My PCP finally got fed up with waiting around for my neuro to get it together. He is going to refer me to a different neuro. I found out today that one of the blood tests my neuro ordered is an antiphospholipid antibody. Here's the strange thing... He handed me the order for the test on January 3rd when I last saw him and said, "Next time Dr. B sends you for blood tests, have this one done, too." It didn't sound urgent. Every other time he wanted me to take a test, he just ordered it and I took it right away. So I carried this test order around in my purse until this past Monday when I had to go to the PCP. He did order some blood tests, so I dug out the one my neuro gave me and added it. I decided to find out afterwards what the test would show. If I understand it correctly, it could rule out MS!!! He is testing me for Hughes Syndrome, which can mimic MS and is treated by a blood thinner...sometimes just plain aspirin! Now why the $#$% didn't he order that test back in June??? Why did he make me spend thousands of dollars and several MONTHS on other tests when this one could actually RULE OUT MS! At the very least, why didn't he suggest I try a daily dose of aspirin "just in case." I am soooooooo angry right now! I realize this test could still be negative, but it COULD be positive. A simple blood test@! It's like climbing Mt. Everest first and THEN going and looking behind an ant hill. The test takes two weeks, so now I am sitting on my hands again. My stupid neuro never called me back to tell me why he is testing me for this now and why he didn't send me to do it back in January when I last saw him, let alone back in June when I first made contact with him. ARGH! ~J
Replies
Sometimes we get ensnared in a doctors ego web.He/she thinks they know everything then hear or read abt something&realize they missed a diagnosis or symptom-so they nonchalantly offer it to -us pretending they knew about it all the time.They need to start taking patients\' symptoms seriously & treating them aggressively.Sorry it has upset you so. HUGs & God\'s blessings to you.
The first thing my neuro told me to do was busy lower dose ecotrin and take one a day until further notice. but the MRIs showed MS, nothing ruled it out.
good luck
My two MRIs showed 18 lesions on my brain, and both of the radiologists said they were consistent with a demyelinating disease. If I understand it correctly, Hughes Syndrome doesn\'t not cause demyelination, but it STILL burns my bisquits! lol Littlewing, I believe you are absolutely correct. This neuro is just egotistical enough to try to \"slip something by me\" nonchalantly (sp?) and act like it was simply the next step. Or perhaps since the first MRI showed the demyelination, he already ruled out Hughes Syndrome, but now is so perplexted that he wants to be sure. Now THAT I can understand, but he doesn\'t TELL me these things! The stress from wondering what he is doing and why he won\'t get back to me was just too much, and my wonderful PCP saw that. I love my new PCP. When I called Monday morning because I was getting really bad, he got me right in! Within 30 minutes! Thanks again for your advice and support. Now if I could just convince this invisible elephant to get off my chest so I could breathe....
~Jlynn
Erm, that would be \'perplexed\'. I still have MOST of my brain....goshdarnit! lol
It\'s a shame certain doctors won\'t just be up-front with their patients. I, as you, see no reason he didn\'t just tell you, when he gave you the lab order, what it was for, why he was giving it to you now, & then , go ahead & do it now. That would have given you so much more peace & trust in him. What\'s he afraid of, anyway? I\'m proud of you for taking the \'BULL\' by the horns. Standing up for yourself, is the only way to live, especially in your situation. My love & prayers are with you.
Debi