Aa
Beleive it or not
I actually had a GOOD and PRODUCTIVE appointment with my VA Neuro today.
I went into the appointment with a list of 8 issues to talk to the neuro about and he went through everything on the list. It included things like my not recognizing things, OCD like behaviors, my tremor medication and trouble with my walking.
First on the list was my right hand tremor and my medication. But I think the direction I took on it was what may have helped set the mood for the visit. Instead of just saying that the dosage of my medication no longer working I asked what would be better for an increase in medication would be best. I had a RX for 100 mg of gabapentin 3 times a day, but had been keeping the tremors in check with only 100 mg once a day. so I asked if taking 200 mg once a day would be better or 100 ms twice a day, noting that I didn't know how the medication worked. After having me hold up my hands where he could see the slight tremor he explained how the med works and that I should do 100 mg twice a day.
For the recognition problem and OCD he is scheduling some testing to determine what is going on there.
For the problem with my walking and the recent severe sprain of my right ankle he had me walk down the hall and noticed that not only did I have the drop foot going on but my foot was also twisting inward. I think the twisting aspect is why I sprained my ankle so badly. So he put in a referral to Prosthetics department for a foot brace on my right leg to be seen right after my appointment.. ( FINALLY some help). I didn't get more than 3 hours sleep last night because I had an early appointment so I was dragging my right foot a lot making things more obvious.
He also looked up the result from my Barium Swallow test that was done last week. While they didn't find any problems with my swallowing they did find out that I have a small hernia that is letting my stomach to go up above my diaphragm. This might explain why some times I get so out of breath when eating and also maybe the GERD is not really that but the hernia. I didn't think of this until on my way home.
Every thing on my list was handled in the same way as the above so a very good appointment.
After the appointment ended I headed to see about the foot brace. The guy I saw up there ( don't know what kind a title he had) was very nice. After checking the strength of my leg and foot and talking to me about my sprained ankle he decided a semi off the shelf brace verse a custom brace would work best. I say semi off the self because it is a off the self brace that they will customize the fit to my legs with padding. This brace will not only support my foot and keep it from twisting, but will also provide some support to my knee to help keep me from falling when my knee gives out. The custom brace is more of a hinged thing which would allow me to fall easier. One thing that really surprised me was when I went up to Prosthetics was that the Neuro put on the referral a DX of MS. Every time I had gotten a referral for anything from the Neurology department in the past the DX was always Demyelinating Disease.
I did forget to add one thing to my list that happened last Sunday. I had gone out to take some nature pictures and at this one nature area they have put in concrete blocks for the public to cross a small stream. It consists of about a dozen of these blocks to get across the stream. Each is about 16 inches square and about 18 inches tall with about a 6 inch gap between them for the water to flow. By the time I got about half way across the blocks I was very dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out any second due to vertigo. I developed a problem with height's when I first became ill over 20 years ago, but it has been limited to panic attacks. Nothing at all like this. I had also gone over the blocks many times in the past couple of years as it is one of my favorite places to go to meditate. So this was something new for me. I have already added it to my new list of issues for the next time I see a doctor.
Dennis
I went into the appointment with a list of 8 issues to talk to the neuro about and he went through everything on the list. It included things like my not recognizing things, OCD like behaviors, my tremor medication and trouble with my walking.
First on the list was my right hand tremor and my medication. But I think the direction I took on it was what may have helped set the mood for the visit. Instead of just saying that the dosage of my medication no longer working I asked what would be better for an increase in medication would be best. I had a RX for 100 mg of gabapentin 3 times a day, but had been keeping the tremors in check with only 100 mg once a day. so I asked if taking 200 mg once a day would be better or 100 ms twice a day, noting that I didn't know how the medication worked. After having me hold up my hands where he could see the slight tremor he explained how the med works and that I should do 100 mg twice a day.
For the recognition problem and OCD he is scheduling some testing to determine what is going on there.
For the problem with my walking and the recent severe sprain of my right ankle he had me walk down the hall and noticed that not only did I have the drop foot going on but my foot was also twisting inward. I think the twisting aspect is why I sprained my ankle so badly. So he put in a referral to Prosthetics department for a foot brace on my right leg to be seen right after my appointment.. ( FINALLY some help). I didn't get more than 3 hours sleep last night because I had an early appointment so I was dragging my right foot a lot making things more obvious.
