Neuro ...

[elsieblu]

I am in my first year of diagnois and saw my neuro Friday. Its been 4 months since I last saw her and updated my "changes". These consist of losing my bowels a few times, peeing in the bed and sense of urgency to pee even after going to the bathroom. I've had a lot of depression and know that that really needs to be addressed. And I'm realizing I have a good deal of the cognitive issues that are affecting my work and daily life alot (at least I have an answer to that, I thought I was just getting really dumb and I used to be so smart)...So I did mention that I would like to do the cognitive testing...

Ok so these are the changes in 4 months! She prescribed a pill for the urinary problems but said since I'm allergic to a couple of the antidepressants (prozac and lexapro) that I can't have any of them? How can I even participate in any kind of recovery if I can't even function because of the depression? I start a meal planning system and in a few days it goes by the wayside due to the depression ...its so hard to keep up? I felt as tho I'd been barely hanging on from the depression till the appointment...I don't get it.

At the end of the appointment she says to see her in 2 months and call if I have any ACUTE changes? I just don't get any of this...I read and read about ms and then I can't remember what it was I read or confuse the information. I can't remember which diet I was following ...So I guess this is just it...this is the way it is? Any help? or guideance?

[SNOOPY]

So I did mention that I would like to do the cognitive testing...

Did your neuro agree to and order Neuropsych testing? If not maybe it's time to find a neuro who will listen to your concerns and treat/order testing where appropriate.

but said since I'm allergic to a couple of the antidepressants (prozac and lexapro) that I can't have any of them?

There are many different ADs available and finding one that works and you can tolerate can be trial and error. Just because you had a bad reaction to two of them does not mean you can't take any of them.

I would suggest making an appointment with a Psychiatrist. The medications to treat depression is their specialty.

[Lexie]

My PCP is the doctor who gives me the antidepressants. My feeling is (and I may be wrong) but after 8 months of testing and getting the ms dx. My neurologist is useless except for the copaxone. It's kind of like a treasure hunt doing all of the different tests to rule out other diseases and then when the neuro finds the treasure he is done. His office will hardly ever call me back so unless I have a really bad relapse my appointment is in December. I saw him for the dx in May.I'm sure it will be a short one just to refill the copaxone or order a brain scan to see if there is any difference in the previous ones. Hope everyone else's story is not like mine!

[0485c10]

I was very worried about cognitive decline when i was first diagnosed and i requested a neuropsych exam. it was not covered by my insurancre but i told her i was willing to pay for one out of my saving because i just wanted to know. she refused to write the order, would not allow me to spend my saving on a test i did not need. my other symptoms and mri diagnosed MS, i was already on disability... the neuropsyche test might be used as evidence for a disability claim but it might also be used to show you are able to work. its kind of a risk and no treatment decisions are made from it.. perhaps you need to clarify what a neuropsyche test results would be used for you?...

in case your depression has an anxiety component? I was prescribed a beta blocker once and that is suppose to help with anxiety & be a performance enhancer....read the wikki entry for it.

also here is an online cognitive test you can take at home
(free)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_blocker

http://www.neurology.ufl.edu/memory/cognitivetest.shtml

[0485c10]

My PCP is the doctor who gives me the antidepressants. My feeling is (and I may be wrong) but after 8 months of testing and getting the ms dx. My neurologist is useless except for the copaxone.

Good point Lexie, my neuro is very aggressive at referring me to my PCP for ANYTHING not PROVEN to be from MS, even thoug i see her every 6 months to get my tysabri ordered refilled.

and ms is a diagnosis of exclusion--everything has to be excluded before its from MS. She is pretty far down the road for treatment an anything despite i see her 2x a year.

[smashms]

I too have a very good neurologist i can call her anytime and she or her nurse calls me back that same day. usually within a couple of hours if i call in the morning they will call back at lunch time or right before they start seeing patients in the afternoon. in fact today i was there for a followup from me being in the hospital and she had a phone call that was important and actually took it and then came back and spent an extra 15 minutes with me since i had questions. many docs i know would not do that for their patients, which is why i don't mind waiting when i go there. my pcp is the same way!! also my urologist is that way also. in fact i need to make appointment with my PCP for a followup as well to ask her some questions also.

[kikiblue]

the right doctor

Many doctors do not like to prescribe anti-depressants. My PCP will keep the prescription refilled for me, but I got it initially for a psychiatrist. Always go to the right doctor for the job!

I had a neuro/psych test after being diagnosed with a B12 deficiency. It proved that I had brain damage but other than that it didn't do anything to help me. I had to relearn how to do things that were effected by the brain damage. (And I did it on my own.)

[elsieblu]

Thank you all so much for your replies! I struggled all weekend with those feelings from my neuro appt ... And I thank you all for the reality check. It is so easy to confuse what one needs to do or information to follow.

I did call my regular dr. and will see her today. I also called my local MS chapter for referral lists for an MS Specialist for consideration and a list of potential psychotherapist (?) for coping skills. I really want to do and be the most i can with this new "normal" lol.

As for the neuro/psy test, I am still working in a courtroom which can be very stressful and its there that I'm most concerned about my cognitive issues. I guess I'm trying to get a measuring point ...I don't know. But thank you for the link on the free test and for all the input.

[0485c10]

Are there any legal issues to your knowing?

i don't know what you do, but could something happen and it could be proven that you KNEW you were likely to forget or make a mistake so you were at fault for something because you knew...and didn't remove yourself from the situation where you were you were likely to forget something important...but if you don't get a neuro psyche test you wouldn't exactly know so you wouldn't be an at fault party?

i know the situation i am trying to explain. i'm uncertain if am describing it correctly? are there any possible legal risks/consequences to you knowing?