Well I had my follow up appt with my neuro after going to the MS center a few weeks ago and it was extremely annoying. He spent half the appointment looking up articles on meds on the internet that I had already read. My neuro is not a ms specialist. Then he quizzed me as to what I knew about them. I felt like a med student. Then he decided that I should have a new MRI. This is what they recommended at the ms center. It has been over a year since my last one. I agree that I should have another one (in fact I suggested this in January), but why did I have to drive an hour for this appointment? He could not have done this over the phone?

Basically, if the MRI does not show any active inflamation, he has relunctantly agreed I can stay off of a treatment and then have another MRI every 6 months. If there is evidence of active lesions, he wants me to try imuran. this is also what they have recommended at the ms center. I am going to consider it. I told him that I was not willing to try rituxan.

(For those of you who are not familar with my med history, I had an allergic reaction to betaseron, several servere reactions in the few months I was on copaxone, and developed antibodies and had infusion reactions while on tysabri.) I am also allergic to benicillin and sulfa, and have had problems with some other meds.

He also told me that he does not prescribe stimulants for fatigue. This same neuro told me last spring when I was first dx that he does not prescribe anti depressants. He did agree with me that I could try increasing my dose of baclofen in order to help with stiffness. I have only been taking 10 mg as needed in the evenings. (He originally implied I should only take it if I was experiencing muscle spasms.) I am going to gradually increase to 20 mgs every day and see if I can tolerate it. He did mention I could try zanaflax (sp) if the baclofen does not help or makes me too sleepy.

I am switching my insurance from my HMO to a plan where I can choose my own doctors in July. I think at that time I will see if I can switch neuros to a ms specialist even if it means I have to drive 150 miles each way for my appoinments. I liked the doctors I saw at the ms center.

Sorry for the long post.

Sheesh, what does he know..

I hope you can find a Neuro on your side.

Hi Barb, I think that's a great idea to switch neuros when you can. It's so important to be working with someone you like and trust. You deserve it. Sorry you've had so many reactions to the drugs--that must be frustrating!

I say...get ready for a drive....

being able to choose your own drs is a real plus.
make sure you have copies of your records and get copies of your mri's.

when you have your new one get a copy of the films.
your new dr will want to see them for himself.

good luck.
i hope you get good answers.
a dr that won't Rx AD's for an MS patient?

Barb,

What part of Illinois are you in? I live in DeKalb County and we drive to Northbrook to see a good doctor. Yours sounds like he's lacking in some ways; about what I had available to me here before we found the MS specialist out of town.

Wow...so sorry. Are there any MS specialists in your area you could go to?

That's not reassuring to know more than your doctor.

Sorry to hear this Barb!

There's nothing like a Dr who doesn't listen, who doesn't research and who doesn't put the patient first. I know because I have had a few. That's one reason I kept the full service plan I have. It may cost me more but it's well worth it.

Doctor shopping rots, because you have to try them out for more than one appointment before you get their number. If it's not a good fit, you have to go through the whole process all over again.

A doctor who treats MS had better be flexible and wiling to do what improves the quality of life for the patient. There's too many things fgoing on with you for your problems to be ignored and untreated!