That being said, I must admit, I was oblivious to the "signs of seizures" I was experiencing over time. The "black-outs" or losses of time, I regarded these symptoms as stress or being tired. The problems in not being able to say the words I wanted to or read them properly, again I thought were stress related. In the past year I had started working full-time from part-time, so the stress just seemed normal. Once this lesion became known, the pieces started fitting together. (I hid these issues well from everyone else since they were sporadic and very short, until the "Big One").
What you can do as a patient still in this great country of ours, is educate yourself about the facts, the choice of treatment, and doing what seems best. Now, I will admit that not all websites on the Internet are as factual as one would hope. However, start with those medical support sites that are listed with NIH, Mayo Clinic, and then other specialty areas.
Our nurses are a wealth of information. I spoke with several whom I know personally. Each of them had several good ideas on proper research. Your regular Dr. ,whom you see for your annual physical, has great nurses who can also go over your last vitals and blood work with you. Our current medical insurance also provides a great nurse network.
Speaking of your regular physician, they are your "support", even though they are not specialized in a specific area, you will need their assessment of you, the total person. My internal medicine Dr. supported me so well during the evaluation and treatment of my Celiac Disease. She supported my decision of staying prescription drug free while treating my diet changes and becoming gluten-free. Therefore, all of my blood work and vitals became normal during that year. I am so very thankful for her continual patience and persistence during that process.
Your medical insurance provider is an absolute must to contact. Your coverage on any specific area needs to be known especially when obtaining a second opinion. They also have their own internal specialists, usually a RN who will contact you on a regular basis during these types of events. Ultimately, if you have any questions concerning prescriptions written for you, their pharmacy specialists are also a good resource. I have the insurance company's nurse line in my cell phone, so I can contact them at any time.
I am sure you have heard this before, but repeating it is worthwhile. There is no such thing as a "dumb" question. Always ask your medical professionals questions concerning treatment options. When I am meeting with our neuro-surgeon this next week, I plan to take my tablet and write down the answers to my questions. I have never had brain surgery before, so there are many unanswered questions.
No comments:
Post a Comment