I think this is a more useful link as it explains about the different types of brain lesion and you can then follow the link to MS. Better still, stick to trusted websites such as this one and the MS Trust.
I’m sorry you feel you were let down by your GP, Lenney, but Tina’s advice is sound. I do know how you feel because my GP told me he couldn’t refer me directly to the MAU at my hospital and I spent 4 hours in A & E before I reached the MAU and was eventually admitted for tests. Whilst I was on the MAU I witnessed several patients who were fast tracked straight onto the MAU as their GPs had referred them … It’s frustrating when your own GP hasn’t kept up with procedures but we are at their mercy. Like you, it didn’t make any difference to the final outcome for me so I had to let it go. There’s no point harbouring a grudge as I’m still stuck with the same GP. If I were to bring that up at every appointment then we would never have a decent patient/doctor relationship so I still have to trust him with my health.
We also have to remember that GP means just that - general practitioner. They aren’t perfect, they aren’t specialists in any one field and they don’t always get things right. Hopefully you can find some peace of mind soon.
Sadly I am sorry to have to disagree with you but debating on this forum about it is no help any futher, I was just after support thats all. I expect if you guys as you know know that if you got vertigo caused by an infection, you wouldn’t just stay at home you would go to the GP and ask for help. You cannot understand what I went through. There is no point in just guessing what I experienced. We all with MS have different triggers as thats well known. Lets talk about something else. I am in pain today feel very sore neck and legs. I’m thinking of perstering my neuro for Lemtrada.
Anitra. Tell me, you sound like you know more than me, iv deteriorated quite rapidly since jan, when I started rebif, not saying that’s the course, had MRI on may 13 see my nurologist last week she said my MRI was no change from last year didn’t appear to be any mor lesions? Why am I not the same as last year, didn’t ask was not feeling good at time, seeing her again Nxt week but wondered what you thought? Basically iv really heavy legs no strength around core, seems like balance probs but with no strength from waist down there won’t be balance anyway? I’m 57 but I would say a young 57 slim fit looking!!! Ex dance teacher tai-boxer few years ago. Thanks
You sound very misinformed about MS on the whole, but that is up to you to fix. The relapse didn’t go to your spine because of the infection, there was probably lesions already on your spine that were effected by the infection.
Concerning the GP, you have the right ot ask for a second opinion if you are not happy with the GP/neuro etc. With MS, a person has to be really up front and almost take charge yourself with any problems that come up health wise. You have to listen to doctors, but also make sure that you get your own words in. To me this just sounds like an ear infection that might have been treated with antibiotics, might not, and it was wrongly diagnosed, but doctors do that every once and awhile unfortunitly. I have had many really bad ear infections, and for a lot of them there was nothing that could be done but avoid loud sounds and wait it out
It takes time to get “fixed” by GPs/neuros, its not always a quick process which is what I get you want from your posts. I don’t mean to sound catty but people were offerering support and info and you choose to ignore it, which is your right, but people are truly trying to be helpful. I wouldnt call it a debate, people are just trying to be helpful.
Def. mention the anxiety to your Neuro since you can get help for it. Either with meds or with talking to a shrink. Its very commen with people who have MS and not always when they are having a relapse.
