Update on my Scottsdale mayo experiences:
Things are looking up!
Finally figured How to log onto their internet patient communication thing that gave me instant access to my medical records, and it is wonderful.
I *was* frustrated after my last appointment with Dr Lewis as he is hard to understand sometimes and I thought he blew off what I told him about ketotifin, but he did not. Mostly i have been taking a wait and see attitude because i had mixed reviews before going there.
In reading his very thorough notes, I now see that he heard me, and is holding that option open after all. What a relief. he also did listen and diagnose me when I came in which I an eternally grateful for! As a whole, my experience with mayo has been above par!
The down side with Dr Lewis may in part be due to me not hearing as well anymore. Sometimes I miss things or misunderstand. But Carlie did say he is not the beSt in person communicator. Sometimes he just looks at me and does not answer my questions. But in reading his notes I found answers! So in the future I will read the notes after each appointment.
Also his office accepts faxes for him with info and questions. That is great, and he does eventually get me answers.
My new neurologist, Dr Starling, is great!!!! She took her time and was very thorough, asked tons of questions, looked at my notes, and had ideas I hadn't suggested, plus took my ideas into consideration. She was kind, compassionate and competent, it was what I wish every first appointment with new to me doctors was like! To be honest, I almost cried with joy and relief.
She has already scheduled me for a migraine and trigger point treatment, is checking with Dr Lewis about various procedures and tests and medicines...but I suspect he will tell her it us all safe. There is no way to know without trying, it's just a crap shoot as always. So it makes me anxious, but excited to have new options to reduce my pain.
She is also referring me to a physical medicine Dr, who she is asking to consider prescribing physical therapy that will make me better, not worse. And possibly trigger point injections and steroid injections. She mentioned they cold get preservative free injections that have less fillers than pills so more chance of success because if we trigger my Mast cells the inflammation could trigger my migraine and neck pain and numbess, tingling, etc. sweet, sheer know a little something about it!
She said she us referring med to Drs who work well as a team. Super happy about that!!!! All in all, I have been lucky to get great doctors and have a very positive experience so far.
Every individual experience will vary, and not all patients mesh with the same doctors, so it seems to be a prices of part time, part luck, and part skill at finding which doctors and hospitals are the best fit, then having the right insurance.
I feel for people not having food doctor experiences, because I have been there. It is why I was so wary with Dr Lewis. But reading through his notes gives me how and gratitude. I know it may take time, but I believe a can further reduce my symptoms and improve my quality of life. That is a very good thing!!
