Neuro appointment, vent - both hubby and neuro vent

[Guest guest]

Okay, so I went to my neuro check up today.....and the first thing she did when she sat down with the paper they have you fill out saying you want to talk about today was say, " More complaints. "   Okay great thanks.  I feel like crap, and you say that?  I asked her about the muscle spasms, and while she did prescribe me Baclofen, she said when someone has MS, the pcp will ALWAYS say that muscle spams are from the MS, and not medical in nature (or from fibromyalgia which was my concern).  She didn't check out any of where my muscle spasms are.  I told her about problems with my arm and wrist, and weakness in left hand, and she did at least check that out.  Here was where I made my mistake, evidently:  I asked her about the twitching I've been having.  It's been going on for at least a year, and I just wanted to get her opinion on it.  Well, she said it's nothing, just some myoclonus movement, and then she looked at my medlist, and said it could very well be caused by all the meds that I'm on.  She looked at my medlist and couldn't see how I could function day to day with all of those meds.  Okay, so what should I cut out?  My bipolar medicine, my cholesterol medicine, my RLS medication, my nerve pain medication, my seizure medication?  This is what I was thinking.  I can't just cut out my meds as they each are FOR something.  Sure, I would love to be on fewer meds to control my mood, but without these meds I get pretty depressive.  Heck, I get really depressive WITH these meds.  So she decided she would cut back on my amitryptilene - my nerve pain medication.  She just increased the dose in May because it wasn't controlling the nerve pain, and it's not controlling the nerve pain now, but I can't get on anything like gabapentin because I'm already on two anti-convulsants for my epilepsy.  Well, I don't know if there is another option other than gabapentin and amitryptiline, but she won't do anything else.  So tonight I'm supposed to start dropping my medication dose.  Drop it by one pill for a week.  Next week, if you don't have any problems, drop it by another pill.  I can't imagine what her reaction is going to be when I go back if my pcp decides to put me on a beta blocker, too.  My neuro exam checks out fine - left sided weakness, but that's become the norm, and when she had me walk, she had me to it as fast as I can go.  Yeah, I can walk that fast, but it's not sustainable.

I told her this was a bad month, with the UTI and the flare, and everything coming together so I just feel like crap.  I told her other than the heat, July was fine.Then when we get home, hubby is pissed because my upper endocscopy was scheduled at .  Well, there are no doctors in Alton that take Illinois Medicaid, so I can't have it done at Alton Memorial.  So he starts looking at local doctors at a third party website that supposedly lists what insurances they take, and one says they take Wellpointe, which has a division that takes Medicaid.....except is Harmony Health Plan, not Illinois Health Connect.  The difference is Harmony Health Plan is a for profit plan run by a private company.  Illinois Health Connect is run by the state, so obviously not for profit, and is less restrictive - you can see MORE doctors on Illinois Health Connect.  But hubby won't listen to me.  So tomorrow, I have to call this local GI doctor that I haven't seen in something like 10 years or more, just to make sure he doesn't take Illinois Medicaid - which my doctor's office already told me the two GI docs in town do not take it.  Heck, my insurance company told me that the only GI docs in a 60 mile radius that take IDPA are at , and this other one even farther out than .  Alton Memorial doesn't have it set up where you can just get the scope done by a staff doctor and then go back to your pcp like at .  At Alton Memorial, you have have it scheduled by one of the two GI docs on staff, meaning you have to have a continuing relationship with them, and if they don't take your insurance you are SOL.

I'm sorry about the venting.  It's just, I don't know, the stars must have aligned to have both of these going on at the same time.  Hubby was already mad at me, which I still think he shouldn't be, so this shoved him over the edge.

Tina

[Guest guest]

Tina I am so sorry you didn't have a good neuro appointment and then add to that

a grumpy husband. I will continue to keep you in my prayers.

