I went for my appointment this morning. I paid £12.50 in taxi fare for a 3 minute appointment. Im fuming. 3 bloody minutes.
He rushed through taking a history and said I should see the chronic fatigue service about my fatigue, that was nothing to do with him. He did a plantar reflex test, with my tight socks on, using a round tool and by going straight up the foot, that is not how its meant to be done. He dismissed my falls, my dizzyness, my numbness and pins and needles in my hands and feet. He said the pins and needles and burning in my head was migraine and I should stop drinking tea. Dont even drink decaffienated tea as that has caffiene in.
He did refer me for an MRI but not sure what type but he was unbelievably dismissive and didnt even look me in the eye, despite me decribing intermittant pain in it.
I feel like crying my eyes out. This is yet one more consultant appointment where I have been completely dismissed.
You’ve not been “completely dismissed” - you’ve been referred for an MRI.
His manner was unfortunate, to say the least, BUT you got further action.
MRIs are highly expensive (I had several on BUPA, and ramped up thousands of pounds - which luckily, my insurers were paying), So the NHS don’t order them on a whim, to any patient who requests it.
Try to forget about his manner - just concentrate on the outcome. You’re through to the next stage! MRI provides much more detailed evidence than anything he could discover just by examining you, so that’s probably why he’s cut straight to that. You haven’t been dismissed.
Hi dead chick Sorry to hear about your appointment with awful doctor. I would discuss with your GP and request referral to different neuro for your MRI results Best Min x
Hi dead chick Sorry to hear about your appointment with awful doctor. I would discuss with your GP and request referral to different neuro for your MRI results Best Min x
but what if he has sent me for the wrong type? He is only looking for the cause of migrane, so wont be looking at my spine, (which if this IS down to headaches I think will be the cause due to arthritis in it) so there is no way a second opinion doctor will give me a second scan. Hes sending me for headaches of a type I dont have, so of course, he wont find what hes looking for, so I will be told its all in my imagination. I am willing to put money on it.
Please stop trying to pre-empt what will happen. You don’t yet know exactly what type of scan it is, and you can’t predict the results, but there’s no type of scan that is “just for migraines”, so what’s seen won’t be influenced by what he suspects. If there’s something there that isn’t migraine, it will still be seen. You may find he’s booked you for a complete MRI of brain and spine - you won’t know until you get there. However, in the event he’s booked brain only, that is still the most likely place to find evidence. Spinal cord lesions tend to be harder to spot than brain lesions, AND it’s relatively uncommon to have spinal lesions only, without any in the brain. So, if he’s being budget-conscious, whilst still wanting to check the most likely place first, he may have booked only a brain MRI. That would be a very common first investigation for any MS-like symptoms, and not “the wrong type of scan”. Hope this helps, Tina
but what if he has sent me for the wrong type? He is only looking for the cause of migrane, so wont be looking at my spine, (which if this IS down to headaches I think will be the cause due to arthritis in it) so there is no way a second opinion doctor will give me a second scan. Hes sending me for headaches of a type I dont have, so of course, he wont find what hes looking for, so I will be told its all in my imagination. I am willing to put money on it.
[/quote] DC, my therapist used to call this sort of thinking ‘depressive realism’. She was NOT in favour of it. Do try to lower your alert level a little and give the thing a chance to play itself out. Good luck. Alison
Perhaps it would be worth calling the neuro’s secretary to ask what kind of MRI you are being referred for - it might put your mind at rest.
The best advice someone here gave me before my first neuro appt was that neurologists, by their very nature, can come accross as an odd bunch with not a lot of bedside manner. They can sometimes appear cold or unfeeling. Try to ignore his attitude and focus as much as you can on what the outcome of the appointment will be.
I have everything crossed that you get some answers soon and that the testing you receive is useful xx
He sounds EXACTLY like my neuro, the not making eye contact and quick dismissive examination was jus like the one I had. What area of the country are you in?
I completely understand your anger and frustration.
I reckon all neuros sould be tied to a chair and made to read through all theposts on here, then mayne they will realise just how much distress they add for people wo are already having a rough time.
