how often do you go to your doc?

[sunshine008]

Sequoia your funny with your response. it made me smile the way you wrote it. i know you didnt' mean it to be funny. yet you have such will. it makes me just smile.

thanks everyone. just self educating as per usual. was just curious since i see mine every 2 mos. and get mri's every 5 mos. it seems.

[AnneLouise]

I'm supposed to go every 6 months and have an MRI once a year. But, I haven't made an appointment yet,and it's been almost 3 months. What's he going to tell me or do? He seems to do the same old thing every time. Physical tests, walking(which I hate because I can't walk very well, except when I'm at his office!). I feel lumped in with his other ms patients. He wouldn't prescribe LDN because it didn't work for another patient. And I think, he doesn't have ms, how can he really know how I feel? Plus, I think he doesn't believe I'm as bad as I am! I don't think my hubby's insurance will cover an MRI, and I hate to spend that money just to have the neuro say "hmm". The insurance I had when I could work was awesome.

I see a chiro who has me do "exercises" to help my brain function. Though, I feel awful, I feel at least they are trying to do something, whereas my neuro just wants to give me medications that I really don't want or create other problems.

Maybe I need a new neurologist. I don't know anymore.

[Sequoia]

Sequoia your funny with your response. it made me smile the way you wrote it. i know you didnt' mean it to be funny. yet you have such will. it makes me just smile.

Thanks! Actually, I did mean it to be funny...but I was serious too.

[NickyOz]

like everyone elsi i was seeing my neuro every 6 months but here in Ireland they got too busy and i know go every year but if there is anythinng wrong I can get an appointment any time I want. As I had real severe flare over the last 5 months I think I would have had about 6 appointments in that time

As I started Ty this month you see your neuro every 4 months, get bloods done every 4 months and I can't remember how often get mri but it is regular

[Windwalker]

See Neuro. every 6 months to be told there's nothing they can do. MRI every 3 years so far. We agreed my next visit would be my last. He is against DMD's, although he would prescribe them if I wanted them.

Rough patches, have PPMS so no flare ups or relapses, are handled by my PCP, he gets the calls and visits when I'm doing badly.

[billiejeane]

Thanks! Actually, I did mean it to be funny...but I was serious too.

Your response was the best thing I have read/heard all day! I t made me smile also. I am starting to think all the dmd's,sx management make me feel worse. I am over it. What do u suggest? I am some meds that would require the care of a doc to stop. And who wants to go THAT kind of a doc. Again,Thank u for the smile.

[Sequoia]

Your response was the best thing I have read/heard all day! I t made me smile also. I am starting to think all the dmd's,sx management make me feel worse. I am over it. What do u suggest? I am some meds that would require the care of a doc to stop. And who wants to go THAT kind of a doc. Again,Thank u for the smile.

You're welcome! Always glad to make someone smile.

If I were not almost a decade into Secondary Progressive, I'd be on a DMD myself. Not sure which one; probably Tysabri. I have, in the past, done Copaxone and LDN. The interferons were never a possibility for me.

I'm not opposed to DMDs in general...but in my particular situation, they just don't make sense (my opinion, and also my neuro's).

I don't take symptom management meds because they all have unwanted side effects, and I'm able to manage my symptoms well enough with alternative methods.

I work hard at symptom management 24/7; I'm not just lying back and letting MS have its way with me.

I meditate at least an hour + 15 minutes a day, often an hour + 45 minutes, sometimes even more. I follow a gluten free, dairy free, anti-inflammatory diet. I take supplements. I do yoga (gentle stretching) and I've recently started lifting free weights.

The lifting was the result of an agreement with a wheelchair-bound MS friend. He does a lot of lifting, I do a lot of meditating. Now he's added meditating to his daily regimen, and I've added lifting to mine.

Sometimes I feel as though having MS is a full-time job...and the pay is lousy!

[mtnwillow]

I see my neurologist, who is an MS specialist, every 8-12 weeks. I see my PCP twice and year.

[1936siol]

Seeing doctor

I quit seeing the MS doctors years ago. Way back then they knew very little about MS. I was in the hospital a lot and trying to do all the right things. None of the medications seemed to help. In fact I became very cynical and only see an MS doctor when things are really bad like calling 911 when I can't breathe. I do see the cardiologist regularly. I do know I have to see the neurologist again but I just keep waiting. Maybe for another 911 call.

Lois

[Tawanda]

Learned not to expect to much from neuro...

I see mine as little as possible!

To get my prescriptions re-filled, that means 2x a year. Until there is something he can actually do that is going to significantly impact my day-to-day life living with M.S., I'd scrap these appointments if I didn't need him for my Avonex. I really wish there was more that could be done for this disease. I'm gettting pretty sick of it.

[Toomnyhats]

Neuro every year - except the 1st year, then it was 3 mos after starting DMD, then 14 mos to next visit b/c I forgot & they didn't remind me. (Yes, I currently have a mild course.)

Recently I saw a neuro-op & when I called her ofc several wks later to ask a question her staff told me my neuro wanted to see me at my 6 mo mark. Mind you the neuro didn't tell me that, but it is in the notes sent to the neuro-op

When I have my labs done next month, I'll ask the new neuro when I should come in. He might want to see me at the 6 mo mark.

My last MRI was Set 2009 & no plans for another one anytime soon.

[tommylee]

I see mine as little as possible!

Same here!
For the first 10 years I saw my neuro every 3-6 months and would see my regular Dr or GI Dr every 3 months for the first 5 years.

Problem is all they ever did was offer me more meds. The meds all seem to have side effects that are often worse than the original problem.

After I sort of "dumped" my Dr's and went the diet/exercise route, I feel better. (not right but better)

Now I only see my neuro when I have to and avoid the others like the plague.

I am not saying Dr's are worthless.
I am just saying I feel better from PT and diet changes.
Dr's have not been able to help me much and I don't feel like I am receiving much value for effort and cost of seeing them.

My Dr's seem to be highly trained, dedicated, expert shoulder shruggers.

They are very informative with lines like; "I don't know" or "I'm not sure", "You could try taking these."
It just does not seem to be worth the $81.39 a visit to get this information?

[empirerecs]

Sequia - your posts are always good and this one made me laugh as well and I needed it today. Thank you!!!

[sloth]

Once a year and mri's every 2or 3 yrs no point really anymore in mri's unless they need to rule out something else like stroke etc... (ive had ms ten yrs plus, no visible disablity except tremor and limp).

If I had to go more then once or twice a year Id throw a hissy fit, I hate doc appts terrible waste of money and time even with docs I like!

I have the patience of a toddler and I always wind up w/ nice friendly docs who make ya wait and wait.

Im not learning anything but more impatience LOL.

I do not display impatience to doc or anyone else just torments me in my mind

[Frederick1]

I see my neuro every 6 months. I only get an MRI if there is a specific reason for it, such as if I have a new symptom. A few years ago I started developing hand weakness. My neuro ordered a few tests, including MRI to confirm that the hand weakness was MS related, and not something else. I don't get MRIs as a matter of routine, such as once a year.