SO, I learned long ago to quit crying over the idiotic things doctors would say at times. I try to just let their compassion lacking directions float in one ear and out the other in an objective way. Today though was quite different. Though I consider myself a woman of the Lord, it took everything in my will to avoid back handing my new neurologist. I have been seeing him for my new facial neuralgia but he also insisted on doing a migraine consult. After I explained that I could not afford Botox (even with Ins. help) here is what he advised me today:
-The pain from my migraines and facial neuralgia should be treatable with Aleeve and I do not need to continue the pain meds I am on.
-The type of facial neuralgia I have is probably a glosso/trigeminal combo but he didn't want to confirm so he dropped the subject.
-My MRA shows no artery issues, but MRI may show an object of "other" and that's all I need to know.
-NEVER under any circumstances should I have to go to the ER ( keep in mind that I have 4 chronic pain conditions!)
-I am to take an alzheimer's drug for preventative, since I am allergic to all other classes of drugs.
-Forget that Botox is expensive, I still really should consider it.
-Even though I have been on anti-inflammatories so long that I have developed another bout of gastritis (the last bought grew stomach polyps), I am now to take a RX strength anti-inflammatory med only twice a week, because after all that's all that I should be hurting.
-Ignore the crushing neck and chest pain I get with my migraines...I am young and those are typical symptoms
Oh, and come back in a month to see how Alzheimer's drug is working, or sooner if I need to....
UGH!!!! Idiot!!!! I SERIOUSLY doubt that man has ever experienced significant physical pain or else he probably would not be saying those words...
Thanks for letting me vent..........................................................
This is terrible. It's hard enough to keep going and seeking help, and then to have such an awful, unproductive appointment. That's devastating. I agree with Red, you should get a new doctor as well as report this one.
I would probably call him and ask why he won't prescribe you some Tegretol, especially considering that everyone knows it's a valid first line of treatment and NOT a narcotic. I'd be curious as to his answer, and perhaps you could at least get a prescription out of the visit you paid for...
Sorry you had to go through that. There's nothing worse than a bad appointment (besides a bad pain flare).
Red- thank you for your offer. I will try to take you up on that. I am so behind in "real medical care" and do need to find a new neuro-- I live in Merced, CA. So, Fresno, Sacramento, Modesto...basically anything within a one hour drive are great and if there is an excellent specialist even further away I will drive that far. I have multiple complex neuro issues so I need knowledgeable doc! Any help would be greatly appreciated. It's been almost 6 years and still I have yet to find a neuro who will listen.
Crystaly- Thanks for the support as well! That was the worst apt I have ever had which is sayign a lot! First time I've ever had a doc tell me to deal with the pain... Still, I go on :)
You need to find a different neurologist that has compassion for their patients. This jerk needs to put his med license back into the box of Cracker Jacks that he got it out of! I’m so sorry for the way they treated you, and I will pray for you.
That man is dangerous! I won't even call him a doctor! Get away from him! Find a pain specialist. I am serious when I say that every neurologist I have had was so mean he made me lose hope. The E.R. does not think the same way as your Dr., thank goodness. You are still allowed to go there. I hope you have GP. When the E.R. asks who your Dr. is, name your GP not your neuro. Like Red says, this guy needs to be reported. He is speaking beyond his areas of expertise. Go to www.ratemds.com . You can look up doctors in your area and see what people have said about him/her. Then find out who you want to see, call and ask if they are accepting new patients. You can also ask for referral from your GP or E.R. but I like having the option to choose for myself based on other patients comments. You can also place an anonymous comment there about this neuro. If his name is not there, you can add it, then add your comment. Use a nickname there instead of your real name, everyone does.