My visit with Quix's Urogynecologist (now mine, also!)

[Fluffysmom]

I have visited many urologist in the past, all men, all seemingly not that comfortable with the female anatomy.  The last one tested me for stress incontinence, said I was fine, and sent me on my way, despite my protests to the contrary.  That was two years ago.

I had mentioned this on the forum, and Quix PM'd me the name of her urogynecologist, and told me that she was caring, compassionate, and that I would be comfortable with her.

On the 24th I had my first appointment with her.  Not only had she read my records (and didn't have to look at the notes while I was there; she retained the info), but she had gone though most of my thick packet of new patient information, including the highlighted parts (pertaining to my bladder) of my Timeline of Symptoms, surgical history, large list of medications, etc.

She listened to everything I had to say about what had brought me to visit her, asked questions, listed to the answers, and answered my questions to the best of her ability with the information we have so far.  We even had a discussion about lazy doctors when I mentioned my last urologist's appointment.  :o)

When we had gone over most of my issues, she repeated everything back to me in her own words, so that both of us were sure that she had heard and understood me.  When I was describing my symptoms, and got to the bladder pains and then the buzzing/tingling in the perineal (sp?) area, I could see in her eyes that she was concerned, and she asked if I had had similar symptoms happened before or after that event, and was genuinely concerned with my answers.

We discussed MS, and my three neuros.  She wanted to know why they all thought I had small vessel ischemic disease even though I don't have any risk factors.  I guessed that they had made a judgement based on the fact that I'm overweight.  She pointed out that a large portion of the population is to some degree, and so that just wasn't good enough.  I told her that the distribution of lesions in my brain isn't textbook for MS, and we discussed lazy doctors a little more.

I told her that I have a follow-up appointment with my MS Specialist only because I kept asking questions like "can ischemic lesions cause neurological symptoms?".  She wanted me to go back to my former neurologist, so I knew that she agreed my symptoms were neurological, but I could show her that #2 had said in her chart notes that I need no further neurological work-up.

To be continued...

[slightlybroken]

I'm glad that you have found a good doctor. Isn't nice to find someone that will listen for a change. Sounds like she is a keeper and you already know she is good from what Quix has said. Did she order any test?

[Fluffysmom]

She will do some tests at the 6 week follow-up if the Premarin cream and Vesicare samples she gave me don't help.  I had urodynamic testing done in '06, so she wasn't in a hurry to repeat it.  

I am interested in whether or not the urgency when I don't have to pass much urine is due to faulty nerve signals, so hope she will do the EMG as well as urodynamic testing at my next visit.

Oh, there is a part two to this post; I had too much to say to put it all in one post, and I had to cut it in two.  

Can you think of any other tests to request?

Kathy