Be careful about how you explain switching Neurologists. I have a new Neurologist now, my 3rd since 2020 because I moved 220 miles away from my 1st one so had to get a new one, and now recently moved again 200 miles to where I’ve gotten this 3rd one. In addition, when I first came down with this crippling PN in 2016, my 1st Neurologist (who I still had up to the time I moved in 2020) referred me to 2 distant University hospitals for one-time consultations to help him/me. So with those 2 isolated one-time consultations, my “record” appears that I’m on my 5th Neurologist since 2016…. Her doctor’s visit notes in my portal from my recent first visit with her reads “The patient moves to different Neurologists a lot. She is seeing me after being seen by #1 #2 #3 and #4 (names inserted) since 2016”. There are two other important discrepancies in her notes, though I think they were carelessness vs intentional, but still need to be fixed.
All I can politely say is what a Witch! This “Medical University” doctor didn’t listen, nor take the time in our rushed visit to understand that I moved to different states & how moving to different states requires getting new doctors. She knew the Duke and other consult were 1 time, far away travel events for diagnosis attempts in 2016. But her notes are a tainted report for all medical providers who read it that I am a disgruntled doctor jumper.
I think the reality is that so many of us PN sufferers are undiagnosed, under-treated, and frustrated. The doctors are equally frustrated because they have no clue how to help us. So the defense mechanism for the doctors who are on the unprofessional side is for them to bond and label us as wasting their time and problem patients. Put the blame on the patient so any incompetence that may be perceived of them doesn’t show up in their visit notes.
I have asked the medical records to clarify in the doctors notes about how I have lived within 3 different states since 2020, but I doubt it will get changed. I left feedback notes on the after visit survey I got. I have never gotten responses. Low priority in the understaffed medical systems. They wonder why patients then go to the Heathgrades and WebMd type sites and then doctors get riled up about the feedback the whole world can now read. It’s sad patients have to resort to social media because medical systems don’t provide adequate feedback and discrepancy resolution systems.
But my warning is mostly to just know how they have the powers in their notes, whether you see them or not, to tarnish you as the patient in order to defend themselves, and doctors as a group probably tend to defend and believe each other. I’m actually keeping my next appointment with this witch because I figure my best chance of getting her attention and to keep to the facts is if it I have it in my notes for her and discuss it 1 on 1. Besides, if I switch from her to a new Neurologist, I’ll get dinged on the next Neurologist’s notes for being on #6!