Tam, make sure that that one day between coverages, doesn't throw out your coverage for preexisting health issues.. I used to be in the Ins. business.

Thanks for the heads up! I was worried about that too, but fortunately, in New York State they can't disqualify you for pre-existing conditions.

Saw Neuro this morning-he says I definitely have carpal tunnel syndrome (GO FIGURE!) But doesn't think the rest of my symptoms have anything to do with it. So he still wants the MRI. He was so funny! He said "Well, you definitely have carpal tunnel syndrome, but the other symptoms do not necessarily relate. So, this could be a whole bunch of unrelated stuff, OR it could all be related." Way to walk the fence there, buddy!

He found the MRI that had a small white matter lesion in the frontal lobe, the other white matter lesion was in an atypical place.

Making progress is a good thing.

Tammey I think it is particularly hard for RNs to handle all of this. I am an RN but knew neurology only from nursing school which was a long time ago! I was cardiac care/telemetry. So I knew a little, just enough to make me paranoid, worried, family thinks I should know it all, etc, etc. To top it off, when I was in the hospital and got my diagnosis I asked the nurses for some of their books to read and I think they were as archaic as my textbooks.

I think it is too. My PCP did a more in-depth assessment and history than the neuro did. My personal experience with the group my neuro belongs to is that they don't appreciate people with a medical background asking them more in depth questions about a diagnosis. I think they view it as being challenged, when it is simply trying to understand on the level we are trained to. That is why I left that group to begin with. I only went back to him to facilitate a diagnosis, but to be perfectly honest, I feel like unless the MRI comes back with a space occupying glioblastoma with a midline shift, he's going to act like there is nothing wrong.

Getting quality info on neuro and endocrine issues is really challenging. To be honest, I do internet research for my information like I was writing a paper for school. Do you remember the phrase, "Use only peer reviewed journal citations"? That has come in handy when trying to get good info. Textbooks are outdated by 5 years by the time they are even published, and the medical community is making advancements in neuroscience so quickly that your average neuro isn't keeping pace. So, if my MRI is positive, I am going to NYC for treatment, because the neuroscience advancements are being discovered and implemented in major University and Research hospitals.

I have learned over time not to let the docs blow off my symptoms because I am a nurse. If I hadn't fought for a diagnosis of my pituitary problem years ago, I would still be sick. I cannot express more strongly that everyone needs to be a strong advocate for themselves and not give up.


Tam