Hugs

nne

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the

world "

" May the Lord Bless you and keep you,

May the Lord Make his face shine upon you, and give you Peace...Forever "

Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life

http://breastcancerpatientssoulmatesforlife.bravehost.com/

Anxiety Depression and Breast Cancer

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AnxietyDepressionandBreastCancer

Angel Feather Loomer

www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com

The Cancer Club

www.cancerclub.com

> Neuro appointment, vent - both hubby and neuro vent

>

> Okay, so I went to my neuro check up today.....and the first thing she

> did

> when she sat down with the paper they have you fill out saying you want

> to

> talk about today was say, " More complaints. " Okay great thanks. I feel

> like crap, and you say that? I asked her about the muscle spasms, and

> while

> she did prescribe me Baclofen, she said when someone has MS, the pcp will

> ALWAYS say that muscle spams are from the MS, and not medical in nature

> (or

> from fibromyalgia which was my concern). She didn't check out any of

> where

> my muscle spasms are. I told her about problems with my arm and wrist,

> and

> weakness in left hand, and she did at least check that out. Here was

> where

> I made my mistake, evidently: I asked her about the twitching I've been

> having. It's been going on for at least a year, and I just wanted to get

> her opinion on it. Well, she said it's nothing, just some myoclonus

> movement, and then she looked at my medlist, and said it could very well

> be

> caused by all the meds that I'm on. She looked at my medlist and

> couldn't

> see how I could function day to day with all of those meds. Okay, so

> what

> should I cut out? My bipolar medicine, my cholesterol medicine, my RLS

> medication, my nerve pain medication, my seizure medication? This is

> what I

> was thinking. I can't just cut out my meds as they each are FOR

> something.

> Sure, I would love to be on fewer meds to control my mood, but without

> these

> meds I get pretty depressive. Heck, I get really depressive WITH these

> meds. So she decided she would cut back on my amitryptilene - my nerve

> pain

> medication. She just increased the dose in May because it wasn't

> controlling the nerve pain, and it's not controlling the nerve pain now,

> but

> I can't get on anything like gabapentin because I'm already on two

> anti-convulsants for my epilepsy. Well, I don't know if there is another

> option other than gabapentin and amitryptiline, but she won't do anything

> else. So tonight I'm supposed to start dropping my medication dose.

> Drop

> it by one pill for a week. Next week, if you don't have any problems,

> drop

> it by another pill. I can't imagine what her reaction is going to be

> when I

> go back if my pcp decides to put me on a beta blocker, too. My neuro

> exam

> checks out fine - left sided weakness, but that's become the norm, and

> when

> she had me walk, she had me to it as fast as I can go. Yeah, I can walk

> that fast, but it's not sustainable.

>

> I told her this was a bad month, with the UTI and the flare, and

> everything

> coming together so I just feel like crap. I told her other than the

> heat,

> July was fine.

>

> Then when we get home, hubby is pissed because my upper endocscopy was

> scheduled at . Well, there are no doctors in Alton that take

> Illinois

> Medicaid, so I can't have it done at Alton Memorial. So he starts

> looking

> at local doctors at a third party website that supposedly lists what

> insurances they take, and one says they take Wellpointe, which has a

> division that takes Medicaid.....except is Harmony Health Plan, not

> Illinois

> Health Connect. The difference is Harmony Health Plan is a for profit

> plan

> run by a private company. Illinois Health Connect is run by the state,

> so

> obviously not for profit, and is less restrictive - you can see MORE

> doctors

> on Illinois Health Connect. But hubby won't listen to me. So tomorrow,

> I

> have to call this local GI doctor that I haven't seen in something like

> 10

> years or more, just to make sure he doesn't take Illinois Medicaid -

> which

> my doctor's office already told me the two GI docs in town do not take

> it.

> Heck, my insurance company told me that the only GI docs in a 60 mile

> radius

> that take IDPA are at , and this other one even farther out than

> . Alton Memorial doesn't have it set up where you can just get the

> scope done by a staff doctor and then go back to your pcp like at .

> At Alton Memorial, you have have it scheduled by one of the two GI docs

> on

> staff, meaning you have to have a continuing relationship with them, and

> if

> they don't take your insurance you are SOL.

>

> I'm sorry about the venting. It's just, I don't know, the stars must

> have

> aligned to have both of these going on at the same time. Hubby was

> already

> mad at me, which I still think he shouldn't be, so this shoved him over

> the

> edge.

>

> Tina

____________________________________________________________

TRY FREE IM TOOLPACK at http://www.imtoolpack.com/default.aspx?rc=if5

Capture screenshots, upload images, edit and send them to your friends

through IMs, post on Twitter®, Facebook®, MySpace™, LinkedIn® – FAST!

