Names of Doctors in South Florida

[ParrotPal]

Hello.  Am new to medhelp.  Is there anyone that can help with the names of physicians that can treat, diagnose, or help in any way whatsoever with this in adults?

Thanks.

[LaLa4]

For whatever it's worth, I saw Dr. Cheshire a few years ago.  I don't want to say he was bad or anything, but I personally didn't get anything out of the visit.  He just confirmed that I had POTS and told me to elevate my head when I sleep and do leg strengthening exercises and sent me on my way...  I didn't need the re-confirmation of the diagnosis, I wanted help with it.  He didn't do any further testing.. had he done more he would know that the POTS I have doesn't respond to the typical basic suggestions (head elevation, salt, etc.).  I just went to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and I haven't received the full report yet but they definitely looked much further into the condition.
I live in Miami and have not been able to find anyone at all down here that's been of help.  That's just my own personal experience though.

[highflyin]

This is interesting reading. I am in Melbourne and saw a neurologist last week. He said he wants to send me to Mayo. The nurse called yesterday and said they are making an appt for me. No times yet. I just assumed it will be in JAX. Beter be, anyway. Also be interesting to see which doc they schedule me with. Thanks to you all, at least I now have a name of who I want to see.

[Kavbear]

I've talked to several people at Mayo Jax, they sent my file to Dr. Cheshire to see if he would see me, Mayo MN called, he approved it and they said there is a waiting list and they aren't even adding people to it.
I've even called his department directly to try and schedule and have been sent to the general appointment desk (in MN once you are in you can "sneak" in by calling the departments directly and getting an appointment)
I don't know what you did but you worked some magic I don't have....
What did you say to the general appointment people? Did you have a referral from a local doctor? When you say you got in pretty quickly what does that mean (with Mayo quickly can be months)
Did they have to review your medical records?
I'm sorry to ask so many questions but I am so desperate to get in there.
Unfortunately the three Mayo Clinics are all Mayo Clinics but they aren't connected like you would think.  I have a distant relative that works at the main one and she explained it to me but basically each are autonomous and have different rules (which makes no sense to me, seems like they are reinventing the wheel but there must be a reason)

At this point and with the "flaire" I've been in since August I am about to send everything to Vanderbilt and give them a go ????

[ParrotPal]

Kav31675,
From what you wrote, you should be able to see Dr. Cheshire.  When you call the general appointment desk, make sure you tell the rep that you need his/her help to get to the right doctor. Tell them that you need to see a dysautonomia/AD specialist otherwise you would just see any neuro in your community.  Explain that the Mayo MN gave you the DX and there would be no point in seeing someone at JAX that doesn't specialize.  They were very nice and got me an appt. pretty fast.  If the rep can't figure it out, then hang up and call to speak with another rep that understands.  Good luck.

[Kavbear]

I would SO keep my appointment with Mayo Jax. I know they are not "local" but after going from Central Florida to the main Mayo in MN I have yet to find someone who "really" understands things, I have seen Cardio's that treat POTS, only to be told the Tachycardia is the only symptom they "deal" with. I have currently resorted to an internist who was recommended to me, is willing to defer to and consult with Mayo (this was a huge deal for me, I did not travel across the country to not use the information) and knows a bit about AD, and LISTENS.

I can't even get on the waiting list to see Dr. Cheshire (the Jax Mayo neurologist that I know deals with AD and gives the thumbs up or down to get in) after a referral from the "main" Mayo and his looking at my file and saying he would see me in that department.  They are so backed up that they aren't allowing anyone onto the waiting list to even schedule an appointment.  (Do you know the seconds name?)

My wish is to have an internist here (this new guy seems promising) and travel a few times a year to Jax to get a plan of action that my internist puts into place.  
My dream is to have USF (medical school less then an hour away from me)  expand into AD, but I don't see it happening.

I spent a full two weeks in MN (started with one but needed more specialists and testing once I got there) and because they all have access to all tests and all notes by everyone you see there... things get caught and other specialists are scheduled on the fly. I still call (and fax recent tests, medication changes, and doctors "ideas") back to the assortment of doctors in MN (I got back the end of April) and they call me back and have spent up to an hour talking to me (I can't get my local doctors to do that, MAYBE a nurse calls back with an answer that rarely makes sense or a go to the ER)

[ParrotPal]

Thanks for the info. I had read it prior to posting here.  Sadly it mostly points out who is not good - which is very valuable info since I don't want to waste my time and $ only to cause more stress and anxiety.  There were a couple of good leads in that thread:

NAPLES FLORIDA (not SE Florida though) - SINAN GURSOY MD
U.M. - Dr. Adams (same as Cathyst mentions above).