Guys, I honestly did not know where to begin. I was grabbing at straws, researching neurologists, and praying someone decent took my health insurance. The first neurologist I went to specialized in automobile accidents, hence when I arrived for my first appointment, the entire waiting room was full of patients with neck braces and broken bones. I was confused, and scared. Will this be my doctor?
1) He reviewed my symptoms listed in my chart
2) He began with a neurological exam which includes the following with a needle scratch-type test:
1. posterior aspect of the shoulders
2. lateral aspect of the upper arms
3. medial aspect of the lower arms
4. tip of the thumb
5. tip of the middle finger
6. tip of the pinky finger
7. thorax, nipple level
8. thorax, umbilical level
9. upper part of the upper leg
10. lower-medial part of the upper leg
11. medial lower leg
12. lateral lower leg
13. sole of foot
3) I had to walk down the hallway with arms out and feet one in front of the other (DUI style walk.. haha)
4) Graphesthesia test: one where the Neurologist tells you to close your eyes and identify the number or letter they will write with the back of a pen on your palm. They will then repeat on the other hand with a different letter or number
5) The next test I can remember was holding my arms out to my sides with eyes closed, while the doctor pushed down on both arms to see if my arms went back up to the height they were at
6) I also remember the reflex test on my knee caps
7) Blood pressure and pulse check when standing and lying down
From there, he sent me to the MRI next door for an immediate brain an
d cervical spine scan. Since it was a rush order/situation, he had me come back and got on the line with the radiology team, who also couldn't fit my rushed MRI into their system, so I overheard him on the phone discussing possible diagnoses. He then came in to inform me that he wasn't 100% certain on a diagnosis until the radiologist read the results, but it could be Lupus, MS, or Lyme Disease. I went into a tailspin and literally heard nothing else, and was ushered to the front desk to pay a co-pay and get a referral paper to another neurologist (as this one was going on vacation and could not help me as he also did not specialize in any of the conditions listed). Imagine my surprise when the woman behind the desk collecting my co-pay asked if I was okay, and I didn't even realize what was going on. I felt like I was in another world, and my brain fog was so horrible, I couldn't remember what to do next. I took a moment, said a quick prayer, and headed out with MRI scans, paperwork, business cards, and God knows what else.