[Guest guest]

Tina I am so sorry you didn't have a good neuro appointment and then add to that

a grumpy husband. I will continue to keep you in my prayers.

Hugs

nne

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the

world "

" May the Lord Bless you and keep you,

May the Lord Make his face shine upon you, and give you Peace...Forever "

Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life

http://breastcancerpatientssoulmatesforlife.bravehost.com/

Anxiety Depression and Breast Cancer

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AnxietyDepressionandBreastCancer

Angel Feather Loomer

www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com

The Cancer Club

www.cancerclub.com

> Neuro appointment, vent - both hubby and neuro vent

>

> Okay, so I went to my neuro check up today.....and the first thing she

> did

> when she sat down with the paper they have you fill out saying you want

> to

> talk about today was say, " More complaints. " Okay great thanks. I feel

> like crap, and you say that? I asked her about the muscle spasms, and

> while

> she did prescribe me Baclofen, she said when someone has MS, the pcp will

> ALWAYS say that muscle spams are from the MS, and not medical in nature

> (or

> from fibromyalgia which was my concern). She didn't check out any of

> where

> my muscle spasms are. I told her about problems with my arm and wrist,

> and

> weakness in left hand, and she did at least check that out. Here was

> where

> I made my mistake, evidently: I asked her about the twitching I've been

> having. It's been going on for at least a year, and I just wanted to get

> her opinion on it. Well, she said it's nothing, just some myoclonus

> movement, and then she looked at my medlist, and said it could very well

> be

> caused by all the meds that I'm on. She looked at my medlist and

> couldn't

> see how I could function day to day with all of those meds. Okay, so

> what

> should I cut out? My bipolar medicine, my cholesterol medicine, my RLS

> medication, my nerve pain medication, my seizure medication? This is

> what I

> was thinking. I can't just cut out my meds as they each are FOR

> something.

> Sure, I would love to be on fewer meds to control my mood, but without

> these

> meds I get pretty depressive. Heck, I get really depressive WITH these

> meds. So she decided she would cut back on my amitryptilene - my nerve

> pain

> medication. She just increased the dose in May because it wasn't

> controlling the nerve pain, and it's not controlling the nerve pain now,

> but

> I can't get on anything like gabapentin because I'm already on two

> anti-convulsants for my epilepsy. Well, I don't know if there is another

> option other than gabapentin and amitryptiline, but she won't do anything

> else. So tonight I'm supposed to start dropping my medication dose.

> Drop

> it by one pill for a week. Next week, if you don't have any problems,

> drop

> it by another pill. I can't imagine what her reaction is going to be

> when I

> go back if my pcp decides to put me on a beta blocker, too. My neuro

> exam

> checks out fine - left sided weakness, but that's become the norm, and

> when

> she had me walk, she had me to it as fast as I can go. Yeah, I can walk

> that fast, but it's not sustainable.

>

> I told her this was a bad month, with the UTI and the flare, and

> everything

> coming together so I just feel like crap. I told her other than the

> heat,

> July was fine.

>

> Then when we get home, hubby is pissed because my upper endocscopy was

> scheduled at . Well, there are no doctors in Alton that take

> Illinois

> Medicaid, so I can't have it done at Alton Memorial. So he starts

> looking

> at local doctors at a third party website that supposedly lists what

> insurances they take, and one says they take Wellpointe, which has a

> division that takes Medicaid.....except is Harmony Health Plan, not

> Illinois

> Health Connect. The difference is Harmony Health Plan is a for profit

> plan

> run by a private company. Illinois Health Connect is run by the state,

> so

> obviously not for profit, and is less restrictive - you can see MORE

> doctors

> on Illinois Health Connect. But hubby won't listen to me. So tomorrow,

> I

> have to call this local GI doctor that I haven't seen in something like

> 10

> years or more, just to make sure he doesn't take Illinois Medicaid -

> which

> my doctor's office already told me the two GI docs in town do not take

> it.

> Heck, my insurance company told me that the only GI docs in a 60 mile

> radius

> that take IDPA are at , and this other one even farther out than

> . Alton Memorial doesn't have it set up where you can just get the

> scope done by a staff doctor and then go back to your pcp like at .

> At Alton Memorial, you have have it scheduled by one of the two GI docs

> on

> staff, meaning you have to have a continuing relationship with them, and

> if

> they don't take your insurance you are SOL.

