Today was my appointment with my MS Specialist and it went very well! The Nurse Practitioner I saw actually took the time to listen to my concerns and did not dismiss any of my fears. To be perfectly honest, I went into this appointment with low expectations to protect myself from disappointment and frustration. I am so happy to say that even though this appointment lasted a longtime; I left the doctor’s office feeling much better about the issues I have been struggling with. The NP took time to actually talk to me about the headaches I have had for so long and come up with ideas to hopefully eliminate them. We talked about the pain issues that have increased over the past few months and she had some very valid thoughts about why that was happening. She helped relieve the stress I was putting on myself about my illness progressing by reassuring me I am doing everything I can and feels that I am controlling it the best I can. She told me to not over think what could happen and just live in the moment. I thought that was great advice because I do tend to think everything and go to worse case scenarios all the time, which really is not helpful to me or my mental state. Moving forward I am going to stay on the Gilenya because it is the best choice for me and did control my illness for 6 years before I decided to try something new. I was thinking the Gilenya was causing my headaches, but the NP today pointed out that I had headaches way before Gilenya was a factor. My appointment today was by far the best and most enlightening appointment I
have had in a long time and gave me a new perspective on things!
As I already said, I went into my appointment today with very low expectation, which was helpful overall! I have found over the years if you set your expectations for others too high there will always be a high probability of disappointment. Therefore, if you just keep your expectations lower you will never be disappointed because you are not presuming anything! This may seem like a pessimistic way to live, but it saves a lot of heartache and frustration. In our hearts we know who we can count on in life and who we question counting on. Others must prove to us that we can rely on them and live up to the standards we have. I do believe we all need at least one person that we can truly count on and that person will never let us down. There is always at least one person you confide in and know they will always be there to support you, no matter what! Trust is a very delicate thing that can be destroyed quickly and take a very long time to rebuild, if it is even possible.
Of course I am delighted my appointment went as well as it did today, but now I am hoping the appointment I have next Thursday will go just as well. I will go into the appointment next week just as prepared as I was today, but also go in with no expectations at all. I believe that being prepared and having notes with you can be extremely beneficial because it is easy to forget important details. I think being in the exam room can be a little stressful which makes it easy to lose track of what you want to discuss. Doctors have busy schedules and have a limited amount of time allotted to each patient. So I found having set topics you need to talk about ready will make the appointment much more useful to you and not waste any time! I know that if I did not prepare last night for this appointment and have my topics written down, I would have missed a lot of important information.
I hope y’all had a great Friday Eve and I hope y’all are feeling well! I really appreciate you taking the time to visit my site today and I look forward to reading your comments! All of your comments are very meaningful to me and I will respond as quickly as I can. I hope y’all have a lovely evening!! I am always sending each of you lots of love and comfort!
Always, Alyssa
Reblogged this on Survivors Blog Here.
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Expectations are the secret to life. As long as we keep them reasonable, we have a better chance of being satisfied and happy. Be well. Have a good one.
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This was beautifully said! Thank you so much for this incredible comment!! I hope you have a great evening!
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Thank you. But it is true. When we have high expectations we are setting ourselves up for a letdown. Be happy. Have a great eeekend.
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I could not agree more that when we have high expectations, we are only inviting letdowns into our lives. I hope you have a great weekend as well!!
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I’m so glad your appointment was reassuring Alyssa.
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Thank you, it was a real relief for me!
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I’m so glad your appointment went well today Alyssa! Going in with notes is an excellent way to make sure you discuss everything you need to with your medical team. Hugs!
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Thank you so much! I think this was the first time I ever went into a doctor’s appointment with my thoughts written out and it worked so well. There was one thing on my list I would have forgotten and remembered when I left the office. It was a great appointment and the first time my thoughts weren’t dismissed. I hope you have a wonderful evening♡
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I’m so glad your appointment went so well, lady!
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Thank you so much! I really was surprised she was understanding and did not dismiss any of my crazy thoughts! I appreciate your constant support as well!!
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So glad to hear things went well.
