There is a good website that people have given good/bad recommendations about neuros. I cant recall exactly the name. I think some people might know it, cant think of the name right now. It is something like neurorating? I will look into it more and see if I can find it.
Michelle
Can you tell me where in Upstate NY? I'm up along Lake Ontario, and I know anything more than an hour north of NYC is called "Upstate" :-)
~Jess
Thanks girls!! I live in the utica/rome area.. It is 45 mins. from syracuse and an hour away from albany. I appreciate anyones input.
Pam
I wish I had a name or two for you. You could check the mscare.org website for member groups in that area. At least you would know they are specialists in MS.
good luck, Lulu
Thanks, I will check that out. Pam
I have been told that Dr Goodman at Univ of Rochester MS Clinic - Upstate Medical Center- is good. I have also been told that his PA is very good.
I have seen a doc at the same MS clinic - Dr. Garbern - he spends about 2 hours with me each time he has seen me. Very softspoken and thoughtful. The clinic itself seems to operate very slowly as far as referrals for testing, meds approval from insurance, etc.
PS - If you want any more info re how it's going at the Rochester clinic, send me a private messge. Also, I have a name for a doc at Syr Upstate MS center, and a MS specialist in Albany. Let me know if you want those names as well.
I've seen Dr. Goodman...or I saw the resident first and then him briefly. They "consulted" outside the room after he saw me, the resident came back in and implied my problem was anxiety. (Yes, I'm a bit bitter on that.) He was not willing to think outside the box with me and pretty much told me to come back if I woke up blind or paralyzed. Maybe if you show more classic symptoms of MS he is a better fit? (I did not show classic symptoms at that time.)
My neuro is in Henrietta NY. He has a reputation for aggressively going after a diagnosis and also aggressively treating. The down side is he wants to see you right away if you have a symptom start up, which on the one hand is wonderful, but you can be sure there will be a 2+ hour minimum wait for your appointment. And, if you are scheduled in the afternoon they recommend you call to see how far behind they are running. I plan on being there for most the day.
Let me know if you would like more info on him :-)
~Jess
I have the name of a website specifically limited to ratings of MS neurologists: People from all over the country rate their MS neurologists there, pros or cons.
It is called: MSNeuroRatings.com You need to sign up and be given a password for it.
I have gone there and found that their ratings tend to be on-target for the neuros I have experienced in my part of the country.
I have fond memories of upstate New York - specifically Binghamton - where my beloved mother-in-law lived. My "ex" lives there now and it only took him 1 1/2 months to get diagnosed with his neuro condition (Parkinson), but, of course, he had passed his maximum age for being able to receive disability.
I'm tossing a big snowball to you in upstate New York from snowy Utah,
WAF
I meant to mention to you that I was directed to the above website, I believe, by Quix (giving credit where credit is due).
WAF
I have heard Dr. Goodman. I hear he is good, but of course like you said Jess, some drs. will want to wait until you have serious problems.
You guys are awesome!! I have been searching and searching and have come up with not a whole lot of choices and uncertainty.
Jess, Is your dr. a ms specialist?
Wiggles, i will message you, I want to find out more.
Thanks so much, Pamela
I went to the website MSNeuroRatings (because I had not been there for quite some time) and had forgotten my log-in information. But I thought I could view the info anyway, so I navigated around and found . . . nothing for New York. Then I was able to locate my log-in information and logged in. Then I tried checking listings for New York: There was a pageful of listings. So you need to establish your identify and log in with it to get any information there.
WAF
thanks WAF,, I appreciate it!! I will check it out.
I just noticed that you sent more info. above, It must have been when my kids were distracting me and I didn't see it.
Thanks for the snowball,,, !!! LOL We have no snow yet, My kids are alittle disappointed!
Pamela,
He is a neuro-ophthalmologist. He specializes in hard to diagnose patients. He does have a good majority of MS patients, his wife also has MS.
I like him a lot and wouldn't consider switching, although the wait times can get annoying.
~Jess
Thank you Jess, I am hoping now to get in at the MS clinic in Rochester, I guess we'll see how that goes! My neuro. that I see regularly is in Utica. He actually seems to be getting better with his listening skills with me, but I think he is still waiting for the "Big Punch" before he rests on his final answer.
It's good to know you like your doc. I don't think I am familiar where Henrietta is?
Thanks for everything!
Hugs, Pam
My neuro dx'd me but wanted me to get a 2nd opinion and recommended Fred Lublin out of Mt. Sinai, however, I had already lined up my 2nd at Hopkins. I've heard he is very good.
Did you end up getting one line up?
-shell
I called a couple of days ago to set up with Dr. Goodman and is PA Tom Moose, and I was told by someone from there to make sure I specify the two of them. Anyway, the girl told me that I needed a referral. I called my GP's office and they said that they would do that for me.
Still waiting. I hope I can see him. I am due to have my double whammy eye surgery combined with sinuses on Jan. 26th, and I usually have an attack following surgeries, so who knows, maybe it will happen when I am scheduled to see them.
Not that I wish for that, but It is bound to happen and what better time than when seeing an ms specialist, right?? !! LOL