First appointment with a Neurologist...

Neverforgotten

What should I expect? Is it mostly questions or ....

I was referred by gp due to constant tingling and deadness in one arm as well as a blurriness in one eye. It is there constantly but normal ly doesn't interfere with life. The odd few days the tingling becomes very obvious and worries me slightly. Like today it even interfered with me writing at work.

I am also prone to fainting (since I was 13, so about 18 years) so don't know if It's all linked.

Just wondering can anyone give me the heads up on what to expect.

K.Flyer

Most likely they will go through your medical history, paying particular attention to your current symptoms.
Possibly some physical tests. Most likely an appointment made for an MRI or CT scan with a follow up to discuss any findings.
Its important not to dumb any of it down, express your concerns and be as clear as possible about your symptoms.
Between now and then, try to make some notes on how long its been going on, how often.
Between now and the meeting record as much detail as you can (diary) regarding frequency of it occurring.
Best of luck.

Neverforgotten

K.Flyer wrote: »

Most likely they will go through your medical history, paying particular attention to your current symptoms.
Possibly some physical tests. Most likely an appointment made for an MRI or CT scan with a follow up to discuss any findings.
Its important not to dumb any of it down, express your concerns and be as clear as possible about your symptoms.
Between now and then, try to make some notes on how long its been going on, how often.
Between now and the meeting record as much detail as you can (diary) regarding frequency of it occurring.
Best of luck.

Thanks. It's this morning so fairly nervous

Neverforgotten

Thanks for advice. It's been a bit weird tbh. Yeh touching feet thing was just yucky. Just waiting to see what consultant will say

K.Flyer

Hope it all goes well.

Neverforgotten

K.Flyer wrote: »

Hope it all goes well.

He seems to think it's ok. Have to get a brain scan and neck scan and if normal, (I think) no follow up, just results to gp. Wonder though, will they explain why I get the tingling if nothing shows up.

Glad it's over with. The questions were confusing.

messrs

Neverforgotten wrote: »

He seems to think it's ok. Have to get a brain scan and neck scan and if normal, (I think) no follow up, just results to gp. Wonder though, will they explain why I get the tingling if nothing shows up.

Glad it's over with. The questions were confusing.

have they given you any idea when you will get your scans, I was referred for brain scan and was on the waiting list for over a year!! I know it can all be confusing, but from experience anytime you think of anything you need to ask between now and your gp appointment write it down, if your anything like me, you wil have questions in your head but forget to ask half of them!

littlemissfixit

Neverforgotten wrote: »

He seems to think it's ok. Have to get a brain scan and neck scan and if normal, (I think) no follow up, just results to gp. Wonder though, will they explain why I get the tingling if nothing shows up.

Glad it's over with. The questions were confusing.

Hi, just wondering how you're getting on. I am waiting to see neurologist for the same symptoms as you (tingling, numbness, blurred vision in one eye...) Its an urgent referral but still don't know how long that is supposed to take. I find the wait of not knowing unbearable...
Did you have to wait long for your apt with neuro, and do you know how long it will be before your scans?

K.Flyer

messrs wrote: »

[...]I was referred for brain scan and was on the waiting list for over a year!! [...]

A Year! :eek:
That is a crazy amount of time to be left waiting.
Hope it turned out to be ok.

Neverforgotten

littlemissfixit wrote: »

Hi, just wondering how you're getting on. I am waiting to see neurologist for the same symptoms as you (tingling, numbness, blurred vision in one eye...) Its an urgent referral but still don't know how long that is supposed to take. I find the wait of not knowing unbearable...
Did you have to wait long for your apt with neuro, and do you know how long it will be before your scans?

Was waiting 9 months for appointment ...missed it over 8 issue so waited another 10 months

Still no idea when scans are.

caviardreams

Is that public or private neverforgotten do you mind me asking?
Thanks

Neverforgotten

caviardreams wrote: »

Is that public or private neverforgotten do you mind me asking?
Thanks

Public

littlemissfixit

I have been a few months impatiently willing this day to come faster and now that it is tomorrow I feel overwhelmed by the unknown.
I have read about what to expect, I have written down in as much details as I could symptoms etc., but it's the unexpected of what she will tell me, the hoping it will be "I don't think it's MS, or lupus, or this or that...", the dreading to be told otherwise or, what I think is likely to happen; be told not much at all because more tests need to be done. More waiting.

Just trying to get a few questions down but difficult to think straight, can anyone throw some ideas for me?

