[Kitty]

Ever since I had my less-than-positive appointment with my Neuro last Friday I've been thinking alot about his demeanor and other complaints that MSer's here have voiced about their own Neuro.

Do you think that our Neuro's are intimidated by those of us who do alot of our own research and study of the DMD's? Are they threatened by the fact that we ask alot of questions? Know alot about the different new drugs on the horizon? Want to actually be involved in our treatment and the decisions for our treatment?

That's the conclusion I've come to and worry that I'll just move on to more of the same. Same old attitude....different doctor.

Why is it such a bad thing to want to be involved in your own health care? Is he scared that I might know more about MS than he does? I do have an advantage.......I actually have MS and know what I'm talking about. I know how I feel on the Interferons. I know how I feel on some of the meds that are supposed to help me. I know the side effects and how they affect me personally. Maybe they don't affect others the same way. I only know how they affect me. So I'm not arguing with my doctor because I want to be right......I'm telling him how it affects me personally. If I'm prescribed a new med he'd better believe that I'm going to research it to death before I take it. I'm not just taking his word for it. He's never been on it!

I'm just totally frustrated with this whole scenario. Don't doctors work for us....the patient? It's at least supposed to be a partnership......not a dictatorship.

[mrsD]

It's not a bad thing to do your homework.

But since Neuros can be so arrogant, and uninformed of some of what you might find yourself, and , you just might know more than they do at some point. Also many of the big neurological diseases have little treatment options, and what there is can be not terrific, and also very expensive.

Neuros have tons of attitude. Absolutely little bedside manner and we see it at PN forum all the time.

Finding one who is secure with themselves is difficult. They often think of themselves as the "top of the heap" and act accordingly.

The ones at the teaching hospitals tend to be a bit better.

[Blessings2You]

Also, from talking with my PCP (whom I love), sometimes your doc sees you after he's already seen X number of patients who insist on treatments they don't need, refuse treatments they DO need, go to message boards and diagnose themselves with diseases that don't exist, etc.

That doesn't excuse rude and dismissive behavior!!

I've had good experiences with my PCP as far as asking, "Is this a good med?" "Could my husband have this?" "What if I don't do that treatment?" He knows I'm not necessarily challenging him, just getting info.

I just have to believe that there are neurologists out there that are like that, and can tell the difference between a patient who is actively involved in his/her health care, and one who wants to be the doctor. I hope I'm right!

[SallyC]

The only 2 Neuros that I met without an attitude and had the best bedside manner was, my very 1st Neuro and he was young and wonderful.

My 2nd Neuro was my 1st Neuro's partner in the 70s and SHE was the greatest, and the best. Maybe because she was a woman and understood my needs, but She never looked at me like I had 2 heads. This was in the 90s.

I have not met a Neuro with these qualities again....ever and I've seen a few.

[Jomar]

I think you describe any doctor....

It rare to find one that really will work with you instead of dictate their preferred protocals...

[Kitty]

It's hard not to wonder if they're getting a kickback from the drug companies because they push certain meds more enthusiastically than others.