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       #Post#: 5160--------------------------------------------------
       Sometimes it's best to fire a neuro
   DIR By: agate
       Date: April 27, 2026, 11:45 pm
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       I've been seeing this neuro regularly for several years now.
       She's not an MS specialist, just a general neuro who happens to
       be covered by my insurance. She seems quite nice and helpful and
       even knowledgeable.
       But on Wednesday I left a message at her office about needing
       her sign-off on a "reasonable accommodation" request, required
       by my building if the building maintenance person installs a
       handheld shower attachment for me.
       I have the attachment but I can't reach the shower head to
       install it myself, and I'd prefer to have the building staff do
       it since it's their plumbing. I might do it wrong.
       Not only can I not reach it--I can't see what I'm doing very
       well, and my hands are shaky.
       I thought the neuro could just fill out the form and sign it.
       She would need to reply to a couple of questions and sign and
       have it faxed back to the office here.
       It's been nearly a week now with no call back. Maybe she was at
       the AAN conference last week but it was over by Thursday.
       I've decided to wait a week or two longer, and if there's still
       no return call, I will just call and cancel my upcoming
       appointment without rescheduling. That appointment wouldn't be
       until July, and it is down to an annual appointment now, but I
       just don't see returning to her when I'm not on an MS treatment
       any more.
       I did see a point in it up till now. She was monitoring my
       reflexes, strength, coordination, etc., keeping tabs on how I
       was doing. That was of some value to me.
       Getting there and back is a chore, though, and if she can't even
       call me back to tell me whether or not she can sign this form,
       it's time for me to move on.
       Doctors don't want to have Medicaid patients. It looks as if
       some doctors may actively discourage us.
       We're not profitable.
       #Post#: 5174--------------------------------------------------
       Update on the potentially fired neuro
   DIR By: agate
       Date: May 12, 2026, 1:19 am
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       Over a week ago, having revised my plan after seeking out sage
       advice, I mailed the form to the neuro with a letter explaining
       my request, and I enclosed a stamped envelope addressed to the
       building manager, to make it ultra-easy for the neuro just to
       sign the form and shove it into the envelope. Maybe office staff
       people can seal the envelope and mail it for her.
       The thought was that my phone message might have been
       overlooked.
       So far I've had no word that the building manager has received
       anything from this doctor. I'll wait a while longer.  The form
       is no longer in my possession, of course. I would have to get
       another form if I ask another doctor instead, like my primary
       care doctor.
       I would probably ask another doctor. And I will call the neuro's
       office and just cancel the September appointment. I will
       probably be asked if I want to reschedule, and I wlll say, "Not
       at this time. I'll get back to you if I'd like to reschedule."
       That would end that relationship without actually officially
       ending it. If I'm asked for a reason, I will explain, but I
       doubt that I would be asked unless I told them I was
       disappointed in this doctor.
       I decided I might want to keep this doctor as an option in case
       I do have a flareup or some symptom that is a concern.  The last
       time I checked, this doctor was the only neuro who is in my
       insurance network.
       The care and management of neurologists can be a ticklish
       matter.
       #Post#: 5179--------------------------------------------------
       Neuro not fired (but ophthalmologist is)
   DIR By: agate
       Date: May 16, 2026, 12:54 am
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       According to the building manager, the neuro came through with
       the form. I had to ask to find this out, and it will be a while,
       maybe many weeks or even months, before I actually have the
       shower attachment installed but at least I won't have to end my
       relationship with the neuro.
       In the meantime, the ophthalmologist I've been seeing regularly
       for nearly 17 years sent an e-mail the other day cancelling an
       upcoming annual appointment and giving a number to call to
       reschedule. It turned out that his schedule is so overbooked,
       and he is spreading himself so thin by spending some days of
       each week at another location that is too distant for me, that
       we came to a parting of the ways.
       I hardly ever ditch a doctor, and this one was the best
       ophthalmologist I've ever had. I'm transferring to another eye
       doctor in the same clinic though I know almost nothing about
       him.
       I'm too set in my ways by now to be very flexible about my own
       schedule. I'm relieved that so far the clinic people seem to
       understand the situation.
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