My PCP has been after me to change neurologists because my longstanding one has a reputation for being moody and for not listening to his patients.

He has had me on a medication for a long that I really don't like because it increases my appetite and causes me to gain weight, and requires regular blood tests to make sure my liver is okay. Trouble is, it's one of the few meds that I've been able to tolerate.

Lately, I have gained weight to the point that it is a problem. I have bad feel that limit me ability to exercise and have also developed arthritis. Because of GI problems, I cannot take N-SAIDs for the arthritis pain. That leaves Tylenol as an option for the pain. However, Tylenol can affect the liver so I raised the problem with the neurologist at my last visit. I asked to have my anti-seizure med changed to something that would not affect my liver and that would - finally - cause my appetite to return to normal. I also described a recent seizure that I'd had. The neurologist gave me a referral to a specialist. He said that I needed to see the specialist because he did not know how to diagnose the mini-seizure that I'd had.

HOWEVER, when I called the specialist to whom I'd been referred, I discovered that he was not the seizure specialist that I'd been promised. Rather, he was a pain specialist. I called the neurologist's office back and said there must be some error and was told to call back. Also, when I recently called his office to ask if they would accept my new insurance which is changing effective January 1st, the receptionist would not answer my question and instead said I must call back and speak to the neurologist directly about insurance plans that he accepts.

I think it may be time to change neurologists. I am just not satisfied.

[healingme4me]

The office doesn't know, what insurances will be.covered? Time for a new office. Wow, sorry!
Sent from my LG-MS910 using Tapatalk 2

[hamster-bamster]

Your state is not listed, so I cannot tell whether you have access to legal medicinal marijuana, but if you do, it is most definitely a better option than Tylenol, which, as you said, quickly becomes liver-toxic. Plus, Tylenol simply isn't as effective as NSAIDs, so it is not a valid alternative both effectiveness-wise and toxicity-wise.

[Travelinglady]

I would definitely hunt around for a new neurologist.

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

Your state is not listed, so I cannot tell whether you have access to legal medicinal marijuana, but if you do, it is most definitely a better option than Tylenol, which, as you said, quickly becomes liver-toxic. Plus, Tylenol simply isn't as effective as NSAIDs, so it is not a valid alternative both effectiveness-wise and toxicity-wise.

I never liked smoking marijuana so I don't think I would liked medical marijuana at all, even in tablet form. As an epileptic, I could never tolerate any medications / drugs that affected my mind. The effects of smoking marijuana lasted for days in the form of paranoia and general spaciness. And, I can't say it improved my mood either. I want to deal with pain and do not want to be high on a daily basis. For me, Tylenol is a much better option.

I am leaning in the direction of cancelling my appointment with my current neurologist and finding a new one. The current neurologist was better than my previous ones who had me changing meds on a monthly basis. At least the current one would wean me off one med before starting another so that I could get an accurate assessment of whether it was working.

[hamster-bamster]

Unguy, when you talk about the tablet form, you mean Marinol? Marinol is very expensive, unless covered by insurance, but very likely will not give you paranoia because marijuana itself has many, many more ingredients than marinol does. So if you can afford it, I would try it, and it won't produce the effects of smoking the marijuana. Marinol does not produce high at all. It is being given to children undergoing chemo, against nausea.

I do not know though if Marinol is used for pain relief. It might be - find out.