[Stellatum]

Hi, everyone, I hope you're all having a good day, emotionally if not physically.

My neurologist is sending me to an mg expert for an evaluation (he wants to be sure I actually have mg before giving me an immunosuppressant, since I'm seronegative and SFEMG "borderline").

Now, what happens if I meet the specialist and decide I'd rather be treated by him? Will he be unwilling to "steal a patient" from the doctor who referred me to him? Or is that up to me? How do these things work?

I'm trying to tread that fine line between alienating doctors and failing to advocate for myself. Thanks, everyone.

Abby

[jana]

Abby, how good is your insurance? I continue to see my original neuro AND my MG specialist. My original (general) neuro is in the small city close to where I live -- he is the one who diagnosed me, helped me to get disability, and has privileges at the hospital I am most likely to use. My MG specialist is at least an hour and a half away -- is the head of neurology at a medical school AND the head of the MDA clinic. My two docs stay in touch. I see each of them at least 3 or 4 times a year.

[AnnieB3]

Good one, Jana. Why do we have to have "either/or."

Abby, Go to the specialist as a referral. Then see what his findings are. You don't even have to discuss having him as a doctor yet. If his findings are that you indeed have MG, and you like him, you could always see him from then on if his patient load will allow for it. Or, like Jana said, have him as a specialist if and when you might need his expertise!

My regular neuro is not an MG expert but I trust him. That can work for or against you, depending upon a doctor's willingness to learn or help you when MG gets tough. Usually, if you have a crisis, it's the hospital team that will handle it, along with your regular neuro.

Take one step at a time and feel the situation out.

Annie