Topic: Presenting to Neurologists with Clear Neuropathic symptoms, and they suggest Psychoso
canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
Could someone explain why when I went to various neuros complaining of episodes of muscle cramping, dizziness, mild confusion, diarrhea and vomiting, that they want to refer me to a psychiatrist?
Or when I say I have severe burning and muscular pain all over my body, they tell me that I should see a psychiatrist?
Or when I tell them I have excruciating pain behind my eyeballs, and feelings of large pieces of grit in my eyes, which increase with exposure to light, they tell me I should see a psychiatrist?
Well, I saw a psychiatrist who I've known for 22 years. He said I'm handing all this ideally. That I have a fantastic attitude. That he wishes doctors would stop referring patient to him when they don't know what is going on.
Do these F*****n Neurologists and Internists not know what neuropathy is? Or are they sick with apathy and calousness? Do they think this is funny?
Honestly, I fail to see why in all the times I've now seen neurologists, no one has mentioned neuropathy, but they will suggest a psychosomatic component. What is going on!!
Welcome to the Canadian Healthcare System, where rarely a doctor is sued, and we have social nets in place to take care of the disabled due to medical neglect.
Meanwhile, I just read that malabsorption can be caused by autonomic dysfunction. Hello?? I have tons of neuropathies, and my protein level is decreasing. The pain in my eyes is severe at time, and I read that this can cause damage to the optic nerve.
I am willing to go ANYWHERE to see a neurologist who is a responsible human being, who is LL. Where do I go? Certainly arguing with the arrogant is an infernal waste of time, regardless of arena.
Best wishes,
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
Wouldnt it be nice if the psychiatrist would send a letter back to the neurologist stating "there is nothing wrong with this patient psychologiclly, maybe you should look again at medically reasons"
HAHAHA
Would love to see it get thrown back in there faces!!!
Posts: 68 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Nov 2007
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
Yup!! it's crazy, isn't it? My PCP sent me to a psyche to get evaluated because the 30 days of Doxy I got initally didn't CURE me. Luckily, the psyche consult thought I was sane- it SCARED me having to be evaluated like that!!! It was SO insulting!!! They were TRYING to put me in a psyche box. But the psyche told them I was sane*)! Yay*)!
Then when I got really bad neuro symptoms my PCP apologized- way too late-
I hope this all comes out in our lifetime- Sincerely, Sarah
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
BECAUSE if they did they would have to dx you as a fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,,,thats what ducks do best,,,QUACK!!!!
OR MS,ALS,,,need I go on??
Go find thee a real deal LLMD and get better and SHOW them all!!! remaining--just don--
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
Thank you all for joining me at my soapbox
Don, you know that's what I've done. But I've been looking through my medical files (finally well enough to clean them up), and I'm so angry today about it, because I feel there is so little I can do to make a rebuttal.
I've been warned by a medical professional I know that there aren't many neuros where I live in Canada, and they all know each other, and if I start stirring up their s**t that I will find myself without a doctor altogether.
This isn't a threat, but a reality. My GP (Canadian equivalent of the PCP) quit on me about 6 months ago. This was right after he'd read a malicious report from the ID/Internist who left me sicker than he found me and felt like a failure, so blamed me instead. This report was manufactured to harm my future relationships with other medical professionals in future, and was even filled with blatant inaccuracies that are in conflict with his handwritten notes.
As though because I didn't get well under his protocol I deserve to be harrassed.
ALL CANADIAN DOCTORS HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY PATIENT WITHOUT HAVING TO GIVE REASON.
So, say I write a letter to one hospital, and explain how I was treated rudely until I mentioned to the lead neurologist that I'd worked for a world renowned museum, and that her associate gave me the "Do no harm" line when I asked for anti-seizure meds and was turned down, even though he wouldn't admit I couldn't cause myself permanent brain damage if the seizure-type events persisted in their severity, etc., etc., etc.
Then when word gets around, ALL neurologists can refuse to see me, without any legal recourse other than law reform.
You have to walk carefully over here, or you get NO insurance, and you can't even PAY someone to see you.