>

> I'm sorry about the venting. It's just, I don't know, the stars must

> have

> aligned to have both of these going on at the same time. Hubby was

> already

> mad at me, which I still think he shouldn't be, so this shoved him over

> the

> edge.

>

> Tina

____________________________________________________________

TRY FREE IM TOOLPACK at http://www.imtoolpack.com/default.aspx?rc=if5

Capture screenshots, upload images, edit and send them to your friends

through IMs, post on Twitter®, Facebook®, MySpace™, LinkedIn® – FAST!

[Guest guest]

That was a lousy thing for the neuro to say! How uncaring!! I can't believe she said "more complaints". Geez!Sending you hugs for a better tomorrow:) SharonThis email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects. To: mserslife <mserslife >Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 3:17 PMSubject: Neuro appointment, vent - both hubby and neuro vent

Okay, so I went to my neuro check up today.....and the first thing she did when she sat down with the paper they have you fill out saying you want to talk about today was say, "More complaints." Okay great thanks. I feel like crap, and you say that? I asked her about the muscle spasms, and while she did prescribe me Baclofen, she said when someone has MS, the pcp will ALWAYS say that muscle spams are from the MS, and not medical in nature (or from fibromyalgia which was my concern). She didn't check out any of where my muscle spasms are. I told her about problems with my arm and wrist, and weakness in left hand, and she did at least check that out. Here was where I made my mistake, evidently: I asked her about the twitching I've been having. It's been going on for at least a year, and I just wanted to get her opinion on it. Well, she said it's nothing, just some myoclonus movement, and then she looked

at my medlist, and said it could very well be caused by all the meds that I'm on. She looked at my medlist and couldn't see how I could function day to day with all of those meds. Okay, so what should I cut out? My bipolar medicine, my cholesterol medicine, my RLS medication, my nerve pain medication, my seizure medication? This is what I was thinking. I can't just cut out my meds as they each are FOR something. Sure, I would love to be on fewer meds to control my mood, but without these meds I get pretty depressive. Heck, I get really depressive WITH these meds. So she decided she would cut back on my amitryptilene - my nerve pain medication. She just increased the dose in May because it wasn't controlling the nerve pain, and it's not controlling the nerve pain now, but I can't get on anything like gabapentin because I'm already on two anti-convulsants for my epilepsy. Well, I don't know if

there is another option other than gabapentin and amitryptiline, but she won't do anything else. So tonight I'm supposed to start dropping my medication dose. Drop it by one pill for a week. Next week, if you don't have any problems, drop it by another pill. I can't imagine what her reaction is going to be when I go back if my pcp decides to put me on a beta blocker, too. My neuro exam checks out fine - left sided weakness, but that's become the norm, and when she had me walk, she had me to it as fast as I can go. Yeah, I can walk that fast, but it's not sustainable.

I told her this was a bad month, with the UTI and the flare, and everything coming together so I just feel like crap. I told her other than the heat, July was fine.Then when we get home, hubby is pissed because my upper endocscopy was scheduled at . Well, there are no doctors in Alton that take Illinois Medicaid, so I can't have it done at Alton Memorial. So he starts looking at local doctors at a third party website that supposedly lists what insurances they take, and one says they take Wellpointe, which has a division that takes Medicaid.....except is Harmony Health Plan, not Illinois Health Connect. The difference is Harmony Health Plan is a for profit plan run by a private company. Illinois Health Connect is run by the state, so obviously not for profit, and is less restrictive - you can see MORE doctors on Illinois Health Connect. But hubby won't listen to me. So tomorrow, I have to call

this local GI doctor that I haven't seen in something like 10 years or more, just to make sure he doesn't take Illinois Medicaid - which my doctor's office already told me the two GI docs in town do not take it. Heck, my insurance company told me that the only GI docs in a 60 mile radius that take IDPA are at , and this other one even farther out than . Alton Memorial doesn't have it set up where you can just get the scope done by a staff doctor and then go back to your pcp like at . At Alton Memorial, you have have it scheduled by one of the two GI docs on staff, meaning you have to have a continuing relationship with them, and if they don't take your insurance you are SOL.

I'm sorry about the venting. It's just, I don't know, the stars must have aligned to have both of these going on at the same time. Hubby was already mad at me, which I still think he shouldn't be, so this shoved him over the edge.

