Hi, I wondered if anyone could give me some advice after my consultation with my neuro today please? I’m not sure if I am being irrational.
My first visit to her today after several months to and fro to the doctor with various symptoms, mostly had for several years. What got me referred was my optician after a possible bout of optic neuritis, but no diagnosis.
Loooong list of symptoms from burning/stinging in various places to electric shock down neck etc.
She started asking me questions about my symptoms, and my mind went blank. So I took out my notes I had prepared for this visit. She took them off me and asked if she could keep them. She was asking me all sorts of questions about my symptoms which i was then stopped half way through nearly every answer I gave, as if she were trying to catch up writing and then moved onto another symptom.
She took 5 minutes if that to asses my reflexes etc, and then told me she believed it was: CFS, Fibro and depression.
I was diagnosed with fibro 2 years ago, which was stated in the notes I gave her.
She wants me on Amitriptyline and pregabalin.
A doctor put me on citalopram back in Jan this year and my doctor helped me off these only a few weeks ago as they were making me ill, and we both agreed that i was/am not depressed as she helped me previously with depression
She wants an MRI of my brain, but doesn’t believe it will show anything.
Am i being unreasonable? Does it really only take 5 mins for a physical assessment?
hi shaw the main thing is that she wants you to have an mri. i think 5 minutes was the length of time taken for my reflexes to be assessed. it was definitely the mri which got me my diagnosis. my neuro really didn’t expect it to show any lesions at all, when in fact i had a lot. amitrityline and pregabalin are neuropathic painkillers, so i wouldn’t pay too much attention to this unless pain is a big symptom for you. i got side effects from each of the neuropathic pain killers and took myself off them. in fact i have read somewhere that citalopram and amitriptyline should not be taken together, so get this checked if you do decide to take them.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. The pain relief would be appreciated, and I’m willing to give them a try. I have been off the citalopram for a couple of weeks now, but I will get that checked. Thank you
you’re very welcome shaw
it’s what we do.
it’s such a good feeling to be able to offer advice instead of requesting it.
do you know when you will have the mri?
Hello Shaw
As Carole said, the neurologist may not have spent long examining you, but the important thing is certainly that she’s ordered an MRI. So whatever she thinks is wrong with you, the MRI will demonstrate any MSy type lesions.
With regard to the drugs, Amitriptyline is best taken in the early evening. Many people start off with ‘hangover’ type feelings the following morning because they are taking it too late in the evening. Aim to take it by 7 or 8 o clock at the latest, that way it will be working when you go to bed, but will have worn off by the morning. Pregabalin can be taken all day as it has no sedative properties. People can have side effects from Pregabalin, including weakness and weight gain. So make sure you read the side effects information and take note of how each drug makes you feel. It’s probably worth starting one drug, waiting a week or two, then starting the other drug. That way you’ll be clear as to how each drug is helping / affecting you.
It’s also a good idea to start keeping a diary / journal / time line of how you feel physically, cognitively and emotionally. That way, not only do you have a record of your symptoms from day to day, but can also note your reactions to drugs.
Welcome to the forum anyway.
Sue
Thank you carole. My neuro appointment was yesterday and I’m guessing mri would be about 6 weeks plus for the mri.
I had convinced myself it could be ms, and happy to take her diagnosis if the mri comes back okay but I felt she had pre labelled me but wouldn’t let me finish answering her questions. I am usually a posative person so yesterday hit me like a brick.
Thank you for your advice sue. I have been on amitriptyline before for a back problem and felt just as you have described so I stopped taking it.
I wouldn’t have thought about waiting a week or 2 between starting another med, which makes sense. I have started to keep a diary but not as detailed as u have advised.
Thank you so much to you both for your fantastic advice, I will take it all on board
Pam x