Jump away, Bluesfan, I love it when we meander off topic. It makes this a community of friends.
Who to win? Gotta back the Underdogs, as usual.

Dave.

Dave, I'm sure that bluesfan will love that you'll be barracking for New Zealand.

Nothing we love more than a good old ANZAC final.

An inevitable outcome against an awesome Aussie attack, but NZ can hold their heads up and build on this.
Sorry to the members not interested in Cricket, however I have decided to write to my GP detailing all that was wrong with my Neuro appt. That way it will go in my Medical Records on MY terms.

Dave.

As a kiwi expat myself I spose its expected that I pay some sort of interest, but to be honest, it doesn't even register I KNOW shock, horror Damn Cricket

Any ways getting back to life ,

I have to agree 100% with you about some neuros, they can be so clinical it's dehumanizing. But I have found it is easiest to go in seeing them having no expectations. This way I cannot be let down. I have repeatedly gone to appointments having plans/expectations/ideas only to be let down, often with an almighty thud. I have been made to feel stupid, inadequate, uninformed and dumb. In reality I'm none of these, I have a degree, admittedly not a medical degree, but I'm not stupid and I keep myself informed. But in keeping myself informed I have quizzed dr's about their plans. They DO NOT like this. They DO NOT like being questioned and as I was told. "WE are the dr's, you are the patient" Now this happened many years ago BUT it has been written up in my medical records and it follows me everywhere as a 'combative patient'. So be aware, be very aware.
Now, I just go with the flow. Yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir. The fact of the matter is they treat the body like a machine. But if you come up with a problem that is not in their medical books or 'users manual' then the answer must be YOU. YOU are the problem, go see a psychologist. This may all sound very cynical and I agree but this doesn't come from a 'users manual' or a book, this is from first hand experience in dealing with the neuro/medical fraternity. It can be VERY challenging. I used to get frustrated with them not listening and them dictating and talking down to me. I would react, which just made it easier for them to label me "unstable". So now, ppfftt, I manage the best way I can, for me. I keep all of their appointments and follow their advice, but when they have nothing to assist me to resolve the issues I'm having, I manage the best way possible for me.
So that's what I do. As I've said before 'It ain't easy and anybody who tells you it is, ain't never been there' and although the medical fraternity make out they know it all. They don't.

Merl1n

Lara - Congrats to the Aussies - a well deserved win - your bowlers came up trumps on the day. We'll be back!

Dave - good to hear there's something you can do to get your input on the record. Let us know if it gets any reaction.

Merl1n - Sorry to hear I'm not alone in being mistreated by doctors who think they know it all - keep me away from general surgeons that know very little about endocrinology. Like you I'm sure that somewhere on my earlier medical files there is a note suggesting that I'm hypochondriac - that's how I felt they were treating me for years until I was finally diagnosed correctly - okay so it's an obscure condition but 10+ years - really! You're right - managing your own condition is the only way to go - which is what has led me to this wonderful site. Another thing with doctors that I've noticed now that they've all gone to electronic records is that they never look back at your medical history - they only go by what is on the current screen in front of them - frustrating - I now accumulate paper copies of my tests etc and summarize results and/or changes over years to support any changes I want to make to my ongoing treatment - so far it's worked.

Hi Dave,
I sent you a PM earlier-only a few months late
Honestly, this arachnoid thing really gets on my nerves! I don't understand how treatment for the same thing varies between countries. I'm concerned your cyst has doubled in size? How can that not cause impairments?!

My last meeting with the Neuro back in January went a bit like yours, I spent over an hour with him aswell!! He told me to come off seizure meds which I did but because I've been getting worse, I've had to start upping them again on the advice of my GP. I'm up, down, up, down with these meds depending on who I speak to. Proper annoys me!
Anyway, what's your next step now? I'm waiting to see the Epi Doc in June. Don't give up and keep fighting for proper treatment!
If you need a chin wag you know where I am

Angelita,
I put everything in writing to my GP, asking him to do as I do and reset everything - ignoring the Neuro appt. This puts me back under the care of my fully competent Eye Consultant with 40 years experience and dxed me with countless tests.
I have now seen my MRI with the lesion through the Occipital area and it is large, jagged and ugly. Obviously this is what is causing my double vision, but the Neuro would/could not even tell me what caused it and whether I am at risk of more.
No more Neuros for me EVER.

Dave.

Hey Bluesfan,
I find it really interesting/frustrating and bloody disappointing the attitude of the medical frat. You only have to read some of the posts here and on other pages to see that although some people are asymptomatic, many are not. Rather than giving individuals labels of hypochondriac or mentally unstable or 'combative patient' why not ask the simple question of "WHY?" It is very disappointing and frustrating and I'm sure that my frustration shows when I got to see these people for an answer, so rather than investigate, they label. For me they have operated on my brain 5 times AND still they say "...there is nothing wrong..." like they operated on me for the fun of it. I'm obviously not having the pain and sensations I am having, these are all a figment of my imagination. So I gave them what they wanted. I walked away, but still on a daily basis I have pain that they have no idea of its intensity. I would love to know how we can wake these 'professionals' up to the reality of what we suffer as individuals. They try to make us fit a certain box and when we don't fit, they label rather than investigate. So why am I frustrated? I don't know. I just love pain. WTF
GRRRRR and these people are the 'professionals' Doesn't really leave us many options does it?
Merl1n

Mat52
Don't let the bad/mad/sad doctors get to you - keep trying to find the good ones and hang on to them. There are some out there - I've found one or two and keep going back to them and like you I walk away from the useless ones.
I'm sorry I can't give you any useful tips to help with the pain - you probably know more than I do. I'm really restricted on what I can take for pain - basically only paracetamol - just about everything else interferes with my AD meds - fortunately they do help manage the pain a little also. After so many years I've gotten used to just ignoring it as much as possible - although recently it's been getting up there so I'm wondering what else is going on.
C'est la vie!

Ahhh don't worry Bluefan, they got to me long ago and every now and again I pop a fuse and vent a bit. I certainly am frustrated and if I don't vent that can lead to anger, which ain't good. Many people, I used to be one of them, hold dr's up to be Gods. Some dr's think they deserve this idolisation. I do not. After many years of false diagnosis, inappropriate treatments and denial of any wrongdoing, it has been proven to me that blind faith in them is VERY dangerous. Even life threatening. To be honest, it really is only my need for pain meds since the last surgeries that I still have contact with my dr regularly to obtain the pharma meds I require, because otherwise I wouldn't.
I have a new general dr now, he isn't too bad and does investigate things, but I must admit, I'm still weary. Like you I tend to ignore things, but my mrs keeps on my case so I don't get away with much
Merl1n