I've challenged my Neurologist on my migraines before and I challenge my Psychiatrist on my mental health every time I see him. I believe heavily in patient autonomy, with my migraines I knew I was right (cause being analgesic induced migraines) as opposed to being instructed to take Tramadol, Paracetamol, Naproxen and Sumatriptan to combat migraines.
Re: my psychiatrist I knew for a fact that increasing my dosage of Agomelatine/Valdoxan (25mg to 50mg) was causing me increased lucid dreaming by increasing dopamine levels in the frontal cortex. The answer was to drop my Agomelatine/Valdoxan back down to 25mg. Instead he was keen on px'ing me an anti-psychotic (quetiapine) to pretty much knock me out every night).
Furthermore I suffered a slipped disc last November, and just 3 days ago was lugging a wardrobe upstairs and my back gave way. I insisted on oral-morphine for the pain but my GP refused this and px'd me Dihydrocodeine and valium - despite me insisting that I've always been a poor metaboliser of Codeine, Tramadol and Dihydrocodeine in the past and that Oramorph was the best thing to prescribe me.
I guess not everyone is as confident as me in challenging their GP or consultant. I've always read heavily around the medical literature and educated myself. I go privately for most of my healthcare and when I'm paying £250 for a 20 minute appointment with my neurologist to shrug his shoulders I think it's incredibly important to challenge him and get the best care available.
If you're not being treated as best as you could be, NHS or otherwise, stand up for yourself, challenge your consultant and DON'T take no for an answer.
Patient Autonomy > Consultant's Thoughts