Can I fire my neurologist? And a question about cognitive decline.
After my flow diverter stent surgery for my 22mm unruptured aneurysm, I was referred to follow up with a neurologist in the neuroscience dept of the hospital. I never saw him in the hospital. Because I live in Hawaii and not on Oahu where the medical center is, both of my visits with him have been via telehealth. I have not enjoyed him either time. I feel he is dismissive, lacking empathy, generally just unlikable, and now rude.
I saw him via telehealth today and told him I think I am struggling with my memory, forgetting things constantly and within seconds. He said “okay… how would you like me to address that?” I was shocked! Perhaps I gravely misunderstand his role in my care, but it seems all he is interested in discussing is my steroid taper. I have had a fever for 8 days. All of my labs are clear and do not show signs of infection. I asked him what he thought about it and he said “I have no idea why you have a fever. It’s not related to what I’m seeing you for. You’re allowed to have other things.” Again, I was shocked. How would I know if a fever is related to any of the 9 drugs I’m on, or having a foreign body in my brain, or being on steroids? Is there no better way he could think to respond?
On top of his baffling communication, he has repeatedly answered questions by saying “well I don’t know because I don’t really see people with giant aneurysms.” Then why the hell am I on your service! How do I go about requesting to be transferred to a different provider? This is the only Neuro center on Oahu, and I really do like my neurosurgeon and his fellow.
- Since my surgery and small stroke I have noticed a significant decline in my short term memory. my surgeon said the stroke is not in an area that should cause any deficits. Yet I am constantly forgetting things. I dropped chapstick the other day, bent down to pick it up, and then forgot what I was looking for. I asked my sister to bring me something from another room, and when she handed it to me I couldn’t remember why I had asked her for it. These kinds of things happen all day long.
Did anyone else experience this post procedure? I am 33, and have spent the last 8 years as an executive assistant for an international organization, managing multiple projects and events at once. To forget things constantly is not my norm.
Edited to add: I am not stupid, so I understand that if my knee hurts it’s probably not because of my aneurysm. However, I’m just so frustrated that this doctor can’t seem to access any empathy for the huge anxiety that comes after having a medical event like this. Worrying about every headache, and neck pain, etc. having a fever for over a week with no explanation is not normal, and I don’t think it was an unreasonable question. 😔