Tina

[Guest guest]

That was a lousy thing for the neuro to say! How uncaring!! I can't believe she said "more complaints". Geez!Sending you hugs for a better tomorrow:) SharonThis email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects. To: mserslife <mserslife >Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 3:17 PMSubject: Neuro appointment, vent - both hubby and neuro vent

Okay, so I went to my neuro check up today.....and the first thing she did when she sat down with the paper they have you fill out saying you want to talk about today was say, "More complaints." Okay great thanks. I feel like crap, and you say that? I asked her about the muscle spasms, and while she did prescribe me Baclofen, she said when someone has MS, the pcp will ALWAYS say that muscle spams are from the MS, and not medical in nature (or from fibromyalgia which was my concern). She didn't check out any of where my muscle spasms are. I told her about problems with my arm and wrist, and weakness in left hand, and she did at least check that out. Here was where I made my mistake, evidently: I asked her about the twitching I've been having. It's been going on for at least a year, and I just wanted to get her opinion on it. Well, she said it's nothing, just some myoclonus movement, and then she looked

at my medlist, and said it could very well be caused by all the meds that I'm on. She looked at my medlist and couldn't see how I could function day to day with all of those meds. Okay, so what should I cut out? My bipolar medicine, my cholesterol medicine, my RLS medication, my nerve pain medication, my seizure medication? This is what I was thinking. I can't just cut out my meds as they each are FOR something. Sure, I would love to be on fewer meds to control my mood, but without these meds I get pretty depressive. Heck, I get really depressive WITH these meds. So she decided she would cut back on my amitryptilene - my nerve pain medication. She just increased the dose in May because it wasn't controlling the nerve pain, and it's not controlling the nerve pain now, but I can't get on anything like gabapentin because I'm already on two anti-convulsants for my epilepsy. Well, I don't know if

there is another option other than gabapentin and amitryptiline, but she won't do anything else. So tonight I'm supposed to start dropping my medication dose. Drop it by one pill for a week. Next week, if you don't have any problems, drop it by another pill. I can't imagine what her reaction is going to be when I go back if my pcp decides to put me on a beta blocker, too. My neuro exam checks out fine - left sided weakness, but that's become the norm, and when she had me walk, she had me to it as fast as I can go. Yeah, I can walk that fast, but it's not sustainable.

I told her this was a bad month, with the UTI and the flare, and everything coming together so I just feel like crap. I told her other than the heat, July was fine.Then when we get home, hubby is pissed because my upper endocscopy was scheduled at . Well, there are no doctors in Alton that take Illinois Medicaid, so I can't have it done at Alton Memorial. So he starts looking at local doctors at a third party website that supposedly lists what insurances they take, and one says they take Wellpointe, which has a division that takes Medicaid.....except is Harmony Health Plan, not Illinois Health Connect. The difference is Harmony Health Plan is a for profit plan run by a private company. Illinois Health Connect is run by the state, so obviously not for profit, and is less restrictive - you can see MORE doctors on Illinois Health Connect. But hubby won't listen to me. So tomorrow, I have to call

this local GI doctor that I haven't seen in something like 10 years or more, just to make sure he doesn't take Illinois Medicaid - which my doctor's office already told me the two GI docs in town do not take it. Heck, my insurance company told me that the only GI docs in a 60 mile radius that take IDPA are at , and this other one even farther out than . Alton Memorial doesn't have it set up where you can just get the scope done by a staff doctor and then go back to your pcp like at . At Alton Memorial, you have have it scheduled by one of the two GI docs on staff, meaning you have to have a continuing relationship with them, and if they don't take your insurance you are SOL.

I'm sorry about the venting. It's just, I don't know, the stars must have aligned to have both of these going on at the same time. Hubby was already mad at me, which I still think he shouldn't be, so this shoved him over the edge.

Tina

[Guest guest]

Oh Tina, I'm sorry your neuro was so callous. Take it in stride, and know that it is HER problem, not yours.

As far as your husband goes, he sounds like he is being a real pill, and you don't need the stress.

In terms of meds--Lyrica can be a helpful med, doesn't work for me however. Doesn't mean it won't work for you.

