Good Internist?

I saw the new internist, Dr. Rob, today. I liked him! He was a little odd... like autism spectrum odd... but I'm cool with that.

He is not just assuming that I have MS. He wanted to hear the argument for it. I guess he accepted the diagnosis (he didn't say but stopped questioning). Then he wondered if I have primary progressive MS, not relapsing-remitting. Since it's been four months. Long flare. Or that I have something wrong in addition to MS.

He is not just assuming all of my problems are from MS. He pressed on some places on my back and knees, and sometimes it HURT. He seemed to have thoughts about it but didn't share. He did wonder aloud why I would have pressure points like that, because it wouldn't be from MS.

He questioned my medications. Even the Protonix, which no one has questioned before. He said it's a strong medication to be on at my age. He didn't say to stop taking it, just wanted to know what was up. And he questioned the gabapentin, saying I'm not taking enough. THANK YOU! He asked if it helps. I told him that it did, but I'm not sure it does now. He didn't think it would, at that strength. He increased me from 600 mg daily (300 am and pm) to 600 mg 3x day. I'll increase slowly, make sure I don't get too tired. He said I could try Lyrica if the gabapentin doesn't help me.

He found that my left leg is weak. I could have told him that. I also could have told him why: spasticity. That's my guess, anyway, but I didn't say so. Next week I'll ask whom I can see about that, like maybe a PT. We didn't have time for everything today.

He wants another brain MRI, with and without contrast. Oh boy. I made an appointment for that on Friday.

At my request, he referred me to Dr. Hilary for urology. I am supposed to have a 6-month follow up on my kidney stone, but mostly I want to talk MS bladder. Dr. Gabby said I have a spastic bladder. I feel like I'm not fully emptying it or something. Or it's thinking it needs to go when it's not totally full. And weak stream. Whatever, it's not normal.

I will see Dr. Rob again next Tuesday.

I am so blessed to be able to see him. He's been closed to new patients for over a year, but his secretary, a member of my church, got him to take me.