Time for a new neurologist

[skyfire322]

While at work, I was having a few auras, tremors, and short absence seizures. The whole thing lasted about five minutes. Since it was at work, I had to go to the dreaded ER again, even though I came to it a few minutes before the ambulance got there.

Again, they said they would take blood tests... They didn't. The doctor actually decided to blast me with 1000 mg of Keppra. They called my neurologist, and he said to up the dosage with my Keppra from 1500 mg to 2000 mg, even though he's known for quite some time that I suffered from the 'Kepprage'.

His office rarely returns calls, and when they do they just say "We'll let you know if any changes need to be made." I have a lot of patience, but this is just absurd.

How would I go about doing this? I have already found another neurologist, and was going to call to set up an appointment next week. I'm not good at 'break ups', and I've never done this with a doctor before.

 

[masterjen]

It is hard to separate yourself from a current doctor, I agree. I liked my first neurologist for his "bedside" manner, but he was insanely busy. Hard to get a hold of like yours; he did have email, but he would take days or even weeks to respond even if it was a potentially serious matter. Another doctor I was seeing from a different specialty sent me to an epileptologist she knew, supposedly for just a consult, but then this seizure specialist agreed to take me on as one of her patients. I just have her send her letters to the original neurologist. I haven't seen the original one since. I just went "cold turkey" lol.
You have to think of yourself, and not be concerned about hurting someone's feelings in a case like this. On top of which, most doctors should support their patients in getting a second opinion, which at this point might be all you're doing.

 

[valeriedl]

I've been seeing the same neurologist since I was diagnosed with epilepsy and I really like him. He asks questions and takes time to listen to what I say and answer any questions that I have. The only problem that I have with the actual neurologist, and I don't know if it's him or the office in general, is getting phone calls returned.

At first I was seeing the nurse practitioner every other visit. She was a real B****. Her last name was Bischof and my husband and I called her Bitchof.

When I was seeing her she insisted that I was having seizures because I wasn't taking my meds. My mom and husband were with me on that visit and told her that I always took my meds and took them on time. I have an alarm set on my cell phone to make sure of that. We had a huge argument during that visit and I don't think anything got accomplished during it.

When I went out to make the appointment for my next visit I told them that I was never going to see her again. I was only going to see the actual neuro or I was going to find someone else to go to. Haven't seen her since. If I wasn't pleased with my actual neuro I wouldn't go back to him.

I had back problems and started going to a dr that my family goes to that deals with things like that. I went to him for a few years but never got anything accomplished so I changed drs. I think I actually went through about 3 different drs before I got some results.

If you're not satisfied with what's going on don't be afraid to change.

 

[skyfire322]

The one thing I like about my current neurologist is that he's very smart, very polite, and isn't really an "over prescriber". His bedside manner could be better, as some of the conversations make me feel like I'm laying on couch talking with him saying "Hmm... That's interesting. How do you feel about it?"

However, raising the Keppra just doesn't fly with me.