, just plead that you're scared of that, and put it off.  Go ahead and ask for the non-invasive stuff like your spinal MRI.  Get it, use him, and then throw him out with the rest of the trash.  Or, just ask your PCP to order it and to help you find a new neuro, if you get along well with him/her.  Two cents submitted.
Holly

[BloominHeather]

Well, I am only going tomorrow because I don't want to have to wait for a doctor to order any tests.  I didn't realize that if a LP was ordered that HE would be the one doing it. *SOB*  I don't feel that I can go to an MS specialist since I have no idea if that is even what I have.  I am clueless except that I have a few of the symptoms and that I feel like total **** and on top of the worries about possible MS now I am told I have some heart issues and have to see a specialist for a racing heart that has extra beats every time I bend or stand or roll over in bed and an eyeball the decides to look at something other than what the other eyeball is looking at.  I guess I just didn't want to have to wait any longer and hoped this one would go ahead and order more tests like a cspine and lp before I found a decent neuro.

[Rena705]

Can I ask why you are seeing this weiner again?  Are you desperate to see a neurologist and is it life or death?  If not, I wouldn't bother!

I recall the sort of appointment you had with him last time and I don't think you are going to get any sort of quality care with a second appointment.  He is no kind of doctor and he does not behave like a specialist at all.  If you feel that you HAVE to go, I would go in as the proactive patient that is expecting to be treated with respect and at the first sign of disrespect (talking to his buddy on the phone) you need to speak up!

You have to remember honey that this doctor is performing  service for you that you are paying for.  It is totally acceptable to ask if he is going to do an MRI and ask him why he did not do a full neurological exam at your last appointment.  Remind him that a neuro exam will tell him your mental status, cranial nerves, motor skills, coordination and gait, reflexes and senses and there is no other way to discern any problems with these unless an exam is done.  This exam should last for no less than 1/2 hour!

If he then still does not appear interested, you need to tell him that you are not satisfied with the service you have not NOT received and you are disgusted with the unprofessional way that his office is run (remind him of the lack of gloves and the nurse making personal phone calls).  Then you need to hightail it out of there and find yourself a new MS specialist which is what you should have done in the first place...right???

I don't mean to sound arrogant or rude honey but I want you to know what you already know!  This guy is not going to help you and think about it...would you want this guy doing a Lumbar Puncture on you....what if he runs out of gloves???

Let me know what you do and I do wish you luck and I am behind you 100%...I just don't want you to get hurt ok?

Lots of Hugs,

Rena