(Procedural question) My neurologist sent an update about me to an oncologist... but I don't see an oncologist.
Hi. This is more of a procedural question so to speak, but I'll include medical details in case they are relevant.
I'm male, 29, 5 ft 8 in, 165 lbs, nonsmoker.
Medications and conditions: buspar and pristiq (anxiety and depression), topamax and indocin (idiopathic intracranial hypertension and associated pain), humira (hidradenitis supperativa), and testosterone cypionate (low testosterone).
So I see a neurologist for idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Out of nowhere around six months ago, my headaches got worse. Around four months ago, I started experiencing intermittent numbness/weakness/heaviness in mostly my left arm and hand, sometimes my left foot and leg. I'm exhausted all the time and cannot sleep well anymore. (Edit: stroke/heart attack/diabetes ruled out).
I've not been responding well to medication changes. My EMG and nerve conduction study came back totally normal. I saw my neurologist about two weeks ago to try a new med change.
Today, I see in my patient portal that a few days after that last visit she sent a letter to a neuro-oncologist at a big-name university hospital a few hours away updating her on me. Literally all the details about how I'm getting worse and how atypical my symptoms are, etc...
The thing is, I've never seen this neuro-oncologist and I've never been a patient at that university hospital. I've also never had any kind of cancer. I looked up the doctor's name (her first, middle, and last name were on the letter, as well as the clinic name and address, so I'm pretty sure this is the correct doctor) and she specializes in brain tumors. Obviously that's surprising to me because I wasn't aware brain cancer was on the table.
I've reached out to my neurologist to ask what's up with that. But I also wanted to ask other doctors if this is a normal thing... For doctors to reach out to other specialists about patients if they have a hunch there's more serious going on? And is this the way they usually go about it? I just like being kept in the loop. Feel like if I was less chill, I would be freaked out. I dunno. Not mad, but I'm definitely confused.
Any thoughts appreciated, docs.
EDIT: grammar.