Ive calmed down a little. I realised I didnt get a chance to say half of what was going on due to being so rushed, so maybe its no wonder he came up with his daft idea. I think part of the reasonIm so stressed is I have a meeting with my employer on Friday about me being on sick leave and I wanted to have something more concrete to tell her, now I feel embarrassed Im off with a pathetic tea induced migraine. Except I know this isnt true, it just would have been nice to have some sort of idea of a realistic reason for being so poorly. I have occupational health in a fortnight, so really need to give them some sort of idea of when im going back, but im getting worse rather than better. I dont want to lose my job but if I cant stay awake how on earth can I go back?
Hello I am new…wasn’t going to Register until I had a diagnosis of ‘whatever may be’…I felt compelled to write though DC as I am in similar position with regards to work…been off 7 month and I work for the NHS but the powers that be STILL want (and within reason I understand why) all the answers…unfortunately we cannot give them a diagnosis until every stone has been turned and all the tests have been done it’s a process of elimination You can only tell Managers and HR what you know…I spent last week chasing Neuros Secretary and ENT when told by Secretary ‘hey Neuro does have other patients to get through’ I had to apologise and say it’s work asking me to push for answers. What will be will be…work were pushy I emailed them with my ‘none progress’ and they haven’t even replied… You’ve enough on your plate don’t get overly worried by work…if you’re poorly you are poorly , take a deep breath and conserve your energy for YOU x
Hi deadchick, so not the same neuro as me as i’m in East Surrey, however sounds as bad as mine
The work thing is difficult I know. I’m lucky have very supportive employers but it’s still frustrating not to be able tell people anything difinite as no proper DX yet.
Manoon is right, try to focus on yourself rather than worrying what others think.
Hi deadchick07, I really feel for you cause you obviously have a lot going on affecting you mentally and physically that if I’m guessing right, no-one seems to be acknowledging this.Are you wondering if you lost your sanity somewhere along the line!!
in my own experience i had same examinations, prior to my MRI apart from being asked about my medical history dates and complaints. Then after MRI results and a letter saying my MRI is suggestive of MS,waited again for Lumber Puncture & optic nerve test to confirm. It took 3months.
Take his attitude with a piece of cake or chocolate or even a cup of tea. He he, we have to laugh if we didn’t we’d burst, if you see him next time initiate shaking his hand & smile making physical contact may help and makes you human not just a number.
I guess your under the Walton Centre, I am & live in Southport . I was diagnosed ppms in Jan of this year.
I have a meeting with HR and line manager next week following my O.Health asses,this week I’m focussing on getting either union or colleague to attend, the stress of one thing or another to deal with has not lifted yet since diagnosis all I can say is its been a rough road and I’ve still got a few miles to go.
I do feel like a fraud, and the dr made that worse. what if it is me being a drama queen with a self inflicted headache?
I have a friend in work who has MS, shes had it 15 years and just diagnosed as going into the next stage, so I feel pathetic as Im in no way as badly off as she is, but she has been the most caring and understanding person over the whole thing, she tells me what i sholud be prescribed etc, despite me never mentioning my thoughts about possible MS, ive only mentioned it on here. Ive told her about the chronic fatigue though. Shes been well treated by work relatively.
Hi deadchick - so sorry you had such a frustrating appointment but I think what you rightly saw as " rushed" was because there was enough in your history for this neuro to have already decided you needed a mri ( probably before he saw you.) And as others have said, they don’t order mri’s in these budget conscious days without good reason.
Lots of posts on here subscribe to the " they will fob you off till they are sure" theory so that may be why you ended up feeling so frustrated. And I can understand why because when we feel so unwell we want answers as to why.This is the brutal reality of limboland (sigh).
You are not being a “drama queen” - if you were you would not be so unhappy with your appt. You are in the system & under investigation with a neurologist & that’s what you can tell your employer with no apologies but with your head held high.
I hope you get answers soon hun. I think if you are still unhappy you should go back to your GP because the stress will not help you.
PS I’ve been told I’ve got migraine too…yet awaiting another mri with follow up neurologist appt booked & marked “watchful waiting”… Hmm… funny that … a coincidence!!!
thanks Cygnet, Im a lot calmer today. He wrote down MRI then something else next to it, I have no idea what but I suppose I will just have to chill out and wait for the clinic letter.
Do try to lower your alert level a little and give the thing a chance to play itself out. Good luck. Alison