Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
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Ok, this post is a bit of a two parter, i guess.
First, I have my first neuro appt. next week. this is pretty exciting considering the original appt was supposed to be in july, a wonderful 6 months after being diagnosed. so, i'm throwing this out to the experts, what kind of questions should i be asking? i mean, i know the obvious ones, but i don't know that much about treatment and want to make sure i'm asking the rights things.
the second question might be a little more difficult to answer, unless you know my mother. my parents are great. your typical supportive, caring, sweet people. i've been living on my own for 7 years, or more, and am pretty independent. suddenly, having MS turns me back into a kid where my mom is planning on coming to my appt with me. i won't lie, i really don't want her to. it just feels like something i need to do on my own. but, how do i tell her this without hurting her delicate mom type feelings? walking into a new doctors office with my parents in tow is going to make me feel a little silly, and stressed because i'm worried she'll cry. and if i see her cry, i'll cry. i can't understand her feelings, as i'm not a mother, but she can't understand mine, as i'm the MS kid. so, any advice?
*note: i KNOW how lucky i am to have amazing parents that love me this much, so please no grief about how i'm being mean. i already feel mean enough.
First, I have my first neuro appt. next week. this is pretty exciting considering the original appt was supposed to be in july, a wonderful 6 months after being diagnosed. so, i'm throwing this out to the experts, what kind of questions should i be asking? i mean, i know the obvious ones, but i don't know that much about treatment and want to make sure i'm asking the rights things.
the second question might be a little more difficult to answer, unless you know my mother. my parents are great. your typical supportive, caring, sweet people. i've been living on my own for 7 years, or more, and am pretty independent. suddenly, having MS turns me back into a kid where my mom is planning on coming to my appt with me. i won't lie, i really don't want her to. it just feels like something i need to do on my own. but, how do i tell her this without hurting her delicate mom type feelings? walking into a new doctors office with my parents in tow is going to make me feel a little silly, and stressed because i'm worried she'll cry. and if i see her cry, i'll cry. i can't understand her feelings, as i'm not a mother, but she can't understand mine, as i'm the MS kid. so, any advice?
*note: i KNOW how lucky i am to have amazing parents that love me this much, so please no grief about how i'm being mean. i already feel mean enough.
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
As for your Mum wanting to go into the Dr surgery for you I can understand you appreciate her support but want to go in yourself so that you dont have to worry about her. Best I can think of is to say you appreciate the offer, could they accompany you to the office but you will see the Dr alone & tell them about it afterwards. Thats the only idea I can think of.
Good luck & take a notebook & pen to write down what he says too.
One thing I have read a lot is that, if you can take someone with you to appointments, that's great. It serves 2 purposes, 1) it lets the doc know you have a good support system, which in turn gives yourself the image of being more reliable in your complaints, and 2) acts as a secondary memory incase you suffer from an information overload you have someone else there to help fill in anything you may have missed.
You also need to do what's best for you. I know I'd bring my husband in a heartbeat, but that's because he makes me (they always throw some weird cancer threat at me when I go in alone...lol, luckily, every time it's been a doctor over reacting, but needless to say, he doesn't let me go in alone anymore).
Good Luck, and do whatever works best for you!
Christine
and i understand my moms need to come in. i think she needs to hear what they have to say. the thing that stresses me out is that they live over two hours away from me, and refuse to drive in the city. so, it's stressful for me to even get them here. but, i'll do what i need to do i guess.
thanks for the advice guys!
I know all to well what you are going through, but a word of advice....Sit down and make a list of the questions that you have even add your families questions. The fist appointment is so full of information that yes it is hard to absorb it all so do make sure someone goes with you. If you really don't want your mom to go then might I suggest taking a tape recorder with you. That was she can hear what the doc says and that might ease her mind. My parents also live far away but they don't mind driving me. It was hard at first to get my mom involved. But there will e those times that you will need someone to help you out if you have an attack. But do let your parents get involved. I know it was so hard on mine when they found out. Its hard for them to see their kids go through something like this. They want to learn and understand too. Also pick your mom up some info that always helps too. Even if you don't want them to go, PLEASE make sure you do have the support when you go to the doc. It can be very overwhelming! Sad to say but MS has brought my family back to me. I don't know what I would do sometimes with out their help. I too am a strong independant women but sometimes we all break under this stress. Remember to write those questions down it helps a lot! Hope this helps.
Dee