Keep us posted...

hugs,

Kate

To: mserslife <mserslife >Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 6:17 PMSubject: Neuro appointment, vent - both hubby and neuro vent

Okay, so I went to my neuro check up today.....and the first thing she did when she sat down with the paper they have you fill out saying you want to talk about today was say, "More complaints." Okay great thanks. I feel like crap, and you say that? I asked her about the muscle spasms, and while she did prescribe me Baclofen, she said when someone has MS, the pcp will ALWAYS say that muscle spams are from the MS, and not medical in nature (or from fibromyalgia which was my concern). She didn't check out any of where my muscle spasms are. I told her about problems with my arm and wrist, and weakness in left hand, and she did at least check that out. Here was where I made my mistake, evidently: I asked her about the twitching I've been having. It's been going on for at least a year, and I just wanted to get her opinion on it. Well, she said it's nothing, just some myoclonus movement, and then she

looked at my medlist, and said it could very well be caused by all the meds that I'm on. She looked at my medlist and couldn't see how I could function day to day with all of those meds. Okay, so what should I cut out? My bipolar medicine, my cholesterol medicine, my RLS medication, my nerve pain medication, my seizure medication? This is what I was thinking. I can't just cut out my meds as they each are FOR something. Sure, I would love to be on fewer meds to control my mood, but without these meds I get pretty depressive. Heck, I get really depressive WITH these meds. So she decided she would cut back on my amitryptilene - my nerve pain medication. She just increased the dose in May because it wasn't controlling the nerve pain, and it's not controlling the nerve pain now, but I can't get on anything like gabapentin because I'm already on two anti-convulsants for my epilepsy. Well, I don't

know if there is another option other than gabapentin and amitryptiline, but she won't do anything else. So tonight I'm supposed to start dropping my medication dose. Drop it by one pill for a week. Next week, if you don't have any problems, drop it by another pill. I can't imagine what her reaction is going to be when I go back if my pcp decides to put me on a beta blocker, too. My neuro exam checks out fine - left sided weakness, but that's become the norm, and when she had me walk, she had me to it as fast as I can go. Yeah, I can walk that fast, but it's not sustainable.I told her this was a bad month, with the UTI and the flare, and everything coming together so I just feel like crap. I told her other than the heat, July was fine.Then when we get home, hubby is pissed because my upper endocscopy was scheduled at . Well, there are no doctors in Alton that take Illinois Medicaid,

so I can't have it done at Alton Memorial. So he starts looking at local doctors at a third party website that supposedly lists what insurances they take, and one says they take Wellpointe, which has a division that takes Medicaid.....except is Harmony Health Plan, not Illinois Health Connect. The difference is Harmony Health Plan is a for profit plan run by a private company. Illinois Health Connect is run by the state, so obviously not for profit, and is less restrictive - you can see MORE doctors on Illinois Health Connect. But hubby won't listen to me. So tomorrow, I have to call this local GI doctor that I haven't seen in something like 10 years or more, just to make sure he doesn't take Illinois Medicaid - which my doctor's office already told me the two GI docs in town do not take it. Heck, my insurance company told me that the only GI docs in a 60 mile radius that take IDPA are at , and this other one

even farther out than . Alton Memorial doesn't have it set up where you can just get the scope done by a staff doctor and then go back to your pcp like at . At Alton Memorial, you have have it scheduled by one of the two GI docs on staff, meaning you have to have a continuing relationship with them, and if they don't take your insurance you are SOL.I'm sorry about the venting. It's just, I don't know, the stars must have aligned to have both of these going on at the same time. Hubby was already mad at me, which I still think he shouldn't be, so this shoved him over the edge.Tina

[Guest guest]

Oh Tina, I'm sorry your neuro was so callous. Take it in stride, and know that it is HER problem, not yours.

As far as your husband goes, he sounds like he is being a real pill, and you don't need the stress.

In terms of meds--Lyrica can be a helpful med, doesn't work for me however. Doesn't mean it won't work for you.