(I do realize this might get deleted since my post can come off very catty)
Hi there Lenney Firstly am not diagnosed with MS and so looking from the outside in, you seem to have been given some detailed and sound advice on the forum. If you are still unhappy with your GPs decision then perhaps if you feel well enough express your concerns to the Practice Manager ? If you read through past threads on varying things you’ll proabably find that the majority of people diagnosed or not yet diagnosed, we’ve had pretty cr*ppy experiences but if you dwell on then you’re stuffed because you won’t ever move on to the positives of looking after your ‘own’ welbeing. Maybe if and lets hope you don’t suffer with a nasty infection again any time soon write down what you need to tell the specialist before hand, and if things become unbearable ring the NHS helpline,emergency doctor or like some folks go to A&E (having worked in hospitals I personally have never done any of the latter three , I have just gritted my teeth but in hind sight there are two occasions in the past 10 months I maybe should have gone to the hospital) In your GPs defense they cover a heck of alot of illnesses it would be pretty hard am sure to remeber every protocol relating to every illness. Hope you are feeling better than you have been xx Mich
Also forgot to say, lenney, not being rude, but if you only won’t people to confirm your belief of what’s happened sorry its not going to happen, everyone has a different opinion, and to be honest Tina sounds very much like she knows what she’s talking about, as far as the stress factor is concerned, Tina your so right give me a £150K so I can pay all my depts and I’m sure I would feel much better not worrying how I will pay Nxt months bills while cant work, being self employed no sick pay. Doh
Hi Yes it went to the GMC,NHS England, NICE and will be the Ombudsman. I got lesions on my spine at the start of steroids. But this was 7 weeks later, I felt it go to my spine. I have been advised my an ex NHS staff to take the complaint as far as I can as it will be only then GP’s and others in their practices learn about medical mistakes.
I forgot to mention. I had a head injury on top of my head a few months before and got euphoria and a migraine the next day. I had a nasty knock on the top of my head on a low bearing door frame. I think it contributed to me feeling unwell during my double vision. The head injury showed on my MRI scan as an enhanced area. When I took the steroids my head became very sensitive and felt too heavy for my shoulders to carry to I had to lay down alot for nine months. Also I couldn’t wash my head/hair in the shower otherwise I would get a headache and would have to lay down. I had to wash my hair by gently using a cup and water in the sink, that lasted ten months.
I just wasn’t very well unfortunately. My neuro is aware of the head knock.
Lenny, have you written to the practice manager about the GP you don’t feel happy with? There is a procedure to go through and that is the first step. The practice need to have the oportunity to resolve your complaint. Personally I think the ex NHS staff person has given you bad advice. You’ve used the words, medical mistakes Lenny…I’m afraid I can’t see any mistakes made going by anything you’ve written.
Did you go back and see your gp, when you continued to feel unwell?
I understand how let down and upset you feel, I hope you get the reassurance you’re after.
I did the practice manager complaint first, I got a response from the GP. I had it in writing his mistake although he didn’t know at the time he wrote it he got it wrong. It was perfect as I now use it to esculate the complaint. There is no double vision in BPPV, and double vision even intermittent is an urgent dame day referral. I got that in writing from an NHS Consultant Audiological Physician.
The GP said to me let me know in four days if you are not improving he said email my practice and I will refer you. I emailed him and he referred me as non-urgent.
It would have been ok a couple of days non-urgent but not ‘choose and book’ 13 days. The neuro I saw 13 days later said I should have been referred sooner and I always wondered why he said that. Then it clicked why. He first thought I had a stroke as it was a VI nerve palsy.
I was advised by a neuologist that it is important to let them know about infections. I intend to find out this week about that with my neuro appt.
Forgot to say it was the third time I had seen him, twice for the epley with the vertigo and once for the epley for double vsion and unsteady walking. I sat in his room and explained how the double vision was happening ‘there and then’ with my hands. the double vision was constant and horizontal. I even broke down in tears to his female colleague GP first and said I just want to be normal. then she got the GP who made the mistake.
I am very sore today. If feel like I have gone down hill quite rapidly or am having a relapse. I have heavy legs in the evening and sore bod/ legs during the day. I’m thinking of asking for Lemtrada.
Ok, it should have been a same day referal. I can see you gp has let you down regarding early treatment for your symptoms. That does need dealing with by the practice. You do need to accept that your relapse would have happened either way I’m afraid. I’m sure when you see the neurologist, he will reassure you about this. I am really sorry that you feel so unwell and unhappy about the care from one particular gp. I wish you all the best at the Neuro appointment
