About a month ago, Doug started having horrible panic attacks. They didn’t happen often, but when they did, they would make his whole-body shake, and it would be very challenging for him to calm his tremors down. Since we had a visit scheduled with the neurologist this week, we decided to ask him what his thoughts were.
I don’t normally go with Doug to see the neurologist as I find him very condescending, rude, and unhelpful. I don’t know that I felt any different after today's visit, but I did think that it was important for Doug to see him before we visited our family doctor. Doug told the neurologist about the panic attacks, and once again, the neurologist was not very sympathetic or empathetic. He did explain, however, that this could be a part of whatever neurological disorder Doug has that is causing his tremors. He suggested that we stop taking propranolol, which we agreed. Although it slowed his tremors down. it made Doug extremely tired. The kids had even told me that they liked shaky dad better than zombie dad. The neurologist then gave us two different drugs we could try. One was for tremors, and one was for anxiety. We could not try them at the same time, so Doug decided to try the tremor medication first. They had recommended it before, and Doug felt that it was time to try it. I left the decision up to Doug as they both had risks and side effects.
Doug felt better after going to the neurologist and I was glad to hear that. I have learned over the past four years that neurological disorders are very hard to diagnose and treat. As Doug has said many times this past year, "All we can do is take it day by day." For now that will just have to be our motto.
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