How long did it take you for first Neuro app't

[Midijane]

Hi folks, I am just wondering, how long did it take everyone to first get into a Neurologist. I keep telling myself to be patient with how I'm feeling but the last few days have been so rought with dizziness, nausea and fatigue. My doctors office made calls this am to see if another local Neuro could get me in anytime before 6 months, not a possibilty.

I still have the usual every day, prickly tingles, leg weakness, left knee won't lock, ringing ears, blurred vision and of course dizziness with bumping into things with nasty nausea and retching. Did you just ride out your symtpoms? I feel like I can't take this for several months. Do primary care physicians every prescribe meds for dizziness before the first neuro app't?

[KJ1973]

Start calling neurologists in nearby cities.  I live in Chicago and it took roughly 5 months to get an appt with a MS specialist at a good university hospital, so I had my GP order the MRI of the Brain and spine while my symptoms were still active (so they can see the lesions) and took them to my Neurologist.  While I was in the waiting room for the MRI I starting asking the staff if they knew of neurologists you could get in to see quickly and I got a ton of names, got an appt within 2 weeks.  Try and see if your GP will order the scans.  Good luck.

[Mandella77]

The first time that I ever saw a neuro was in the hospital. I had no idea what was wrong with me but my entire body (with the exception of my face) was numb and tingling!  I went to the ER and was seen immediately by several types of doctors including a neuro who ordered an MRI followed by 2 subsequent MRI's that showed a staggering amount of lesions on both my brain and spine!  

I happened to be admitted to the hospital when a very sought after and impossible to get an appointment with neuro was on call.  Seeing the severity of my symptoms he took me on as a patient. Back to your question (sorry, I'm always getting side tracked or distracted), I have had a hard time getting an appointment any sooner then 4-6 months!  I have a second neuro at a very reputable hospital and she is an MS specialist, it takes 9-12 months to get an appointment with her!

Both of my neurologists have reccommended seeing a general or family doctor as well as a psychiatrist to help treat some of the symptoms of my MS. It usually makes it easier to get prescriptions or to even have routine blood work or tests done.

. It sounds like you have a lot of symptoms (some of them pretty serious) to be waiting 6 months to see a neuro. I think that the best thing that you can do is visit the ER!!!  It will be a little more costly but they will be able to treat you in a timely manner.  (I am in the US so my situation may be different then yours depending on where you are from). I hope that some of this has helped. Good luck and keep us posted!

[RazCarver]

First time it took 3 months to see one. The other neurologist had a 6 month wait list. I'm seeing a new neuro next month. It has been a 3 month wait. But I am unemployed with no income. This neuro is donating her time so I am thankful. Hope something comes of it but will see soon.

[supermum_ms]

I have to agree with what doublevision has said, lol and you are going to get a wide varient of time frames. Personally (i'm in Australia) the first time it took 8 weeks from the time the hospital received the GP's referal to see the first available general neuro, Neuro found clinical signs and sent me for an MRI of brain and full spine, it took another 8 weeks waiting for the MRI and then just over 6 weeks to get back for the follow up appt with the Neuro so it took just on 6 months from seeing my GP to getting the neuro's cold shoulder, all frustrating. Odd though he still scheduled me in for the LP and neuro-psych testing, both i had to get talked into doing because he'd made it very clear I was a waste of 'his' time, lol the tool!

The second neuro, my GP phoned a local general neuro, who ran a private dementia clinic, he was semi retired, that took less than a week to get in to see him there. He wasn't worth seeing at all, he said far too many incorrect things about MS to ever trust a word out of his mouth (he's the one that said double vision has nothing to do with MS, tool no 2!) , and i've no clue how long it would of taken to get any of the tests he wanted to run, but discuss at the next appt, because i wasnt going back. lol

GP was soooo not happy and his advice was the next time things went bad, for me to go directly to the ER and tell them "my GP believes I have MS". Only problem for me is that he wanted me to go to a specific hospital that he trusted but its private so it would cost my family more than we can afford. I've found a couple of public hospitals that have MS clinics, hour plus away and so far i've avoided going but I do think going to the ER if things get worse is a perfectly viable option for you!

Cheers......JJ

[Midijane]

Ipads are so notorious, I do the same with typos which can be ridiculously funny.

Thanks for the response. I have considered the ER route and keep it in the back of my mind. Like you said, it will expedite treatment.

I have called my primary several times about bumping me along to get in sooner. I was just wondering how long it has taken others. The thing that seemed to catch attention with me was the electric shock I had and wonky legs. As soon as I described those two things (shock, bumping into doorways, side stepping, left foot drop), my PCP switched gears from telling me I was anxious and out of shape to setting up an MRI- which was negative.

I forgot about the cancellation lists, that is definitely a great idea. Can't hurt to try. We'll see how the next week goes and where is my patience level.

Thanks again. Marell

[doublevision1]

Sorry for all the typos!  Darn iPad keyboard!

[doublevision1]

I think wait times vary widely depending on the area iyou live in, the assessed severity of your symptoms, the pro activeness of your referring physician, and in the U.S perhaps your insurer?  Not sure about that last one as I'm in Canada.  

I was seen by an on-call neuro out of town ( no neuros where I live) within days of the referral from my GP.  I had many of the symptoms you describe that were rapidly progressing on a daily basis, but what really got their attention was my double vision.  They were concerned about MS, MG or a brain tumour.  For that reason, I got a MRI very promptly as my case was labelled urgent.  The on-call neuro did a LP the same day I saw ...him, and that same ruled out MG and tumour based on clinical exam, bloodwork and MRI result.  Ruled it 99% MS, treated as such with 5 day course of IVSM, and I saw my MS neuro for the first time several weeks later who confirmed my MS dx and initiated th DMD application process (DMDs are covered under our universal health care plan),

I often wonder how long I wouldhave waited hadi not had the double vision in addition to my other symptoms.  It hs been most distressing symptom to date but in a way it was a blessing in disguise as I say, it got everyone's attention fast.

I'm thinking you may get a wide range of responses here re: wait times.

If you're not already doing so, keep a careful journal of your symptoms and be sure to advise your GP of any new or worsening symptoms.

As far as treating dizziness, I am doubtful this could be treated until the underlying cause is determined, as this is a common non-specific symptom of many conditions.

Sorry that your symptoms are so troubling and I hope it gets figured out soon so you can treat it and get on with things.

One last little tip given to me by my friend who is a nurse:  If your symptoms really get worse and your referral isn't being expedited, you can alwys go to the ER.  Testing and referrals can be sped up greatly as they neednto deal with you quickly so they can move on to the next patient.  It's not the best use of the health care resources but right now need you need only be concerned about yourself and no one else.  Wich brings me to one more tip: I was also able to p,ay a role in speeding up my own case.  Although my MRI was considered urgent, after not getring a cll after a couple of days I called them and whatndo you know, they had a cancellation the same day and had me come in.  I did the same thing with the MS neuro, waited a week or two, called and called till someone picked up rather than leave a voice mail, and she said she was just about to call me.  I'm skeptical of that but I got want I wanted, an appt within a few weeks.  You could call the neuro's office and ask them to call you in if they gphave a cancellation, and keep calling periodically to check.  Be really nice and pleasant with the office staff and chances are they will go out of their way for you.  Good luck to you.