No personality or bedside manner is one thing, but misdiagnosis due to neglect is something else.

Come on, military health care is worth every penny you spend on it.........

Sorry about Ms. No Personality or Bowel Movements, really, MS? {looks at muscle twitching on and off in his thigh/arm/eye nervously}

You would think that since it was not her first complaint, she might have learned something.  Apparently not.

No personality or bedside manner is one thing, but misdiagnosis due to neglect is something else.

Yep, it is, and she's not far off that mark right now. 

Sorry about Ms. No Personality or Bowel Movements, really, MS? {looks at muscle twitching on and off in his thigh/arm/eye nervously}

Really, MS.  I've got an appointment on Dec 12th with a neurologist at Barnes Jewish who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of MS, so if I DO have it I'm sure he's going to be able to diagnose it. 

It's not only the twitching that bothers me, it's the vertigo and the fatigue too. I get dizzy a lot; I stagger about like I've had too much to drink.   I have days where I don't feel like I'm able to walk from the couch to the fridge and, like I said, I can't walk upstairs without taking a break halfway up.  That's ridiculous, IMO.  I'm a grown woman, I should be able to walk up a single flight of stairs in my own damn home without getting tired.  So, if you've got the twitches AND the fatigue AND the dizziness and it's progressively getting worse....then I'd recommend you see a doctor.

You would think that since it was not her first complaint, she might have learned something. Apparently not.

Yep, apparently not.  I mean, I understand that not every physician has charisma and is in the profession because they genuinely like helping folks - just as not all the nurses I work with like dealing with old people - but when patient's are suffering because of that lack of charisma then something HAS to be done about it, and that something should be more than a 'please try to get along with the patients better'.  She's still working there, so none of the complaints about her could have been taken TOO seriously.

I'd LOVE to be able to change that.

Gah, I can't stand doctors like this. I have walked out on such arses before and (unfortunately) probably will again. I don't know what gives them the right to think they can treat people so dismissively. Arses...

I do hope it is only something to do with your back operation and not MS. I will keeping you in my thoughts...

I have walked out on such arses before and (unfortunately) probably will again

You know, as soon as she walked into the room and I came very, very close to saying 'sorry, I've made a mistake in agreeing to be seen by you.  I'll make another appointment with a different physician' and just walking out of the room.  However, I was worried about what was going on with me and decided to stay.

I do hope it is only something to do with your back operation and not MS.

It's not anything to do with my back surgery.  I had the fusion done at L4 and L5 level (Lumbar) and there aren't any nerve roots at that level that lead to my arms, hands, fingers and face.  I wish that there were; it'd be a lot less worrying!

There are a few things that it could be apart from MS (Multiple Sclerosis):  ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy), Parkinsons Disease - those are the worst examples, and it's unlikely that it's any of those.  There are many, many other diseases that cause symptoms similar to the ones I've been having.  It could also be something totally benign and easily cured - I'm not a neurologist so I can't really say what it is.  The neurologist I'm going to see, however, specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of MS, so if that's what I have I'm confident that he'll be able to help - and that if it ISN'T, he'll be able to tell me that, too.  Like I said, MS is no longer considered to be a disease that kills people.  There are many, many therapies that control the disease progression and help reduce the symptoms. 

You know what I'm worried about more than anything?  Not being able to go to nursing school.  I can live with whatever diagnosis I'm given as long as it doesn't interfere with my being a nurse. 

I don't think I've ever been this passionate about a career before.

We've just gone through a bit of process too. Toni is having olfactory hallucinations at all sorts of odd times. What initially made matters worse was she googled her symptom (notice this is singular) and google came back with a whole range of diagnoses. She scared herself good and proper. A visit to an ENT specialist and one MRI later, she was able to put her worries to rest. The scans revealed a brain (good news, although I already thought she had one) and the even better news that there were no tumours, spots or signs of aneurisms. Her sinus', however, looked somewhat swollen, which is the most likely cause of her hallucinations. As I said to her; a single symptom does not a diagnosis make. Still, it was scary for her.

It could also be something totally benign and easily cured

I am hoping this is the case. I will keep everything I can crossed that this is so.

You know what I'm worried about more than anything? Not being able to go to nursing school. I can live with whatever diagnosis I'm given as long as it doesn't interfere with my being a nurse.

I too am hoping your new career choice won't be affected. You've worked so hard so far it would be a crying shame to have to give it away now.

I don't think I've ever been this passionate about a career before

For a person as passionate as yourself, this is a big statement. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts.

she googled her symptom

Is that what we have really become?  best of  Luck to Toni.  I guess it is better than HMOs.

I feel for ya too.  I haven't been around JU much lately but thought I'd stop by to see how you're doing.  Autoimmune problems are soooo hard to diagnose.  Like LW said, MS doesn't necessarily mean the end of everything though.  My MIL has had MS all of my hubby's life and you'd never know it.

Here's hoping you get a good doc who will listen to you, figure it out and treat it.

~hugs~

As I said to her; a single symptom does not a diagnosis make. Still, it was scary for her.

I can imagine! 

You know, the advent of the internet and sites like webMd must be the bane of physicians - because people try to diagnose themselves and end up with two and two making seventy-one, if you know what I mean.   It IS frightening, though.

For a person as passionate as yourself, this is a big statement. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts.

Thank you, Maso.  I find that very comforting.

 

Sounds like my idiot rheumatologist who blames everything (even my r/a itself!) on the fact that I 'have Hepatitis C.'

I know!  It seems like some docs are just so focused on ONE thing that they try to blame every.  single.  thing.  on that issue.  They're WORSE than people trying to google-diagnose themselves, to be honest.

When I was reading your symptoms the first thing that came to mind was tardive dyskinesia, which can be caused by certain medications taken over a long period. Did you investigate this possibility?

Yeah, I had a look at all the meds I've been taking and whilst some of them can cause those symptoms, they'd be a constant thing.  The symptoms I've been having are coming in waves.  One week it'll be really bad, then I'll have a good couple of days - or even weeks - before the symptoms come back.  I've been having some issues with my vision off and on too, which worries me too.  *sigh*...it'll all get worked out soon.

Here's hoping you get a good doc who will listen to you, figure it out and treat it. ~hugs~

The doc I'm going to specializes in MS, so I'm confident I'll be in good hands.  Thanks for the hug, and give yourself and your familt one for me too!

Yes, I think these sites probably would be. I think T learnt her lesson with this incident. Next time, she'll go to the doctor and get a proper diagnosis before panicing.



Ah, there are a few of you here who are never far from my thoughts anyway. Besides, I'm concerned for you. You're a lovely lady and a friend and I would hate to see you inflicted with something so debilitating, particularly when it looks like you've finally found your career niche.

(((((K))))))

Any news? I'm praying that you are okay.