Have you ever gotten a second opinion?

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Have you ever gotten a second opinion from another neurologist or epileptologist? How did you approach your first appointment? What were your reasons for getting a second opinion?

Also, sorry I posted this in the Foyer earlier, wrong place!
 
Hi Emily, I am going to see an epileptologist on Thursday for a second opinion. I am hoping this second doc will have ideas about how to make my treatment more successful than it is now. Communication with my original doctor, who is a neurologist, has not been good and my intention is to have the epileptologist follow my case from now on, if possible. In any case, I am intending to terminate treatment with the neurologist. I am preparing for the appointment by collecting all the medical records and notes that seem relevant. I am also thinking about it a lot - maybe too much. Hope this sheds a little light!
 
I've gotten a lot of 2nd opinions and the so called epileptologist I'd see never bothered to read my files or learn anything about me. It was my neuro I always ended up going back to.
I want a doc who trys everything and reads my chart not one who doesn't know me and doesn't spend but 5 minutes with me.
 
A second opinion is usually a good idea when you're diagnosed with anything serious. Just say you want a second opinion. If you have specific questions that helps, too. Be sure to order a copy of the chart notes from both your old and new doctor. You may be surprised at what you read in there. They don't always say everything they are thinking, or correctly interpret everything you are saying.
 
I just went for a consult (2nd opinion) this morning. This is an epileptologist who works in the same dept with my neuro of 12 years. I just framed it as I want a second opinion, as she's a specialist in this area and she is a woman so I wanted that perspective given menopause. She was very good and very thorough and made me really depressed, but is probably better info than I got from him. I did bring her a list of symptoms, meds, general history which she found very useful, had all my info electronically since it's in the same system, and asked a lot of questions. I think she's being more proactive in that she wants another EEG in 2 weeks. I had one last week and the neuro said it was unchanged from 12 years ago and made it sounded like that was good. She said it meant I was still having the same activity as I was then despite a whole lot more medication. Not good. I don't like the fact she's one of those with a very conservative/negative view of someone like me (generalized, long periods with no szs) driving. That kills me. She will "consider" things at 6 months which is the legal wait period. But I am definitely glad I saw her.
 
I got a second opinion as my current neuro has not given very good care (sounds negative but it is the truth). They typically request full medical files from your current doctor, so I did tell my current that I was getting the opinion, which wasn't very comfortable to me, but I bucked up and did it. I will be getting another, but because I will be shifting my care permanently to an epileptologist. If you do get a 2nd, I'd recommend going outside to a different practice entirely--my dad is a cardiologist and is fond of saying getting a 2nd from a drs partner is almost the same as not getting a 2nd at all (as they tend to support one another's opinion, though it sounds like BlueCat had a better experience with that). I have also had several conversations with the dr. on call when my dr was out (which is 3 days a week), and they very frequently have new perspectives, so 2nd opinions are very helpful. Good luck!
 
I have moved a two hour flight from where I used to live, so I have worked with a neurologist and epileptologist on this side of the world as well as an epileptologist on that side. My first one took the best care of me out of all the rest. He diagnosed me as refractory and sent me to a neurosurgeon to do an ambulatory EEG so that I could have a resection. I got too scared and chickened out of the surgery but I did have the scan, which pin pointed my focus.

Here in Cape Town, the epileptologist also told me I was refractory and sent me for yet another holter. He said sometimes focuses change. He again pinpointed the focus, which hadn't changed, and I again got too scared to go ahead with a resection.

I recently started seeing a neurologist instead because the epileptologist was rude to me two years back on the phone. BUT it's worth saying that I did get control of my TCs for four years, although not entirely of my other seizures, so I'm not too sure if the refractory thing really sticks. Again, the neuro wants me to do surgery so he's sending me back to the epileptologist next year. I wish I'd listened to the first doc and just done it 20 years ago.

I spent quite some time researching doctors' opinions and diagnoses following other doctors' diagnoses for a work feature, so I'm very skeptical of taking a previous doctor's file and diagnosis to a new doctor. I like to get a clean slate opinion. So I never told any of these neuros anything about my case other than what I knew about my current seizure and meds situation and the results of my ambulatory EEGs. When I go back to the epileptologist, who will do my surgery, I will have to take my neuro's file with me, though. I think I have enough consistency between all three neuros to feel comfortable with their opinions. It's also worth saying that all the neuros and epileptologists I've seen were especially good at what they did, so I think that's why they've all come to the same conclusions.
 
Kirsten have you had luck with getting them to see you without sending records? Most of the docs in my area require a referral from your current doc and medical files as a part of accepting you for the second opinion.
 
I'm seeing an epileptologist here, my 2nd one. My first one was in the southern part of the U.S. and I felt she handled my situation much better than the one here. Most epileptologists are at University hospitals (at least the good ones, IMO). I've been seeing an epileptologist for 20 years now because my seizures are refractory.
 
Linsday, in my country we don't have to take medical files with us to a new doc. We don't need to get referrals either. Some specialists require it, but generally most don't. Our medical aids often ask for a GP's referral in order to secure coverage but that's as far as it goes. As a private patient, I can go anywhere if I want to just pay cash.
 
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