He also looked up the result from my Barium Swallow test that was done last week. While they didn't find any problems with my swallowing they did find out that I have a small hernia that is letting my stomach to go up above my diaphragm. This might explain why some times I get so out of breath when eating and also maybe the GERD is not really that but the hernia. I didn't think of this until on my way home.
Every thing on my list was handled in the same way as the above so a very good appointment.
After the appointment ended I headed to see about the foot brace. The guy I saw up there ( don't know what kind a title he had) was very nice. After checking the strength of my leg and foot and talking to me about my sprained ankle he decided a semi off the shelf brace verse a custom brace would work best. I say semi off the self because it is a off the self brace that they will customize the fit to my legs with padding. This brace will not only support my foot and keep it from twisting, but will also provide some support to my knee to help keep me from falling when my knee gives out. The custom brace is more of a hinged thing which would allow me to fall easier. One thing that really surprised me was when I went up to Prosthetics was that the Neuro put on the referral a DX of MS. Every time I had gotten a referral for anything from the Neurology department in the past the DX was always Demyelinating Disease.
I did forget to add one thing to my list that happened last Sunday. I had gone out to take some nature pictures and at this one nature area they have put in concrete blocks for the public to cross a small stream. It consists of about a dozen of these blocks to get across the stream. Each is about 16 inches square and about 18 inches tall with about a 6 inch gap between them for the water to flow. By the time I got about half way across the blocks I was very dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out any second due to vertigo. I developed a problem with height's when I first became ill over 20 years ago, but it has been limited to panic attacks. Nothing at all like this. I had also gone over the blocks many times in the past couple of years as it is one of my favorite places to go to meditate. So this was something new for me. I have already added it to my new list of issues for the next time I see a doctor.
Dennis
COMMUNITY LEADER
Dennis,
You must be exhausted but feeling like it was worth your energy, it does sound like it all went well :-)
DX of MS instead of demylating disease its hard to take it away once its on those VA forms, right? I'd take that as your demylating disease is now identified as MS.
HUGS........JJ
You must be exhausted but feeling like it was worth your energy, it does sound like it all went well :-)
DX of MS instead of demylating disease its hard to take it away once its on those VA forms, right? I'd take that as your demylating disease is now identified as MS.
HUGS........JJ
What a great report to bring Dennis. I'm so happy to hear a vet was treated right, especially when that vet is YOU. It's the best when a visit gives hope for improvement instead of simply increasing frustration.
How long before your brace is ready? Those brace and orthotic guys are gems. I bet they nail what you need with little more than minor adjustments necessary.
I bet those concrete steps with moving water all around are hard images for your eyes and brain to coordinate. Maybe a proprioception thing? You might do better crossing if you do one or two steps at a time, stop, look up and away for a minute, do another step or two, repeat until across. We don't need you doing any underwater SEAL maneuvers!
This is so how it should be.
Mary
How long before your brace is ready? Those brace and orthotic guys are gems. I bet they nail what you need with little more than minor adjustments necessary.
I bet those concrete steps with moving water all around are hard images for your eyes and brain to coordinate. Maybe a proprioception thing? You might do better crossing if you do one or two steps at a time, stop, look up and away for a minute, do another step or two, repeat until across. We don't need you doing any underwater SEAL maneuvers!
This is so how it should be.
Mary
Dennis,
Treated as you should have been all along! Super happy to read through this this a.m.
-Shell
Treated as you should have been all along! Super happy to read through this this a.m.
-Shell
The VA now has East Coast and West Coast Centeres of excellence for MS diagnostics and care. They have put new rules into effect across the whole VA system on dealing with MS patients. I only know this because I received notification from the VA.
Not that I have any issues with the VA (I appreciate my monthly check,) but I'll stick with Cigna.
Bob
Not that I have any issues with the VA (I appreciate my monthly check,) but I'll stick with Cigna.
Bob
It is nice to read someone who has a good experience with their visits. It is encouraging to hear. Glad it was a positive day for you and you got some help. Sorry about the new vertigo. I sympathize with you.
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