[jbug]

How do you decide if you need a new doctor or if it's just you getting all worked up over nothing?

I saw my neurologist again today for my headaches. I told him how I have them every day etc. He asked me if I've been losing weight and I told him yes and he asked me how much? I told him I'm not sure but it's in my records as I've been weighed regularly at my other doctor's office and his office is tied in with my neurologist's office. All my doc's except my Pdoc and Ortho are all in one system and they can retrieve notes from all since they are on the same system it's all computerized. I did tell him I gained a bit this week but it's cuz it's that time of the month and I always gain about a pound to two and I then lose it plus the next week. He grimaced when I told him I had gained and it was like he quit listening when I had told him that. He did the standard neuro exam and increased my Topamax since when I started it it seemed to help the headaches and he also told me that it would help with the weight loss. The poor man is so hung up on me being overweight that he seems to forget that I am there because I have migranes.

So I am wanting to get a different doctor but if I did that it would have to be a doc out of the system with my GP because there isn't any other one in the same system. I don't have a problem going out of the system I am just wondering if I am being to thin skinned about it.

Jbug

[sunrise]

jbug, is this your first negative interaction with him?

How often do you see him?

If he's been OK until now and you don't see him often, perhaps just stick with him for now, especially since you would need to go out of system. Maybe it was a one time thing. I am a lot more willing to tolerate a negative interaction if it's from someone I only see occasionally.

You said he quit listening to you when you mentioned you had gained weight this week. What did he not hear that you needed to tell him? It sounds like he did adjust your medication to help with the headaches. Maybe just try to keep the weight talk to a minimum with this guy (save that for your GP).

Good luck.

[jbug]

I've seen him twice and the last time I saw him it was all centered around my weight also. I didn't bring it up he did. He saw me and said lose weight he didn't bother to see that I had Gastric Bypass surgery and that I have lost almost 200lbs. He doesn't see that all he sees is that I still have more weight to lose.

He did the basic neuro exam and when I had to walk on my heels I couldn't do it and he was real short with me just like last time and said well just come sit back down.

I am trying not to be judgemental but am wondering if it is his background meaning that he is Indian. I have another Indian doctor but haven't dealt with him in an office visit yet I've only seen him when he's done my scopes. I see him later this month for my office visit. I am trying very hard to think this doc just has no bedside manner.

Jbug

[jbug]

I called my pdoc's office and asked them who they would recommend and they gave me a name. I am now waiting for my GP to get back from vacation to get a referral. I just said I'd like a second opinion and have heard good things about this doctor. I don't think there will be a problem being able to see this doctor at least I hope not.

Jbug

[ErinBear]

Hi Janniebug,

It sounds like a good idea to see another neurologist for a consultation. I have daily migraines also, and am Topamax for them, so I can relate.

I used to be very overweight, too, and lost 100 pounds a few years ago. I am now at a healthy weight for me. I, too, have had to deal with doctor's comments about my weight in the past. I know it's a very tough thing, so I feel for you. I know you've had a longer journey with weight loss, and it sounds like you are still on that journey. Congratulations on the weight you've lost this far! I think most doctors would realize that you are in the middle of that process, you've made some wonderful progress (!), and you are continuing to work on it. It is extremely common for women to gain 1-3 pounds once a month (some women even gain a bit at ovulation); and as you say, the pounds come off again in a few days. This is very normal.

There is some logic to his encouragement about your weight loss, even though he isn't going about it very well. For many people, migraines have a hormonal connection, and for those of us who are overweight, there are more hormones floating around - which can make migraines worse and harder to control. But you are indeed working on this, and hopefully as you lose more weight, your migraines will improve, too. This was true for me. There are other things you may be able to do to help your migraines, like getting good sleep. Sometimes dietary changes can help, too, and hopefully this doctor discussed that. There are also things to try, like biofeedback training, which really help some folks and involve no medication at all.

I don't think it's related to his ethnic background. I've seen a variety of Indian doctors, and some of them were very kind. Some of them weren't, but that is true of doctors of all races and ethnic backgrounds! I think you just met one that wasn't a good match for you this time. Hopefully you'll find a neurologist next time that is a better fit for you. I'll be crossing my fingers.

Thinking of you,
ErinBear

[jbug]

Thanks Erin. I wasn't trying to be judgemental about his race but it was really hard not to KWIM. I am hoping that when my GP gets back he will feel comfortable letting me have a second opinion. I know when he did last time it ended up that I did have something seriously wrong. I had gone to see an ortho about my ankle and he had told me oh its just sprained get over it and I knew it wasn't just sprained something was seriously wrong so I got a second opinon and I was right I had broken it and had bone shards floating around in my ankle. I am hoping this time it's nothing as serious but I know that there has got to be something going on.

Thanks for taking time to respond Erin.

Jbug

[ECHOES]

Has he directly addressed the reason(s) why weight loss would help your migraines? Why he seems to be implying that it is an important part of the treatment?
Or is he talking about it as a separate issue?
If it is part of the treatment, he would be negligent to not talk about weight loss as part of the treatment. If it is part of the treatment then he is being responsible in telling you that weight loss is necessary in order for you to get the relief you want for the migraine pain that caused you to seek his medical advice.

[jbug]

He has never told me why the weight loss would help my migranes he just says you need to lose weight and exercise. I'm like no duh!! My GP comes back on Monday and I am going to make an appointment to see him as I have applied the second treatment of the cream to treat the other problem I had seen my GP for and he told me if it didn't help to come back so I'm going to go back and ask for the second opinon with the neurologist my Pdoc has recommended.

Jbug

[ECHOES]

That would bug me too, then.
I don't like when doctors do that.... throw the weight issue at us when it isn't relevant. It always made me feel bad and I would not want to go to the doctor when I needed to.

[jbug]

I found out today that my GP doesn't think I need a second opinion so I don't get to go see the other neurologist. I'm not sure what I can do to change Dr. B's mind so I guess I just have to learn to live with my headaches.

Jbug

[ECHOES]

It's your choice to have a second opinion, not your GP's.

[jbug]

The neurologist I was going to make the appointment with only makes the appointment through your GP. So I can only get the appointment if my GP is on board with it. I am thinking about seeing if my pdoc will make the appointment for me as he was the one that recommended him to me.

Jbug