Neurologist!
In 2008 she tells you:
You have a tail on your brain. It's only 8mm and won't cause any problems.
In 2010 you go back to see her because of all the symptoms:
You have a PERFECT brain. So why are you here to see me.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
I really struggle right now with trying not to become bitter with some of the doctors I have had. I'm not lumping all doctors together. Of the doctors I have been to, some were nice but didn't try, some were nice and really tried, some didn't care, and some were jerky. If they didn't know what was wrong, but they were nice and at least tried, I still like them, because this was a tricky problem to figure out.
I was blessed with good parents who taught me right from wrong in daily life, along with strong work ethics. So what baffles me is the total absence of accountability with some of these people. In my own job, if I were to lie, talk jerky to either coworkers or customers, neglect something I was put in charge of to take care of, do sloppy work and not look up information for my projects, or cause physical harm to somebody - then guess what? I would rightfully get written up, a poor performance evaluation, disciplined in some other way, or let go. But some of these guys have free reign to do whatever in the world they want. That might be why when I ask normal questions or look into things, they throw a big baby tantrum - because they're spoiled. So for those couple jerks I have seen, I need to bring up accountability to them at some point in my life, when I have the chance to work on it.
Blondeballerina - your second bullet from the bottom: it looks exactly like he got scared because he realized he missed something or didn't take care of something, so now he's trying to cover his tush for legal reasons by creating records & a paper trail that state he tried to care for you, but you were the one being unhelpful. Is that the case? If this was recent, I would type a professional letter to him and the contact at the hospital re-iterating just the plain facts of your proper follow-up and the appointment dates, etc, then send it by certified mail & keep a copy.
You know you have the wrong neurologist when they say...
-your herniation is only 13mm, the csf is slightly effaced but there is no way this is the problem.
-I don't know of any disease that looks like this, but i guess we will send you for an mri
-that is not a normal place for a migraine (the very back portion of my head radiating upwards and down into my neck) are you sure that is where the pain is.
- we have searched and searched, granted different test keep coming back abnormal they don't add up to anything, sure you have that chiari that is 17mm but it is nothing. there is only so much searching we can do before we consider it does not have an organic cause.... This basically adds up to you are crazy see a shrink. I finally broke down and did it and the psych notes said this is a stable patient and under my professional recommendation an organic cause should be sought out (SCORE ! FOR ME)
- you are told to follow up in three months you do so without rescheduling the appointment and then hear the nl calling the hospital to admit you and speaking to a doctor he wants to see you inpatient and when they ask why he says because you are non-compliant.
- when your main complaint is never addressed or even noted
-all of this happened some were from the same NL some were from others I have seen multiple
oops, I meant NL in the first post LOL! Its that saggy brain thing you know!
Now to add:
You know you have the wrong NS when...
The man that is going to open up your brain is 73 years old and falls asleep three times while examining you!
I hope I don't post this twice, but my post didn't show up...
You know you have the wrong NS when...
He asks you, "Do you want something to be wrong with your central nervous system?"
and
"Well you do have that Chiari malfomation, but you don't want that to be your problem" (therefore since I don't want it to be my problem, I guess it's not! See how simple this is?)
and
after I broke down crying because I felt he was my last hope, he stood, backed up like he was scared of me, and said, "I see what your up to" and left the room.
when they tell you that you just have a virus and it will all go away in another week...but not to come back for a follow up for a month.
Bravo...exactly what I am always saying...not at all Wolf...this thread is a release...a place to vent it all....
and I agree with all u said!!!
That is one of favorites, Michelle!
How do you complain to a doctor about something to which you is normal? it's life as it is all you've ever known? But they really believe that since you haven't complained about it then it's not a problem. Jerks! Sorry, but some of them have that coming!
I was out of school before I understood that not everyone has some of this pain. But since I didn't complain .... Yeah that's a good one.
Also, "well things look pretty good to me lets see you back in 3 mos" What, didn't I just drive up here because there 'is' something wrong? If you didn't treat it this time why would I drive back up here and pay you again? Oh that's right I forgot you need to pay the tab at Red Lobster....
Too much sun today... it didn't make me sarcastic did it? :-)
Michael
lol...that is a good one...I like when the dr asks u if u r symptomatic of a condition u never heard of...how would u know...isn't that the drs job to determine?
When your doctor looks at you MRI, myleogram, CT and X ray and says " I can't see anything wrong with you." and "This is how you have always been you just never noticed"
When they tell you that your condition isn't that serious because you only have a Chiari "1" Malformation, not a 2 or 3.
when u spend hours with a doctor and u go back later to read the report and it says how fine and dandy everything is!
Molly
P.s. - all of that above happened at the main clinic in Memphis, so be careful of where you go.
* When they make up diagnostic tests you have never had, and go on to make up the results, in your chart.
* When they note previous other test results, even though the test results had not been available and they have not seen them yet.
* When they make up symptoms you have never had or complained about.
* When your eye doctor diagnoses retinal hemorrhaging, retinal scarring, double vision, and progressive yearly vision loss, and threat of retinal tear, (from the extreme blocked CSF pressure in your head) and the NS will not acknowledge it in their notes and they do not care.
* When that same NS says they don't believe in chiari surgery, even though you are on your way towards visual disability and your legs are numb & tingly and trip all the time.
* When your first NS looks at a 2-inch long cerebellar tonsils going down in your spinal canal and pressing your spinal cord, in 2 different MRIs, and at every view and angle, and says that it's just "visual artifact" but it doesn't actually exist.
Hmmm...that's a loaded one lol
When they can't pronounce Chiari...
When the tell you arm/leg weakness and an unsteady gait is STRESS!!!
When the take 6 weeks to get your nerve study results b/c they LOST them!
When they look at your MRI and tell you basically that they probably can't do anymore for you (w/o doing any other tests!)
When you see a NL once in 6 months and the rest is done by telephone through his PA who YOU have to keep calling..
if your trusted PCP asks you after your decompression "Well was it worth it?"
Him got a little re-education after that snide remark.
if the PCP says you've had the surgery there shouldn't be any more reason for these headaches.
...when your dr. prescribes Xanax and tells you that you need a vacation.
... when you can tell that you know more about it than they do!!!!
Oh I know...lol.....
if the dr says ur herniation is only so big and doesn't warrant surgery...u know u have the wrong dr...cuz he has out dated info...we all know size is and should not be a factor!!!
.... you present them with a specific question and the first thing they ask is what insurance do you have.
Not that Dr shouldn't make his money. With mal-practice rates and such as they are... However, if a doctors first interest isn't in helping me rather than on his pocket book. Well then I'll go elsewhere. Or ...
.... after informing the new Dr that you have been dx with Chiari his/her next question is "What medications are you on for that?"
this list could get quite long you know sis?
Wolf
....... when they start treating things you were not complaining about!!!!