Hi!
Has anyone out there got any advice on how I could find a Private Consultant in my area (U.K)
I was admitted to hospital AGAIN last week as my symptoms were coming back with AVENGANCE.
To cut a long story short, I ended up being in there for 5 whole days, didn't even get to see a neurologist and was discharged with PARACETAMOL!!!
I don't think that the dose of Diamox that I'm currently on, 250mg x2 daily, is strong enough, but the Doctors in hospital refused to alter the dose as they said that was the neurologists job and the neurologist couldn't even be bothered to come and asses me on the ward I was on.
As a result I'm no further forward, the pain increases in intensity every day and I feel as though I'm disappearing.

Maybe if I was to have a one off consultation with a private neurologist I could get the ball rolling myself? But I haven't got the faintest idea how to begin looking!

This condition really is a load of b@*&£!s.

Kerry.

Kerry,

I did exactly what you are considering. I was so fed up of being messed around I paid to see a different Neurologist. I explained to him I couldn't' afford private treatment and he put me back on the NHS list of a different consultant (he is semi retired and doesn't do NHS anymore.) He wrote to my GP on the same day I saw him - faxed it to my GP before I had got home to tell my GP to amend my meds. I had a phone call from the hospital the following day to ask me to go in for fields and he arranged an MRI. He is a really good Neuro - guess they aren't all great whether you pay or not.
I would see if you can get a recommendation of a good one in your area. If not ask your GP. My GP arranged my appointment for me. They gave me a list to choose from - I googled them to see which one I fancied and then the GP secretary booked it. I have done this twice - the longest I have waited is 4 days. There are websites you can use - private health and patient.co.uk but I can't recommend booking through these - I only used them to look at consultants names and see what their expertise was.
If I can help please ask

Zoe

Thank you, Zoe!

I will book an appointment with my G.P tomorrow to see if they can recommend someone for me.
I guess you know what it's like then? The G.P won't alter my meds as they say it's the neurologists job, the Consultants at the hospital won't touch me for the same reason. Meanwhile I'm stuck in the middle, in pain every day, taking medication that is basically ineffective but makes me feel crap. I feel like I'm stuck on a merry-go-round that isn't particularly merry!

I'll have a look at the website you also recommended.


Kerry.

Yup - that sounds a familiar tale. My GP was really honest and said he had never treated anyone with IIH before and that's why he was reluctant to change my meds. My Neuro was just rubbish.

From my experience I would try and find a Neuro who you can stay with on the NHS. Its been horrible finding such a good one only to find I can't carry on with him. It was amazing (and quite sad) to see how quickly things move when you pay.

Hope you find a good one
x