Quote:
Originally Posted by dahlek
Another doc, with different training and/or philosophies might just be the one you need? However, it depends on where you live...if this guy is the only game in town, it's rough. Go see a rheumatologist? Why not?
Besides, that can be cheaper in the long run than just 'going with the flow' and finding out much later [in my case too late] that the damages were doing.
Just NOW, before you even make another appt. elsewhere, ask for [or DEMAND] copies of your test results to date. Blood tests, MRI's the whole shebang. It may cost you about $.50 a page? But Then YOU have them for ever... And make copies for any other docs DO not ever give up your originals, they are precious. Still in all, new docs ALWAYS want to do the same tests over 'their way'. Each has different standards- and they all want a piece of the insurance pie. Sad but true fact of life.
As for treatments, some docs are in the dark ages and only prescribe neurontin/gaba... But, there are a whole slew of meds [OVER 50+] listed up in the 'stickies' as to what all has been tried and can be useful. Don't forget, each of US is different in what we can and can't tolerate.
I didn't do well on the neurontin...I was sleeping 14 hours a day and the neuro I changed from wanted to up my dose from 2400mg to MORE! I said NO way! Somehow? 5 hours of awake ness just isn't enuf to be HUMAN? Also, the hallucinations as a s/e were enuf for me? Changing neuros was the BEST thing that happened to me, two 'second opinions' essentially saved my life!
I hope this helps, you are early compared to me in my 'awakening' to other opinions? It took me 9 months [don't go there.....!] and I am ever grateful that my reason came thru and I got those 'opinions'!
Do NOT PANIC yet! Just go and seek the right guy you need!  's - j |
Thanks so much dahlek. I so agree with you. When the first neurologist I saw (who by the way was a specialist in PN) turned out to be so disappointing, I marched right back to my primary care doctor and told him I wanted another opinion. He was very understanding and gave me a referral to a university hospital. I am getting a copy of all of my tests for sure, and will be prepared with all of my questions. I guess I am going through what every PNer goes through. I am frightened of the pain, scared that it will become unbearable, scared that I will be disabled someday. I know every newbie goes through that. And like everyone else, I just hope that I can maintain some kind of quality of life. Sometimes I just cry, not only from the horrible pain, but from the fear and the sadness that many of the plans I had in life will most likely never happen. I try my hardest to stay calm, because also like so many others, the more upset I get, the worse the pain hits. I can accept a lot, as I have had to face many challenges in life, but I pray to God that at least I can get the pain somehow under control, or at least a lot better. Thanks again for the encouragement.