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Do I Need a Second Opinion?
Seeking the opinion of another medical expert can cut deeper than your initial diagnosis.
At my last appointment with my neurologist, I sat and listened as she said what I imagine to be one of the most vulnerable, frustrating, and honest things a physician can say to a patient.
I’m doing everything I can for you,” she said. “But you’re not making the progress I hoped you would at this point. I think it’s time to consult with a neurosurgeon.
Alarm bells rang in my ears and I felt a rush of heat envelop my body. Since my diagnosis with trigeminal neuralgia (TN), I’ve had numerous conversations with my neurologist about my symptoms, medications, alternative treatments, and research. She knows how I feel about the surgical interventions available for TN, so it was no small thing to hear her say that it may be time to speak to a surgeon.
Think of it as just getting information. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.
Days after that appointment, I broke down while asking myself one of the most seemingly straight-forward yet messy questions chronic illness provokes: Do I need a second opinion?
Blindsided
Truth be told I’ve already had a second opinion about treatment options for TN within my first year of diagnosis. It was with a…
