Had the neuro apt today, was a bit of a rush and little one's had a tummy bug so not as prepared as I would like to have been...

I've been put down for an urgent CT brain scan, date yet unknown. And there was a squiggle that said something like 'plus bune windows'? Anyon know what this is?

I've also been given 250mg Naproxin to be taken 3x a day, as anti inflamatory.

I had tried to down play my expectations due to some warnings here and previous experianc...but it was still very frustrating.

Im left wondering if the neuro was an idiot or if he was doing it intentionally to tet my symtoms. Slamming in and out of the door several time, talking loudly, interrupting me and not actually listening to my answers or misinterpreting what I was saying....and grabbing my effing head and jerking it from side to side.

He waved off a CSF leak without more than that phrase leaving my lips. Breifly glanced into my ear dismissively. Said he would need a BOTTLE of it to test which is absolute crap. When I pointed out a small dab onto a filter paper would be suffient to show the halo indicating CSF he paused...then said that wouldnt count as analysis. I replied it would certainy be easy prrof of a leak evidencing the ned for further analysis.

I mean...c'mon. Its not difficult!

He seemed to think that becuase I dont have mennengitus its not possible. Which is just stupid. Then he told me not to pick at the scab as this forming is good...my mind boggles...how and why does he think i am picking a scab somewhere inside my ear canal?? With an arm that doesnt even work proprly? Arghh.

He asked me what happened, then wouldnt let me finish. He asked me my symtoms, then wouldnt let me finish...then seemed annoyed that I hadt mentioned that my right arm cannot go behind my back.

I thouh some sort of plan would e worked out, if only at thhis early stage (for him) of what test and professionsla i would need to see. Nope. Said my arm was nothing to do with him, that it was probably a joint issue rather than nerves.

I know it was just a first meeting and the tests results should, in theory, help with a plan but I at least expected him to have read my notes or at least give me the chance to stuttuer y way through what needs to be said. For some reassurance and stages of care to be explained.

Im sure this neuro is allright as a person but he di everything wrong he could have in regards to triggering symptoms and seems just as bored and impatient as everyother dr ive had to deal with.

Of course to top this off as I was waiting on a bench outside for my lift some racist ukiper bloke started making comments about foriegners and having a go. Refusing to go, even when I'd had enough and walked off, flapping his hands in my face. Twice. Came back and started again when my lift arrived.

Merry christmas!

It probably says "plus bone windows".

I think from memory bone windows are used to detect fractures.

Sounds as if you had a big day. I'm sorry about how it ended for you.

Hey Ash,

Sorry to hear about how your appointment ended, nobody needs to put up with that.

Bone window is a reference to a head CT scan, the information gotten as a standard is usually viewed under a 'soft tissue' and 'bone' window by the radiologist reporting on your head CT scan. Each one focuses on the different density tissues displayed on the scan, it's easier to find certain pathologies this way than viewing a CT scan using a 'wide open window'.

It's unfortunate that more of these specialists haven't themselves dealt with a concussion or PCS because I think they would be a lot more understanding and helpful to patients if they had. Your experience with your neurologist sounds somewhat typical from what I've heard and from what I've experienced. Rushed, with few questions answered and no real direction given for recovery. I think this is something that seriously needs to change with how these 'specialists' treat their patients but hey. . . .

I found naproxen helped to reduce the headaches I was suffering when I started taking it. Allowed me to start working again, hopefully it helps you as well to reduce some of the headache symptoms. I took it for about 2 months, I found it really helped. I've since stopped taking it daily on advice from the neurologist I saw who told me to start taking it only when I get headache symptoms. So far my headaches are much milder than before although I seem to get new milder symptoms with the old ones having faded . . . .taking it as a sign of progress.

Cheers Lara, there's a bitter part ofme laughing that both events should follow one another aftermy moaning here the other day about it.

My mum was my lift and heard him the second time. She usually denies the amount of hassel I recieve saying its in my head. Perhaps there is a n upside in that she has whitnessed it for herself...

Cheers Seabass, that info is v.useful. I dont know much about this stage of testing/scans ect and wil research. At least with the scans ordered fractures, swelling, bleeding ect wil be looked for even with the doubtful neuro.

And yeah things need to change. I had worse experiences with male gyno's, they can be appaling. I once had one throw my bloodworks result in my face and tell me to interpret them myself has he thouht i was lieing, this just after an operation, he hadnt bothered to read notes and didnt know about.

I realise that they dont always have the answers, theyre more there to correlate data and cast probable diagnosis but they are also a point of care.

We'll see how this pill works, always a bit dubious. Stopped taking the amytriptaline recently as my fatigue means I sleep anyway and it was fouling my mood.

Did your dr advise to lessen intake as part of weaning or becasue of concerns re the drug? Hope your feeling better.

Ash,

Many of us find that challenging docs with information we have found on the internet is a recipe for disaster. There is a term docs use for people who use the internet to self-diagnose or even just self-inform. They call them cyberchondriacs.

It takes extreme care to use knowledge gained online or elsewhere to get doctors to even answer informed questions, much less investigate issues or symptoms. Most doctors have big egos.

Mark you have made an incorrect assumption.

The info re the filter paper test came from a friend of mine who is a chemist. This was not a challenge but a simple statement of fact in the face of a lack of evidence based denial.

I spoke of the actuality of my circumstance, not research.

I am not a cyberchondriac, nor did the neuro ever infer anything like this, but rather booked the necessary tests that may add info for diagnosis.

Feel free to ask for clarification.

Please reread my post. I was not calling you a cyberchondriac. Plus, the information about filter paper fits the 'or elsewhere' comment "It takes extreme care to use knowledge gained online or elsewhere to get doctors to even answer informed questions"

I was just commenting about how doctors react to informed patients. Even though the doc did book a CT, you explained how adverse he was to your informed questions.

As I said he dismissed it as soon as the phrase left my mouth, upon further talk he was less dismissive though he does seem to think that anyone with a CSF leak for more that a short while willl get mennegitus. Certainly this is a risk, the reason of concern, but not a definate. The leakers on this forum have had such often longer than I.

So, how long before this naproxin actually stops the pain? At the moment I just feel very naseus (and that symptom had been one of the ones fading argh)

Naproxen usually only works for me with generic aches & pains, muscle type or low back pain.. it seems to take longer to kick in than Tylenol or Ibuprofen.. but maybe because it lasts longer??

But I don't get headaches very often.. usually take Tylenol when I do..
If I want fast relief I take Tylenol or Ibuprofen types...

I'm getting on quite well with the naproxen.

Though other factors also include:
stopping the amytriptaline
no longer drinking coffee (oh woe!)
2-5 cups of green tea with honey a day
resting at home during holidays

The tinnitus went after a few days- to a week. Sometimes, if i'm tired it will appear faintly. Or if I have a shift in pressure feeling in my ear/face. I also had a strong burst of it today after getting out of the bath- I had accidently got a bit of water in affected ear.

But, for the most part, gone. which is odd.

Although I cannot really say it has lessoned the pain, as I still get stabbing pains at impact sites and headaches, it has lessoned the ache and fog. I can think and feel clearer.

And yeah my back does ache a bit less which is a bonus (had back/shoulder pain pre-injury).

The aim was to reduce swelling in the brain, and it is working, that implies that the aymptoms being lifted are due to those areas of the brain being squeeed/reduced blood flow. Rather than damaged. which is good.

Still have the racoon eyes, sense that my right side of my body is larger and more forward than my left, diziness/trouble focusing, light/sound/scent sensitivity,pain, fatigue, helpless nounage and stutter. But I think I detect improements generelly, except for the faitgue.