Keep us posted...

hugs,

Kate

To: mserslife <mserslife >Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 6:17 PMSubject: Neuro appointment, vent - both hubby and neuro vent

Okay, so I went to my neuro check up today.....and the first thing she did when she sat down with the paper they have you fill out saying you want to talk about today was say, "More complaints." Okay great thanks. I feel like crap, and you say that? I asked her about the muscle spasms, and while she did prescribe me Baclofen, she said when someone has MS, the pcp will ALWAYS say that muscle spams are from the MS, and not medical in nature (or from fibromyalgia which was my concern). She didn't check out any of where my muscle spasms are. I told her about problems with my arm and wrist, and weakness in left hand, and she did at least check that out. Here was where I made my mistake, evidently: I asked her about the twitching I've been having. It's been going on for at least a year, and I just wanted to get her opinion on it. Well, she said it's nothing, just some myoclonus movement, and then she

looked at my medlist, and said it could very well be caused by all the meds that I'm on. She looked at my medlist and couldn't see how I could function day to day with all of those meds. Okay, so what should I cut out? My bipolar medicine, my cholesterol medicine, my RLS medication, my nerve pain medication, my seizure medication? This is what I was thinking. I can't just cut out my meds as they each are FOR something. Sure, I would love to be on fewer meds to control my mood, but without these meds I get pretty depressive. Heck, I get really depressive WITH these meds. So she decided she would cut back on my amitryptilene - my nerve pain medication. She just increased the dose in May because it wasn't controlling the nerve pain, and it's not controlling the nerve pain now, but I can't get on anything like gabapentin because I'm already on two anti-convulsants for my epilepsy. Well, I don't

know if there is another option other than gabapentin and amitryptiline, but she won't do anything else. So tonight I'm supposed to start dropping my medication dose. Drop it by one pill for a week. Next week, if you don't have any problems, drop it by another pill. I can't imagine what her reaction is going to be when I go back if my pcp decides to put me on a beta blocker, too. My neuro exam checks out fine - left sided weakness, but that's become the norm, and when she had me walk, she had me to it as fast as I can go. Yeah, I can walk that fast, but it's not sustainable.I told her this was a bad month, with the UTI and the flare, and everything coming together so I just feel like crap. I told her other than the heat, July was fine.Then when we get home, hubby is pissed because my upper endocscopy was scheduled at . Well, there are no doctors in Alton that take Illinois Medicaid,

so I can't have it done at Alton Memorial. So he starts looking at local doctors at a third party website that supposedly lists what insurances they take, and one says they take Wellpointe, which has a division that takes Medicaid.....except is Harmony Health Plan, not Illinois Health Connect. The difference is Harmony Health Plan is a for profit plan run by a private company. Illinois Health Connect is run by the state, so obviously not for profit, and is less restrictive - you can see MORE doctors on Illinois Health Connect. But hubby won't listen to me. So tomorrow, I have to call this local GI doctor that I haven't seen in something like 10 years or more, just to make sure he doesn't take Illinois Medicaid - which my doctor's office already told me the two GI docs in town do not take it. Heck, my insurance company told me that the only GI docs in a 60 mile radius that take IDPA are at , and this other one

even farther out than . Alton Memorial doesn't have it set up where you can just get the scope done by a staff doctor and then go back to your pcp like at . At Alton Memorial, you have have it scheduled by one of the two GI docs on staff, meaning you have to have a continuing relationship with them, and if they don't take your insurance you are SOL.I'm sorry about the venting. It's just, I don't know, the stars must have aligned to have both of these going on at the same time. Hubby was already mad at me, which I still think he shouldn't be, so this shoved him over the edge.Tina

[Guest guest]

Yeah, I'm not sure what her deal was - maybe she had a bad day.  Hubby thinks she thinks that when I come in with a complaint, I'm automatically looking for a pill for something that's not going to get better.  Well, that's just not true.  The twitch I know I have to live with, and have been - I just wanted to know what it was from.  There are a ton of things that I DON'T mention to her because I know that I just have to live with - like the left sided weakness, the fact that while I was walking to the parking garage to her office I couldn't hold my nook in my left arm down at my side because of the pain and the weakness, I felt like I was going to drop it - I can only hold things in my left hand if my arm is up, not down at my side.  I don't mention the hand cramps, the trouble typing, etc., because after it being here three years, I've accepted that its the way its going to be.

I tried Lyrica about 4 years ago for fibromyalgia - unfortunately, I was allergic to it.  I say unfortunately because it had started working.  The pain management doctor that prescribed it said because I blew up with water weight so quickly after they increased the dose because something in my kidneys " didn't like it " and to treat it as an allergy.  Literally I gained 20 pounds in four days.  It scared me to death.

