This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

What do you do when you've been seeing the same neurologist for 6 years & were happy the first few years but things seem to be going downhill the last couple of years? Seems any time I need something from their office no one will answer the phone or call back when you leave a message. Its now been 11 days since I was in his office & was told I would be contacted by someone to have a solumedrol iv due to an ms flare up. Also supposed to be setting me up for a cognitive test & a 72 hour EEG. I've been waiting for 3 months for the EEG. Have heard from no one & dr's office will not call me back. What makes it even worse is that I need them to fill out FLMA paperwork so I can be protected when I have to be away from my job for appointments, treatments, etc. I hate like everything to have to start over with a new doctor but what else can I do? My health is completely at their mercy. What do I do?

Welcome, Turbo; we have the ears to listen and we DO understand! You have your own answer: "have to start over with a new doctor…"

In the middle of a bad exacerbation, sobbing on the phone, I called my neurologist's office and was told he couldn't see me for eight weeks. When I told my internist, HE urged me to find a new neurologist. I daresay we have all been in your situation.

All the best to you.

Thank you for your reply. I know health care people see so many patients & hear the same stories day after day. I just wish they could show some compassion for those of us that need their help so badly & only call when there is a real need. It's already a hard thing to live with ms & the people you see every day just don't get it because "you look so good". Seems at least the people that take care of you medically should be a safe haven for you because they should understand when nobody else does. I just hate to start over but am also afraid not to for the sake of my own health. Thanks for listening.

Hi Turbo- I know exactly what you're going through with your neurologist. I had a similar experience when I was first diagnosed. It wasn't so much the physician as it was her practice, which was abominable. I was having a relapse including having difficulty breathing. Both my husband and I called her office on the way to the hospital. Long story short, the wait to see a physician in the hospital was well over three hours, so we decided to go back home. My husband tried calling the office again to get the neurologist on-call, as it was after hours. He was routed from the answering service back to the office back to the answering service, etc . It was an exercise in futility! My neuro did finally call back nineteen hours after the initial phone call. We complained to the office manager, who did nothing about it and was basically trying to blame us for their incompetency. If we couldn't even get the doctor on-call, there's a problem. After that fiasco, I found a new neurologist.

It's perfectly okay to fire your current doc and find someone who's more compatible with you. There is no excuse for sub-standard care. Good luck! If you need to vent again, we're always here.