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
Canbravelyme...You just enlightened me a little bit!!
After seeing Michael Moore's Sicko, I was ready to move to Canada...
His presentation on the whole free healthcare thing made me want to move aross the border
You know, it proves there is always another side to every story. Seems as the part that Doctors can refuse to treat and even "blackball" patients was left out of the movie...
That is horrible!!!
God Bless America where your insurance may not always pay for it, but some idiot doctor will always be willing to take your money...even if they don't believe there is anything wrong with you!!! Posts: 68 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Nov 2007
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canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
Hi Becky,
I just spoke with my friend, and they said that I could have recourse, but it's _how_ I do it. "If I complain to hospital X, who's to stop the neuros there from telling the neuros at hospital Y (where I'm now going)". No Guarantees.
Best wishes,
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
ANY chance you can sneak over the border to THIS side and find a real deal LLMD??? being-- just don--
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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posted
the neurologists here are no better. I have gone to 6 neuro's and gotten 6 different dx. MS, ALS, autonomic dysfunction, migraines, bechet's, sleep apnea, the list goes on...
what DO neurologists do anyway? what DO they treat?
Posts: 615 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
I was just about to add, you really must read the (in)famous thread, "Are all Neurologists Goofy?"
Trust me, it's not restricted to Canada. If you have lyme, finding a breathing, lyme-literate neurologist is next to impossible. Stop any neurologist on the street and ask him what co-infections he finds most commonly with lyme. Watch him gape, slack-jawed and bewildered.
Apparently, the study of the brain somehow diminishes the student.
posted
I endeded up with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome..I was already on disability. The neuorologist used some sort of elecronic device to document the nerve conduction damage. It was very interesting. My point being that at least some neurosymptoms can be measured directly. Not at all psychosomatic.
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posted
So how many good neuros for us are there? Any? Obviously, this should be included in their training, since their area of study, the nerves, is the first to be impacted by the bacteria, so I understand.
I feel for you, canbrave, 'cause the same thing happens here with reports on patients. I had a psych report made on me by a pain clinic who couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, and that report followed me around. I was so annoyed, since I was trying to get real help for my symptoms. Now that I understand it's a bacterial infection, I went back to the originators and gave them the update about Lyme and told them to change my old records to reflect the new info.
If you can find an LLMD neuro, fine. If not, I suggest you keep looking for the LLMD you might want to work with.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
Brave, my daughter and I experienced this self-imposed blindness by a neurologist this month.
My daughter was nauseated for a week and didn't respond to any medication; she had a flare of cranial nerve symptoms and became off-balance for the next 2 weeks. The balance problem did not respond to any medication either.
My daughter's LLMD suggested a vestibular test to rule out a true vestibular problem, as opposed to inflammation or damage to the 8th cranial nerve, the vestibulocochlear nerve, which controls the vomiting center and inner ear (balance). The ENG test by the ENT was reoprted as normal; her hearing and ears were also reported as normal.
Since she contracted Lyme disease, my daughter lost her gag reflex and her eyebrows also are at different heights...these symptoms are due to cranial nerve damage or inflammation. The eyebrow differences come and go like other Lyme symptoms, but her absent gag reflex is steady.
My daughter's new pain specialist sent her to a neurologist, but the neurologist declared he didn't find anything abnormal. The pain specialist was surprised at the neurologist's self-imposed blindness. He could clearly see the difference in her eyebrow height and verified the absence of her gag reflex.
The neurologist also stated my daughter has pain, but she shouldn't take any pain medication because it's dangerous. He offered to refer her to a psychiatrist to deal with the anxiety brought on by chronic severe pain. This was too much for a pain specialist to hear.
The pain specialist said it's time to refer my daughter for a thorough neurological evaluation. He suggested a couple children's hospitals.
I asked what he thought about sending her to the Columbia University Lyme Research Center since they study chronic neuroborreliosis.
The pain specialist admitted that would be the best place to send her. I was surprised at his readiness to refer her to to a Lyme literate facility.
Keep trying, you'll eventually find someone who cares about you and realizes the seriousness of your health problems.
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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