Questions to Ask Your Neurologist

When living with GBS, CIDP, MMN or a related condition, having the right questions ready for your next doctor's appointment is key to getting the care and support you need. Here are a few important questions to consider asking.

Understanding Your Condition

• What is happening within my body to create my symptoms? What is GBS/CIDP/MMN?

• When determining my diagnosis, what are you looking for specifically? What kinds of tests will you order?

• What are variants and mimics? How do we recognise whether I may have one?

• What are some symptoms that I could experience within the next week, month, etc?

• I suffer from ... Can other illnesses and hereditary complications impact my condition?

• Can I overcome this?

• How will this condition affect my mental health?

Treatments and Managing Symptoms

• How is my condition treated?

• How will these treatments affect my quality of life?

• What does IVIg, SCIg and Plasmapheresis treatment look like?

• Where will I have the treatment done? How do I best prepare?

• How long will it take for me to find the right treatment, right dosage, and schedule of treatment?

• Are there any changes or adjustments to treatment that might be necessary over time?

• What if my body does not respond to treatment or I begin to have troublesome side effects? Are there other options for treatment?

• Does treatment differ for variants or mimics?

• What are the risks of treatment?

• Are ther non-medicinal or alternative therapies I can pursue along withh my current treatment?

• What role does physical therapy or occupational therapy play as part of my treatment plan?

• Are there any assistive devices you recommend for me?

• Is it possible for me to go into remission?

• Will my condition change over time? Will it get worse?

• Will I need to be on treatment forever?

• How often should I have follow-up appointments or check-ups?

• Are there any lifestyle changes or precautions I should be aware of

Long-Term Outcomes

Residual Management

• Even though my treatment is helping, I still experience ... symptoms. What can I do to alleviate these troublesome symptoms of my condition?

• What do you recommend for pain management?

• How do I manage my fatigue?

• Could my long-term symptoms be affected by other conditions or are they solely from my neurological condition?

• Can physical therapy and/or occupational therapy help my residual symptoms?

• Are there dietary changes that might help manage my residual symptoms and support my overall health?

• Do you recommend any vitamins or supplements?

• Does my mental health affect my physical symptoms?