K.Flyer

If this is your first visit it is most likely that you will be sent for more tests, MRi, bloods etc, even if you show the classic symptoms of a particular type of ailment.
It can be a nerve wracking time, try to get there early and have a cup of tea or something while you take your time to see the neurologist.
When you do get to see him / her, take your time asking your questions, try to note some answers and don't be afraid to go over anything again if you don't fully understand what they said.
Beat of luck with everything.

brokensoul84

I got my appointment for a brain mri on 24th December- only 2 months waiting after 1st appointment with neurologist.
My previous user name is Never forgotten

littlemissfixit

Well I thought I was well prepared, maybe just not prepared for how fast the appointment would go by, and its all a bit of a blur really now. Tons of questions popping up afterwards of course, but I think at this early stage, most of my questions would probably have met with the same "we won't know until we do more test", so I won't beat myself up too much.
Results of the neuro exam are quite normal, which is good news and it was really the only question that I could think of at the time: did that mean I shouldn't worry too much? Which met the answer: I wouldn't think you have a brain tumor if thats something you had worried about. That's good to know, I thought to myself, even though that possibility had never even entered my mind...
I'll get back onto the public waiting list now for the MRI, which could be months away but since a lot of my symptoms have eased a bit in the last few weeks, I think I can bear it.

For anyone reading this in the position I was this morning, trying to think up questions to ask, here is what I have asked and what I now would like to have asked (typical, but since they are still fresh in my memory and if it can help someone else!)
- Anything abnormal with the examination today?
-Will this symptom (in my case my blurred vision) likely subsides, what's causing it, etc.?
-Can pinched nerve cause the extent of my symptoms? What other condition could be responsible?
-What next?
-How many scans would it take? How much they cost or how long is the waiting list?
-What should I watch out for, anything would demand immediate attention?
-Anything I can do to improve my symptoms?
No such thing as a stupid question, and it's even truer when your health s concerned!

littlemissfixit

brokensoul84 wrote: »

I got my appointment for a brain mri on 24th December- only 2 months waiting after 1st appointment with neurologist.
My previous user name is Never forgotten

Was that on the public list? Do you mind me asking what part of the country? I had got the info from hospital in Kerry that for the consultation with neurologist, it was between 9-12 months, reason why I decided to get the ball rolling by going private for that first consultation. So I was gonna try and get same information after I was referred back onto public system. It's encouraging that it could be so quick. Some way of spending christmas eve for you though, but hope you get some answers soon!

brokensoul84

littlemissfixit wrote: »

Was that on the public list? Do you mind me asking what part of the country? I had got the info from hospital in Kerry that for the consultation with neurologist, it was between 9-12 months, reason why I decided to get the ball rolling by going private for that first consultation. So I was gonna try and get same information after I was referred back onto public system. It's encouraging that it could be so quick. Some way of spending christmas eve for you though, but hope you get some answers soon!

Cork city -cuh and public list.
It's at 8:20 in morning

maria34

hi there,

i was in kinda similar situation altho didnt have many sypthoms, only headaches (once twice a week). im not a fan of GP but as my parents go regularly, i pop in too with them. so got sent to brain scan and they discovered a benign tumour in my brain which has been there for years and years problably and is giving trouble only now. im a young woman and it came as a shock but well you have to keep moving.
i think i waited around 6 months for the scan not sure as i asked for it twice. once the scan was done, next morning gp rang and things went really fast then all the mri and so on was done, full body check up etc. i needed to stay in hospidal for that as thats how u get your scans asap. consulation will follow in january and have to see whats the option, long journey ahead.
waiting is frustraiting i know. if you find something out and you need help i suggest A&E (thats what gp told me to do, fastest way to get in and sorted as some things cant wait)

brokensoul84

littlemissfixit wrote: »

Was that on the public list? Do you mind me asking what part of the country? I had got the info from hospital in Kerry that for the consultation with neurologist, it was between 9-12 months, reason why I decided to get the ball rolling by going private for that first consultation. So I was gonna try and get same information after I was referred back onto public system. It's encouraging that it could be so quick. Some way of spending christmas eve for you though, but hope you get some answers soon!

I forgot about appointment head all over the shop

K.Flyer

brokensoul84 wrote: »

I forgot about appointment head all over the shop

Phone the appointments number first thing Monday morning and try to get a new app for as soon as possible. If you let it go longer to call them you could end up with a very long wait.

littlemissfixit

brokensoul84 wrote: »

I forgot about appointment head all over the shop

Ah no! That's the kinda thing would happen to me lately, can't get thoughts in order up there at all! Were you able to re-schedule?

I'm a bit in limbo at moment. After my initial appointment, I'm tempted to get back to the public list for MRI, I feel a bit better since start of December (and broke after christmas :rolleyes: ) although numbness still very present. Then the private hospital told me I had to get back on the list to see the neuro (same one!) in the public hospital, what a waste of time, she needs to see me as public patient to order the MRI. I didn't intend to skip any queues don't get me wrong but it's a bit pointless to have another consult. That said, it could be another 6-9 months to that consultation so who knows what I will have to add then!

I got to put it at the back of my mind slightly while enjoying time with my family which was very nice.