“She helped relieve the stress I was putting on myself about my illness progressing by reassuring me I am doing everything I can and feels that I am controlling it the best I can” – this is so important, and I’m glad she was able to allay your worries a little and buoy your spirits to live more in the moment. I will keep my fingers crossed next Thursday’s appointment is equally positive!
Caz xx
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Thank you so much Caz! I was definitely putting much more stress on myself with this crazy illness I have! Not only did the NP help me a lot, but also going into my appointment with low expectations helped because I was not expecting something unrealistic! Your advice of being prepared helped more than anything though!!! I will take your advice with me into my appointment on Thursday as well and hopefully things will work out just as well!!
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I’m glad that things went well and you feel good about your provider. Hopefully nothing will happen that changes your mind
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Thank you! The NP at the Specialist office is normally pretty great, the doctor not so much! I think my appointment Thursday will be pretty intense, but I am going in very prepared and with lower expectations so I will not be disappointed. It helped with the appointment with the specialist! I hope you are doing well and I hope you have a lovely Easter weekend!
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I’m so glad your appointment went well. Just having someone properly listen makes all the difference. xx
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Thank you!! Finally having someone just listen to how I was feeling helped me SO much!!
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Very happy to hear you had a good visit! That’s always wonderful and a great feeling. Also, my new website is live. If you haven’t yet, you can subscribe by e-mail 🙂
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Thank you so much!! I think I did subscribe to your new website already. I might be mistaken though didn’t I?
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You might have. I am not sure what your e-mail address is, so I can’t tell you if you have. http://www.acreativenewmie.com
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I am 99% sure I did, but sometimes my memory plays tricks on me! My email address is
alyssabowman81@gmail.com
I hope you are doing well and enjoying your new journey!!
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Very happy to hear you had such a positive exprience, Alyssa. A vast improvement!! Your attitude is so admirable, and the way you approach MS is so inspiring. My co-worker was recently diagnosed, and you remind me of her. The way you accept it and try to see beyond the illness. I really hope you get some relief from the headaches soon! xo
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Thank you so much for your compliment! I am so happy to hear that I can can be inspiring. I am happy to hear your co-worker is taking a positive approach to this illness. Accepting any illness is hard, but I do believe it’s the only way to move on with life♡. I hope you are doing well and I hope you have an amazing weekend!
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Glad to hear it went well!
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Thanks girl! I was very prepared for the appointment. My appointment Thursday will hopefully go just as well. I need to be very prepared for that one. I have to be smarter than the doctor!
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Ugh I hate that you even have to do that. But it’s better to be on top of them!
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It is pretty frustrating being forced to fight for my own health. Thursday I am fighting to be able to live life with less pain! Things are crazy here now with crazy BS laws!
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I know what you mean. It sometimes feels like you’re fighting your own docs. Is this for the medicinal marijuana?
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Not medical Marijuana, that is not legal in my state. It is legal in so many other states though. I am fighting for the only thing that is legal here, pain meds. It is so frustrating! My husband wants to move to Canada because he thinks things are a lot better up there. Everything in the US is going down hill fast!!
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Is there any talk about making it legal where you are? Why do you have to fight so hard for pain meds??
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It has been voted against and I just do not understand why. The southern states feel they have something they have to prove and I still do not know what that is. I am pretty sure 26 states have already made it legal and those states are doing well with it. I have to fight for pain meds because they are trying to cut the prescriptions because so many have abused them. It is not right, but the president wants to make these stupids laws!
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Glad your appointment went well!. Always a bonus when it happens. I got a bottle of CBD oil a month ago, and it eases the headaches, and a bit of the ol MS pain. And we are always here for you…keep smiling!. :).x
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Thank you! I am really hoping the appointment I have today is going to go well, but I am just not sure!! That is great to know about CBD oil. I really want to give it a try but I guess I am just nervous and I have no idea why! I am so thankful for all the wonderful and caring friends I have through this blog. I am truly blessed to have so many caring people!!! I hope you are doing well!!
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