Long awaited trip to neurologist

4/29/10
new onset ongoing

x migraines
x daily headaches
x sensitivity to light
x noise sensitivity
x vision changes
x balance problems
x dizziness
x nausea
x difficulty swallowing
x frequent urination (neuroginic bladder)
x urinary urgency
x neck pain and stiffness
x low back pain
x leg weakness(difficulty walking & going up stairs)
x numbness in hands and feet
x upper arm weakness
x Shortness of breath


If you have read the above signs and symptoms, CONGRATULATIONS! You have just read more than my neurologist did. Yep, you read right. I took the time to right out my signs and symptoms and check whether they were new onset or ongoing. I did this because of my difficulty speaking. I also did not want to forget anything after waiting a month to see the almighty neurologist. What did he do, he glanced at it and said "You have more problems than most 80 year old men." "No $hit", I thought. "That is why I am here". Luckily, I did not say either statement aloud. He did ask what I thought the problem was and I said that I thought I had Tethered Cord, that I had the symptoms and my sister had it and had the surgery a year ago. He did a quick neuro check and said, "You don't have any of the symptoms." I almost fell on the floor. Let me back up a day. The day prior, I had visited the urologist. Thank goodness, my sister had advised me to see a urologist. If I have neurogenic bladder, that would prove that I had tethered cord. Tethered cord is where your spinal cord is pulled, or tethered too tight to the bottom of your spine. When it is pulled too tight, it causes damage to the bottom of your spinal cord. At the bottom 0f your spinal cord is your urinary, bowel, sexual, and leg functions etc. So, if you can prove that your bladder is neurogenic, most likely, you have tethered cord or some other neurological problem. I am no neurologist but duh!!!!! So, back to the neurologist office where he just said I have not symptoms. His next sentence is, "You have anxiety, maybe it is just that." Okay, as most of you know, my blood pressure is building and my face is getting red, steam is about to come out of my ears, Justin turns to look at me with eyes big to see my reaction. Good thin I was held back by my speech! I pulled out the copy I had already provided the Drs untrained medical assistant and handed it to him again. It was a copy of the neurologist note showing the neurologist report of nurogenic bladder with disenergia (?spelling) and said "I already provided a copy of this for you but ANXIETY DOES NOT CAUSE NEUROGENIC BLADDER!" (of coarse I was stuttering and sputtering and shaking to get that out, my whole body was tremoring) Justin is waving his hands at me and saying "Calm down, calm down." I think he thought I was going to get up and sock the guy or freak out and start crying. Well when I went into this doctors appointment I had three things I wanted to accomplish: a prescription for topamax (for migraines), zofran (for nausea), and an order for speech therapy. After I handed him the paper that showed the neurogenic bladder he did a little more indepth neuro exam and had me walk. He then ordered a 3T MRI, and EEG (seizure detection), everything I wanted, and set up another appt with him. I am not sure if I scared him or he just wanted to shut me up. I don't care. It was an awful experience and if I did not have the experience from my sister or the background of being a nurse, I would have been totally left out in the cold. I also sent my own records to the facitly in New York and Milwaukee that both specialize in Chiari Malformation. The one in New York is more world renowned and 50% of their surgeries are fixing other hospitals mistakes. They also do a lot of research and work on Occult tethered Cord, which is what I suspect I have. The problem with New York is that the Doctors are out-of-network. Milwaukee is in-network. However two weeks ago, they reviewed my case and declined to see me. That was really upset me. The same day, I heard from New York. They needed one more item. That item has been sent and received. From what I understand, they review cases on Friday. Today is Friday. I hope my case hits that desk today. Not sure how many cases are in front of me. I am not too religious but I am praying that they can see me soon. My family needs their mother and wife back! Next time, I will talk about an ER visit and some good days! Don't want to always be a downer.....Oh, happy Fathers Day to all to my hubby, daddy, step-dad, and father-in-law! Love all of you, you are great men and role models!