One was the director of the emg/ncs lab at a major nyc teaching hospital. He performed a lengthy series of emg & nerve conduction studies, blood tests, the usual walking on heels/toes, etc. Came up with no definitive dx. Prescribed Ultram & sent me on my way. I go back about 6 weeks later with more questions & to try to coax a dx out of him. His response: “Well, since your sx are worsening, we need to repeat all emg & ncs.” No surprise that his instant response was to repeat tests which are the sole focus of his lab & its financial wellbeing. Not listening to the reasons why I returned. Hearing what he wanted to hear. I hadn’t claimed my sx were worse…I just wanted more info.

Another at a different teaching hospital had the “fellow” interact with me. His only role was to fly in at the end of the visit and have me repeat all the info I had already given to the fellow. Much too Godlike for my taste. No continuity of care (the fellows stay only one year). Treated like a lab rat; not as a human being.

To date (8 years) have not found a “good” neuro. About a year ago the chief of neuro (famous cancer center) said I have fibromyalgia. My rheumy totally disagrees. Says I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica and that I’ve had it for 8 years!! Because I am pre-diabetic, I have to carefully monitor prednisone intake (it raises blood glucose) but I take nothing at all because I have no one to oversee this regimen. I have an app’t in Feb w/ a new endocrinologist from whom I expect very little but fervently hope he may have some answers for me.

I know I was tested for Lyme in the past but it may be time to re-test. No doc has ever suggested that Lyme may be a PN factor in my case.

Megan: Thanks for the Neuropathy Trust site.

Summary of whom to avoid:
MDs with serious God complexes (arrogant, interrupting, dismissive of symptoms/feelings)
Unnecessarily repeating tests, especially for the sake of financial gain.
Pill pushing.
Narrow focus, uncreative, cannot think “outside the box.”
Worst of all: no thorough knowledge of PN