Getting the most from your Multiple Sclerosis medical professionals

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1. Call the NMSS and talk to a navigator to help you find 5-6 Comprehensive MS Centers near you. 1800-344-4867.
2. Call each place to make sure they are preferred providers with your insurance.
3. Call to schedule an interview with doctor.
4. Ask about email and response time, medication refills, appointment frequency, length of time with doctor for each appointment.
5. Prep for appointment by making a list of 5 concerns: Symptom management, treatment options (ask about three meds you’ve done the research on @ MSFrontiers.org), study programs, quality of life issues.

So what kind of Doctor do you need?

Which Doctor should you be visiting for your medical condition.

This fascinating infographic gives a great overview of the specialisations of different types of Doctors.

Which have you used? Do share in the comments section.

Did your Doctor believe you? Take our poll.


Do your Doctors believe you?

Do your Doctors believe you?

Until I started working in medical market research a decade ago I had a generally positive view of the healthcare world.

Sadly closer contact has made me rather cynical about the quality of the healthcare provision we are receiving , especially here in the UK, for our hard earned money.

One reason for my loss of confidence was conducting research with people with fibromyalgia. Many of the reported to us that there contact with doctors had been a harrowing and humiliating experience. Some of them were told that fibromyalgia was ” a made up condition” and that they were lying about their symptoms.

I have had similar (though nowhere near as bad) experiences when having my hearing tested. One audiologist could not see a problem with me and acted as though I was wasting his time. Ignoring that fact that my hearing was , and is , deteriorating.

So I am wondering how much this applies to my readers in general.

I have set up a poll below asking the very simple question “Have you had the impression that your doctor thinks you are lying about your symptoms or medical condition?”

Please do take part and share with anyone you think might be interested in taking part.

Do use the comments section to add any thoughts you may have or share your story with our readers.

Thanks very much in advance.


Healthcare professionals! In general do you feel supported by the healthcare professionals around you?


Healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals

Doctors, specialists, consultants, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, interns are among the many healthcare  professionals who support us through our medical and health journeys.

I’m the father of a child with autism so i can add to that speech and language therapists as well occupational therapist.  And I’m not even going to mention the highly skilled education providers he works with.  Teachers to the rest of us.

I have to say I’m pretty luck that we are very well supported in this area but with others this is not the case.  The number of medical malpractice suits attest to that.

So I thought I would give my readers there say.  Please could you use the poll below to add your voice.

Feel free to use the comments box to enlarge on your view.

Thanks in advance



Fibromyalgia Webinar. Melody Aitken introduces her free webinar on Fibro treatment!


Melody Aitken

Melody Aitken

Melody Aitken has very kindly provided us with a guest post telling us a bit more about a Fibro webinar she is running next week.  To find out more about Aitken and her life with fibromyalgia why not check out the links below.

HOW DID I GET BETTER? WHAT IS THE TRICK?

I remember the first phone call I had with Andrea, she was a fellow diagnosed who was managing her symptoms and living the way she wanted. I had one question in my mind; How?

Today now being in a similar situation, managing my Fibro, my symptoms silent, I get asked this question daily. It makes me chuckle, depending on the forum, if I am speaking or running a workshop, people will make a beeline to me, I know what is coming, and before a hi or introducing themselves they will say; “How did you do it? What is the trick?”

Wishing that I could sit down with each person and talk, or answer all the emails in great detail with this question as the subject, it is just not feasible, my time would be consumed. Bring me to this webinar. I will make this question the sole topic, and answer it.

The webinar is not a magic wand that you can wave and poof you’re healthy, but will answer the question, plus touch on the basics I have used personally, professionally, and are increasingly being recognized and used by the medical community, healers, and even fitness trainers. A few of the customizable basics that will be discussed are; individualized treatment plans, perspectives, doctors, alternative treatments, comfort zones, and a few approaches.

The webinar is on Tuesday March 4th, 12:30pm (EST) to 2:00pm (EST). Register at and see you all there.

ABOUT MELODY

Melody was officially diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in the summer of 2006. Rapidly declining in all areas; mind, body, and spirit, she soon found herself in a deep depression. All heightened by the medications prescribed, and the dosages self prescribed out of desperation. It was not until 4 years later, when she was told she would be wheelchair bound by her 30th birthday that Melody took things into her own hands.

Melody started calling the shots for her own healing. With little success found in the “conventional” methods, a more traditional route was explored, alternative modalities. Over the next ten months the pain and symptoms subsided, with the last one being felt in November of 2010.

With the encouragement of her Doctors, and support system Melody began and continues her training in Alternative Modalities and Wellness Coaching to help those who are struggling in their own journey with Fibromyalgia.

Melody works with clients, runs workshops, speaks, and writing a book to get the message out there.

Melody’s goal is to bring awareness that Fibro is not a sentence, but to also help people live the life they want.

MELODY AITKEN

Certified Wellness Coach

Only To Be You www.onlytobyou.com onlytobeyou@gmail.com

Link for the webinar is at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fibromyalgia-the-most-popular-question-i-am-asked-tickets-10727059925