Physician's Assistants

[Matthew74]

This is not necessarily epilepsy specific. Have you all been seeing Physician's. Assistants or Nurse Practitioners?

On an interpersonal level I like them a lot. However there are some issues. For someone with a serious chronic illness things can get complicated. For example, I'm having some terrible back pain, but I don't have a doctor. So the PA gives me meds, but I'm not sure they won't give me seizures. All in all I've got 6 prescriptions (including AEDs) but no orthapedic doctor (or GP) responsible for my care. They are certainly not talking to my Epileptologist. Every time I call or see someone it's a new person. I went to the ER yesterday, and got help, but from a PA. If it was the same PA each time it might be ok, but it's not and I'm getting worse. There are no doctors in private practice here, only the hospital.

So, with no one contact, or responsible "go to" person I'm getting ignored. It takes weeks to get an appointment. What do you do when you need help right away, but don't have anyone to call?

 

[valeriedl]

I had VERY bad problems with my neuro's PA. I'd see her every other visit after I got my seizures some what under control. I told the office I didn't want to see her again and I haven't.

Ask the pharmacy about the meds. Sometimes they will know if they cause seizures or be able to look it up and find out.

You could also try looking them up on the internet and see what some of the side effects are from the meds and if you should be taking them if you have seizures, they necessarily say 'epilepsy. That isn't a 100% answer though.

I had very bad back problems for years. There are several drs in my area that deal with that issue. I think it was the fifth dr who I saw that figured out, or told me what was going on. To be honest I think the other drs didn't want to deal with me because I had epilepsy and the only thing to fix me was to have surgery. If I were to have a seizure during the surgery I'd probably end up paralyzed from the waist down and they were afraid to take that chance.

Can you find a dr who is further away and if you are able to get there try to make an appointment?

 

[Bidwell]

I second Val's idea of checking it out with a pharmacist -- that would be a good step if it is possible. Then it occurred to me that you might be able to enlist the help of a Poison Center. This suggestion is probably off the wall, but in rural areas a good poison center might take questions about medication interactions in stride. Prescription drugs kill a lot of people according to the newspapers so poison centers might know plenty!

 

[Matthew74]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check it out.

 

[Belinda5000]

I pay to see the doctor and I'll only see the doctor. I see my neuro for however long it takes.He's from the old school though, and I see my Orthopaedic surgeon and my PCP also. I see docs in private practice, and the older ones I get better care from .I don't put up with a 5 minute exam.

 

[Fedup]

I would be like you and others here, we pay to see the doctor not the PA or epilepsy nurse. I told my neurologist I did not want to see her again because if anybody was going to incress or change my medication it would be done between the neurologist and myself not by a nurse who thinks she is a doctor. Mind you it did not go down well even when I gave the reasons simply because if the nurse sees you there is no need for the doctor or so they think.

I agree with what Bidwell and valeriedl said, checking it out with a pharmacist is a very good idea.