Inside Episode 5 - Worth the Wait: The Neurologist Appointment That Made It Make Sense

Daniel Schuman
Dec 6
4 min read

When it comes to navigating the healthcare system, nothing tests your patience quite like waiting months for a specialist appointment, especially when you’re dealing with neurological symptoms, chronic dizziness, headaches, or unexplained imbalance. In this short Thanksgiving mini-episode, Dan shares the story of the long-awaited neurologist visit that surprised him, validated years of symptoms, and actually… made things make sense.

If you’ve ever walked out of a doctor’s office feeling dismissed, rushed, confused, or like you didn’t get the full picture, this episode will hit home. And more importantly, it offers hope: good doctors still exist, and sometimes the right one can shift everything.

🔍 What This Episode Covers

This mini-episode offers a candid, unscripted look at:

Why it can take months to get in with a top neurologist
Dan’s 4-year search for answers for symptoms like imbalance, brain fog, muscle tightness, light sensitivity, headaches, and nausea
What happened when a neurologist actually took the time to dig into his full medical history
How a detailed, root-cause-oriented evaluation led to a potential diagnosis of migraine without aura
The surprising role anxiety may play in neurological and vestibular symptoms
Why being your own health advocate is essential, especially when facing chronic or confusing symptoms
The tension between traditional medicine and mind-body considerations
How diagnoses can help… but also sometimes hold you back

This is real-life health talk: messy, human, and honest.

🧠 Dan’s Neurology Mystery: Four Years, Multiple Specialists, Zero Clarity

Since 2020, Dan has dealt with a constellation of symptoms that didn’t quite fit neatly into any one condition:

Chronic imbalance (without vertigo)
Brain fog and light sensitivity
GERD and nausea
Neck and upper-back muscle tightness
Headaches that come and go in waves

Like so many people in the modern healthcare system, he went through rounds of MRIs, follow-up imaging, physical therapy, and piecemeal treatments, yet still had no real answers.

And like many who finally get into a “top” specialist, the stakes felt high:months of waiting, dozens of symptoms, and lingering questions no one had put together.

✨ The Doctor Who Finally Connected the Dots

What made this neurologist different?

He actually read Dan’s MRI reports.He took handwritten notes.He asked dozens of timeline-specific questions.He challenged assumptions.And he looked at the full symptom picture, not just the most recent MRI.

In just 45 minutes, he demonstrated what thoughtful, thorough, patient-centered traditional medicine can look like.

His conclusion?A diagnosis Dan had never been offered before, even after seeing multiple neurologists:

Migraine Without Aura (Vestibular-Type Symptoms Included)

This type of migraine can present not with flashing lights or traditional visual auras, but with:

Imbalance
Sensory sensitivity
Nausea
Episodic headaches
Muscle tension
Cognitive fog

It was the first time someone had tied all the symptoms into one cohesive narrative rather than treating each individually.

😬 Anxiety, the Nervous System & the Symptom Loop

One of the most interesting, and unexpected parts of the appointment was the neurologist’s discussion of baseline anxiety.

Not the “I have a deadline, I’m stressed” kind.But the subtle, constant, background hum that so many people live with daily without noticing.

Sandi reflects on her own experience with chronic anxiety and the way the nervous system can amplify symptoms. Their conversation explores:

How anxiety can heighten neurological symptoms
Why chronic stress may mimic or worsen medical conditions
The mind-body connection conventional medicine often overlooks
Why many people don’t realize they live in a constant state of activation

Whether or not medication becomes part of the plan, the awareness itself becomes a powerful insight.

💊 Treatment Recommendations… and Real Talk About Options

The neurologist suggested:

A low-dose Lexapro to help regulate general anxiety
A nausea medication for episodes associated with headaches
Continued monitoring of migraine symptoms

Dan shares openly why he’s hesitant about jumping into an SSRI immediately (side effects, uncertainty, the desire for more exploration) and the relief he gets from myofascial work and muscular release techniques, another reminder that healing is rarely linear and often multi-layered.

🙋‍♂️ Why This Visit Mattered

This appointment didn’t magically fix everything, but it did something almost as important:

It gave Dan a coherent explanation, a direction, and a sense that someone was actually paying attention.

For anyone navigating chronic illness, dizziness, neurological symptoms, or years of unanswered questions, that kind of validation is transformative.

👥 The Bigger Message: You Deserve a Doctor Who Listens

This episode is a reminder that…

You are allowed to ask questions
You are allowed to challenge your doctor
You are allowed to take time before starting medications
You are allowed to get second (or third) opinions
You should not accept being rushed out of a room
And you should absolutely be your own best advocate

Traditional medicine has enormous value, but it shines brightest when paired with curiosity, connection, and a full-picture approach.

💬 Favorite Moment From the Episode

“Good doctors are good doctors. They ask the right questions. They challenge assumptions. And they see you as a whole person...not a symptom checklist.”

🎧 Listen to the Episode

Catch the full Thanksgiving mini-episode on your favorite platform:

Apple Podcasts
YouTube
Or listen directly on our website

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