Said Goodbye to my Sleep Disorder Doctor

I had my last appointment for a long time with my Sleep Disorder doctor yesterday. I took the TAP dental appliance with me, as I figured he would be interested in seeing the real thing, rather than just reading about it and seeing pictures. He was very pleased that I had brought it, and asked me lots of questions about how it worked for me. We both agreed that I did not need to see him again unless my insomnia returned. It's strange how first impressions can be so very far from the truth. Neither I, nor my DH, were very impressed with him on my first visit to him, but every time I have seen him since, I have come to admire him and appreciate him more and more. I am glad I didn't let that first impression spoil a really wonderful doctor/patient friendship.

He's just next door to my Neurologist's office, so I may poke my head in from time to time just to say Hi!

Today, I see my Neurologist. This should be the appointment where dosages and even medications get changed. I am anxious to get rid of some of the symptoms that have reared their ugly head in the last few months. But I wouldn't be upset if he lowered the number of pills I am taking a day, either. I am on some low doses of some of these meds, and it may be that he will up the strength of some of them.

I want to ask him about some of the pills that I have been reading about for the last few months. I am interested in how he feels about mucuna pruriens - a natural form of levadopa for one, and Modafinil - a narcolepsy med that supposedly improves fatigue for Parkies - for another. This will be the first time I have approached him about off label and Ayurvedic medicine, so I don't know what to expect from him. Will it offend him that I, as his patient, am suggesting nonstandard treatments? Will he be dismissive, or open to suggestions?

I also need to talk to him about having the epidurals on my neck. I pray he will be helpful with that decision, as I am really concerned worried scared about having them, after the poison ivy episode.

Will my body cooperate and show off all my new symptoms for him, or will it be like taking a car to the repair shop and having it run perfectly for the mechanic, when it was sputtering at the house? Will he give me useful information and have an open mind about some alternative treatments, or dismiss them as foolishness? Will he help me know what to do about my neck? All these questions are running through my head, and have been for some time. So, I go to this appointment with a high level of apprehension.