What do you think of this neurologist?

[jumpinjiminy]

He takes Medicare and Medicaid patients. To me, that's a sign he's in it for the love of medicine and serving the community more than the money, especially in this state where it takes years for them to pay for services rendered.

He's not an MS specialist, but he has done a fellowship in neurophysiology and neuro-ophthalmology. He teaches general neurology, otolaryngology, and PT/movement sciences. His office specializes in dizziness and balance. He's authored and co-authored dozens of papers, and has a couple dozen videos and images on his website detailing different ear/neurology problems with detailed medical explanations.

And he has a video on his website where he talks about how he loves patients that come in after doing research on the internet about their symptoms and have thoughts on what might be the problem.

Since I've had problems with one ear for so long, if he could just drill down to figure out why it is malfunctioning, maybe it would help answer some of the other questions. My neuro liked the sound of this one, and wrote the referral.

[jumpinjiminy]

I sure hope he turns out just like you describe. This will be my fifth consult since last year. The local neuro is just following me clinically. I don't think he intends on trying to diagnose anything and wanted me to go up a level to the research centers. He wanted me to go to Mayo, but that's out of the cards for now.

[essdipity]

On paper, or on line, he sounds great. I would definitely go for an appointment. But it's what he's like in person that counts.

If he listens to you, asks you questions and lets you ask them in return; if he doesn't hurry you through; if he does a really thorough neuro exam; if he reads MRIs himself and discusses yours with you; if he orders rule-out tests and other tests depending on your symptoms; and if he refers you further if he has no answers, then I would consider him a good neuro.

And of course, he shouldn't fit into any of the negative categories in Quix's Lies My Neuro Told Me thread. A good MS neuro will have accurate and timely knowledge of MS.

This is a lot to ask, but still it's what we're paying for, and it's a level they should meet. So many don't, and that's why we (most of us) go from doctor to doctor before getting answers.

I do hope this one meets all your expectations and more. Best of luck with this.

ess

[jumpinjiminy]

Thank you. All very good points. His website kind of needs a little help, to tell you the truth. He could use a pro to polish it up some. LOL. Other than that, I know he has privileges at the hospital where he teaches. He is the otoneurologist at the neurology clinic associated with the research hospital and medical school.

[Sumanadevii]

Due to my own experience, I would want to know what hospitals he is affiliated with and call to make sure he does indeed practice there.  The neuro I sat with for three and one half years had a wonderful website.  He advertises in his site that he was the "founding father" of the neuro department in a new smaller hospital but connected to a larger hospital in a city much further from us.  

He may have been there for a time but later we found he had not practiced there for years.  He wasn't with any hospital.  That is why he kept sending me to jack in the box places for my MRI's....who did not have machines higher than a 1.5.  At one point he told me maybe my fatigue was heart related.  He wanted a stress test.  Of course the jack in the box testing places do not have nuclear stress tests available.  So he tells me I will just have to do the stress test and do my best...I was hardly able to walk!!!

You truly may have found a gem.  My only warning is to be sure to check him out...which hospitals, etc.

[jumpinjiminy]

Cloned x 10,000. You would think it would be easier finding a neurologist, but when you have so many issues going on and everyone says it's not MS, it's very hard to find a specialist that can address most of the problems. I'm excited about this one and hope he can either figure this out or help me find the neurologist that can and will.

[Lulu54]

I think he sounds like a doctor who needs to be cloned.  The world could use more of these good guys