Dr. in Austin, TX

[sunshine007]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good Hematologist or Gastroenterologist in the Austin area?  I've been waiting to see another gastro, one that only does treatment for Hep C, for three weeks and now I just was informed that he will be out of town the week I was due to see him so I was rescheduled for two more weeks out.  If no one knows a good recommendation, how do I go about finding a good doctor?  I've already been seen by one gastro who did my liver biopsy, but he referred me over to another Dr. for the treatment.  Thanks for any input you may have!

[GrandmaA]

Check in your yellow pages under physicians. The specialists are usually listed in the back.

[Algernon]

I'm in Austin and just finished TX with Dr. Imitaz Alam.  He devotes most of his practice to Hep C.  

Just in case that's the guy who left town (he travels a lot to lecture on Hep C), try Dr. Craig Lubin.  He is a very good GI doc who has lots of Hep C patients.  Dr. Lubin is also a very warm person.

Good luck to you.

[sunshine007]

Thanks for the referrals.  I have an appt with Dr. Alam for the second week in September.  How long were you on treatment?  How long did it take from the time you first saw Dr. Alam until the treatment actually started?  How many other blood tests, etc. did you have to do prior to starting.  I've done my biopsy, but I haven't done my labs yet to see which genotype or my viral load yet.  Did you have any bad reactions to the treatment?  Thanks for your information - I really appreciate it!

[sunshine007]

Thank you for your help.  I looked in the phone book but I had no idea which one I should call.  Knowing my luck, I would have called the worst of the bunch.  That's why I hoped someone was from this area.  I had heard about the Dr. Alam that was suggested to me by the other posting so I think I will stick with him.  Anyway, thanks again.

[GrandmaA]

Yes, I'm glad you had a referral. They can really be different and we don't have time to find out about them all. I just changed doctors today myself. I went back to the one who did the biopsy 3 years ago. He was excellent. I just wasn't ready for tx. I don't want a nurse practitioner with the doctor 90 miles away and my insurance paying for a doctor. That's nuts.

[Algernon]

I started treatment right away after seeing Dr. Alam.  But I went there already knowing my biopsy results, genotype, and viral load.

They will do the blood work in his office and I'm sure you'll be able to start right away if you want to.

I had tons of sides, especially anemia, and Alam got me on Procrit for it.  They are BIG advocates of rescue drugs and were always offering more options than I even wanted.  But that's good.

My only complaint is that sometimes it was hard to get a call back right away.  Sometimes I had to keep calling for a day or two.  But they always did get back to me.  Once I learned that I could fax my requests to them--I was much happier because they respond to those very quickly.

Also, they have an amazing nurse named Mandy.  She left to have a baby during my TX but will be back soon.  She is PERFECT.

I saw several specialists before I started TX.  I think Alam knows as much about treating hepc as anyone else in Austin.  

Good luck to you.