With hubby, I really think the last month has worn him down with me having so many problems and the constant muscle spasms to where I haven't been able to do much.  It's been a strain on him, so I guess I can partially understand.

Tina

 

Oh Tina, I'm sorry your neuro was so callous. Take it in stride, and know that it is HER problem, not yours.

As far as your husband goes, he sounds like he is being a real pill, and you don't need the stress.

In terms of meds--Lyrica can be a helpful med, doesn't work for me however. Doesn't mean it won't work for you.

Keep us posted...

hugs,

Kate

To: mserslife <mserslife >Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 6:17 PM

Subject: Neuro appointment, vent - both hubby and neuro vent

 

Okay, so I went to my neuro check up today.....and the first thing she did when she sat down with the paper they have you fill out saying you want to talk about today was say, " More complaints. "   Okay great thanks.  I feel like crap, and you say that?  I asked her about the muscle spasms, and while she did prescribe me Baclofen, she said when someone has MS, the pcp will ALWAYS say that muscle spams are from the MS, and not medical in nature (or from fibromyalgia which was my concern).  She didn't check out any of where my muscle spasms are.  I told her about problems with my arm and wrist, and weakness in left hand, and she did at least check that out.  Here was where I made my mistake, evidently:  I asked her about the twitching I've been having.  It's been going on for at least a year, and I just wanted to get her opinion on it.  Well, she said it's nothing, just some myoclonus movement, and then she

looked at my medlist, and said it could very well be caused by all the meds that I'm on.  She looked at my medlist and couldn't see how I could function day to day with all of those meds.  Okay, so what should I cut out?  My bipolar medicine, my cholesterol medicine, my RLS medication, my nerve pain medication, my seizure medication?  This is what I was thinking.  I can't just cut out my meds as they each are FOR something.  Sure, I would love to be on fewer meds to control my mood, but without these meds I get pretty depressive.  Heck, I get really depressive WITH these meds.  So she decided she would cut back on my amitryptilene - my nerve pain medication.  She just increased the dose in May because it wasn't controlling the nerve pain, and it's not controlling the nerve pain now, but I can't get on anything like gabapentin because I'm already on two anti-convulsants for my epilepsy.  Well, I don't

know if there is another option other than gabapentin and amitryptiline, but she won't do anything else.  So tonight I'm supposed to start dropping my medication dose.  Drop it by one pill for a week.  Next week, if you don't have any problems, drop it by another pill.  I can't imagine what her reaction is going to be when I go back if my pcp decides to put me on a beta blocker, too.  My neuro exam checks out fine - left sided weakness, but that's become the norm, and when she had me walk, she had me to it as fast as I can go.  Yeah, I can walk that fast, but it's not sustainable.

I told her this was a bad month, with the UTI and the flare, and everything coming together so I just feel like crap.  I told her other than the heat, July was fine.Then when we get home, hubby is pissed because my upper endocscopy was scheduled at .  Well, there are no doctors in Alton that take Illinois Medicaid,

so I can't have it done at Alton Memorial.  So he starts looking at local doctors at a third party website that supposedly lists what insurances they take, and one says they take Wellpointe, which has a division that takes Medicaid.....except is Harmony Health Plan, not Illinois Health Connect.  The difference is Harmony Health Plan is a for profit plan run by a private company.  Illinois Health Connect is run by the state, so obviously not for profit, and is less restrictive - you can see MORE doctors on Illinois Health Connect.  But hubby won't listen to me.  So tomorrow, I have to call this local GI doctor that I haven't seen in something like 10 years or more, just to make sure he doesn't take Illinois Medicaid - which my doctor's office already told me the two GI docs in town do not take it.  Heck, my insurance company told me that the only GI docs in a 60 mile radius that take IDPA are at , and this other one

even farther out than .  Alton Memorial doesn't have it set up where you can just get the scope done by a staff doctor and then go back to your pcp like at .  At Alton Memorial, you have have it scheduled by one of the two GI docs on staff, meaning you have to have a continuing relationship with them, and if they don't take your insurance you are SOL.

I'm sorry about the venting.  It's just, I don't know, the stars must have aligned to have both of these going on at the same time.  Hubby was already mad at me, which I still think he shouldn't be, so this shoved him over the edge.

Tina