Question about drs. appts.

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy Forums

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy forums - a peer support community for folks dealing (directly or indirectly) with seizure disorders. You can visit the forum page to see the list of forum nodes (categories/rooms) for topics.

Please have a look around and if you like what you see, please consider registering an account and joining the discussions. When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no ads, access to members only (ie. private) forum nodes and more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

E

Elsie

Stalwart
Messages
269
Reaction score
1
Points
63
Quick ? My neurologist retired & I'm hunting another as my pills run out in a month. Local dr. says now drs. require an every 6 month visit to keep getting a prescription. Previously I'd only been going once/year. Of course I'd go if anything changed...

So, if anybody only goes to have scripts written and maybe a routine lab test, how often do you go? I'm so fortunate, 1 x yr was always enough for me. When I changed meds or had other stuff happen I'd go more often, but not usually. I'm just wondering if this is just a way for them to make more money?
 
I don't know, so far I've been seeing my Neurologist every 6 months after the first three times. And he'll usually give me enough refills to get me through to our next appointment. Well, actually first two times were every month, then 3 then six
 
My experience:

Different neuros, my epileptologist, gp, endo, etc have all done different things with scheduling follow up visits and med refills. No one has let me go for more than 6 months without seeing them.

I have insurance and imho some of them like seeing me too much. :p $$$$$

Course they're always running blood tests! :(
 
Elsie

I think its another way of making money, but now at lest in I reland you can only get a perscription for six months, this is the law and the pharmast unless you know them very well will not give you a spare month. My new neurologist refused point blank to see me more than 1 time a year, the reason I have not changed is she is one of the best and the others have so many paitants they will not take you on, I have found I can get repeat prescription from my GP but this costs me.
 
The thing I hate about making doctors appointments is if you need a specialist, your doctor has to REFER you, you can't just call them up and make an appointment. Granted most times they will if needed but if you know what's wrong and who you need to see, you need a referal
 
That is very true, but if your neuroligist retires or something its better to find out about them and who is good, this way when talking to the GP before a referal you can make sugestions as to who, I find it works better although I did change neuro I was sent to myself because he was no good.
 
That is an interresting artical, not sure why but sometimes the specilest I was refered to was not or did not seem that interested, so I keep a cheek on who is in the top 5. I am not that happy with the neuro I am with at the moment, my last one retired but she seems good and is supposed to be.
 
My previous neuro wanted me to come in every 6 months, alternately seeing her and then seeing the epilepsy nurse.

But I see my current Neurologist on a yearly basis, and my rx is for a year's worth of refills.
 
Thanks everybody. I was reading my ins. policy info and it says I do not need a referral to a specialist. I think the rule about needing a referral is based on your insurance co. In countries with other types of medical systems, I'm not sure.

But referral or not, this policy of every 6 mths will double the costs I'm already paying. For at least now, I don't think its needed.

I ran into another patient in a dr. office today who has switched to the dr. who now has my records (she used to use the same one I had who retired) and she tells me she goes every 3 or 6 months and he has charged her $500. Yikes! Old dr. was charging me the medicare rate since my ins. wasn't one he took, so I was paying $50.00.

Just don't know what to do, and I'm running out of time. I'm scared a bunch to run out of my medicine.
 
Ive been seeing my neurologist once a year. I had my VEEG done in March 2011, I went back in May 2011 for a follow up visit because I was trying a second medication, which didnt work, and they wanted to see me to see how things were going with just being on one medication. Then in August, three months later, I saw my dr to see how the increase in my one medication was doing. Its been a year now, and I will see my dr again next week. So Im guessing if he wants to still keep me on the Keppra XR, I probably wont see him again for another year, thats if everything goes well and Im seizure free. :) As for medication refills, they have always been pretty good about giving me a year's worth of medication. We go through a mail in order pharmacy, (Cheaper prices) and I always just print out a new prescription form when I go to see my dr. Its easier done that way, then they can fax over my prescription for (2) 6 month supplies til my next visit the following year.
 
We only see the neurologist and/or epileptologist once a year as long as we're in a period with no seizures. Sometimes, they'll order blood work (to check for liver enzymes, etc.) during that time period, but we manage all that with phones and fax. I communicate with the epileptologist (and the ketogenic nutritionist who works with him) via email regarding med weans (or increases), and issues with the diet.

Right now we're in a "storm" period, and meeting with neuro team (which keeps getting bigger and bigger as they discover new stuff) about every 3 days, and emailing back and forth with epileptologist and nutritionist every day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom