Advice for Neuro appt?
 

Hi!
I was hopping to get some advice...it has been abut 10 months since my last recorded concussion and my symptoms are getting rapidly worse. I have made an appointment to go see the Neurologist again but this time its a new Doc. I want to make sure I get my point acrossed that what I'm feeling and going thru is real and not just "in my head" (as if my a mental patient). I suffer from confusion, memory loss, poor focus, no balance (I fall over at least 8 times a day, like onto my bottom) all the other times I catch my self. Throbbing in ears, and more but I don't need to hear from another idiot with a paper saying they are better then me that I'm over exaggerating and there's no way I feel like that or there's no way my memory is that bad (I'm 22 btw). All I ever hear is I'm depressed and over exaggerating it. I'm rather happy in life minus the new difficulties I am a worrier but that has always been. But yeah I'm rambling on. Any tips on how to get my Doc to actually listen? And not just blow off everything I say?

I suggest to bring someone in with you who can attest to what you're saying and to attest to your previous levels of functioning. When I was meeting new doctors who didn't know me, it was very difficult for me to communicate with them and since they didn't know me, they didn't know what was different or what the problems were. Having a family member there to explain things made it go a lot easier for me.

I also recommend writing everything down on a piece of paper, or typing it out and handing a copy to your Dr. so they have a copy they can refer to and put into your chart.

Jaystar,

It sounds like you could benefit from a NeuroPsych Assessment. A decent neuro should be able to do a complete neuro exam and notice some of your symptoms that would point to the value of an NPA

I also agree with EsthersDoll. Take a family member who has observed your struggles.

If the person who can accompany you to the neuro has time, they should read the TBI Survival Guide www.tbiguide.com to better understand how to recognize your symptoms. Be careful to not complain in medical terminology. It can cause docs to look at you as a cyberchondriac.