Finding a Primary Care Doc.
HP kid 1
Does anyone have any ideas on how to find a PC Doc who is REALLY informed about
FM? I had no trouble being diagnosed but when I changed insurance I had to
find a new Doc. In the last three or so years I have been to a number of Docs
who claim knowledge but then after about 2 or 3 months of difficulty in
managing symptoms they just seem to give up.
I'd really like to find a health care team who would be supportive in my search
to find the best way to manage my symptoms. Is there any referral services
where I can get the name of a Doc, PT, MT, or Chriopractor who works with FM
patients in my area-(L.A/San Fernando Valley, CA)
Please E-Mail any info to me: HPk...@aol.com
Thanks,
Linda
Joan_at_home
Nancy--Do they have stuff on Canada, too? I just got the name of an FM
doc in toronto but would like some options if it doesn't work out.
Thanks
"Joan@home"
> Call The Fibromyalgia Network, they keep a database of health care specialists and
> groups/patient contact people and will send you a list from your state. That's how
> I found my doctor and I didn't have to "shop around". They also have a newsletter
>
Nancy
Linda
Call The Fibromyalgia Network, they keep a database of health care specialists and
groups/patient contact people and will send you a list from your state. That's how
I found my doctor and I didn't have to "shop around". They also have a newsletter
you can subscribe to ($12.00 per year)and a free information packet. The # is
800-853-2929.
Hope this helps.
Nancy from Illinois.
Richard van Why
Joan_at_home wrote:
>
> Nancy--Do they have stuff on Canada, too? I just got the name of an FM
> doc in toronto but would like some options if it doesn't work out.
> Thanks
> "Joan@home"
>
> > groups/patient contact people and will send you a list from your state. That's how
> > I found my doctor and I didn't have to "shop around". They also have a newsletter
> >
I've had FM for nine years and now earn my living by teaching
interdisciplinary groups of FM patients and family members and health
care professionals how to work together to get the best results in
care.
If you were to visit my website at www.erols.com/fibrosym and follow
it to "Recommended" and "Recommended Physicians" you will find a few
excellent rheumatologists in Toronto. Hugh Smythe, MD, a
rheumatologist and Harvey Moldovsky, MD, a psychiatrist and noted
sleep scholar, are the two scholar clinicians who in 1976 revived the
idea of FM and gave rise to our current interest in it. Smythe I am
told has an excellent bedside manner. There are two excellent scholar
clinicians in Montreal, which is a very long ride for you. I believe
they are affiliated with the University of Montreal. Avoid Simon
Carette, MD, Rheumatology in Montreal. He was a FM scholar but has
suffered from great burnout to the notion of FM and currently speaks
publicly in a derisive way cocerning it.
If you'd like to talk shop about these matters privately feel free to
email me.
Rich van Why, RN, MDiv, MLS
Richard van Why
Nancy wrote:
>
> Linda
>
> Call The Fibromyalgia Network, they keep a database of health care specialists and
> groups/patient contact people and will send you a list from your state. That's how
> I found my doctor and I didn't have to "shop around". They also have a newsletter
> 800-853-2929.
> Hope this helps.
>
> Nancy from Illinois.
>
> HP kid 1 wrote:
>
> > Does anyone have any ideas on how to find a PC Doc who is REALLY informed about
> > FM? I had no trouble being diagnosed but when I changed insurance I had to
> > find a new Doc. In the last three or so years I have been to a number of Docs
> > who claim knowledge but then after about 2 or 3 months of difficulty in
> > managing symptoms they just seem to give up.
> >
> > I'd really like to find a health care team who would be supportive in my search
> > to find the best way to manage my symptoms. Is there any referral services
> > where I can get the name of a Doc, PT, MT, or Chriopractor who works with FM
> > patients in my area-(L.A/San Fernando Valley, CA)
> >
> > Please E-Mail any info to me: HPk...@aol.com
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Linda
I have had FM for nine years and make my living by teaching
interdisciplinary gatherings of health care professionals and FM
patients how to work together to get the most out of treatment.
Visit my website at www.erols.com/fibrosym and go to "Recommended"
and "Recommended Physicians" There you will find a short list of
physicians in the LA basin who according to Fibromyalgia Alliance of
America are thought to be knowledgeable concerning FM and
compassionate. I don't remember who they are right now, but there is
one in Northridge, the place where there was a big earthquake some
years ago and at least one at UCLA.
I hope this info helps.
Steve Emerson
Richard van Why <fibr...@erols.com> wrote:
: I have had FM for nine years and make my living by teaching
: patients how to work together to get the most out of treatment.
: Visit my website at www.erols.com/fibrosym and go to "Recommended"
: and "Recommended Physicians" There you will find a short list of
: physicians in the LA basin who according to Fibromyalgia Alliance of
: America are thought to be knowledgeable concerning FM and
: compassionate.
I suggest folks avoid other people's recommendations for doctors
without knowing the treatment philosophy preferences of the
person/organization doing he suggesting. I suggest people first decide
on the treatment philosophy of their choice, and then pursue
various doctors who practice that particular approach.
Simply choosing by name is to let someone else decide
what will be the nature of the treatment you will receive. I
recommend a conscious choice on this matter.
Steve
spo...@nmia.com
I suspect I have this here thing, but I need to ask my primary doc for a
referral. Shes an OBGYN and entirely ignorant of Fibromyalgia. I have a
neurologist for the migraines but I suspect I need...an orthopedist? An
endocrenologist? WHAT? I see references to docs but what specialty would
best serve me at this phase. My main complaint at this time is neck and
back pain and fatigue. Blah.
RickMo3
My suggestion would be that you schedule a visit with a rheumatologist. If you
don't know of one in your area thre are a few options available. You can
request a list of FM friendly docs from this ng or you can call your local
hospital. Many hospitals have their own ih-house referral service. Not the
most reliable method though.
******Half FUll, Half m.T. ******
MAureen
Rickmo3
Gene Lyons
If a rheumie don't help you, try an osteopath.
MarilynK
A Rheumatologist is usually well-versed on FMS, but since you have fatigue,
I would suggest an Infectious Disease doc.
FWIW. YMMV
Hugs, Marilyn
CFIDS/FMS Info Page
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/6028
Moira A Smith
Here is some information about how to find a Fibro-friendly doctor:
The Fibromyalgia Alliance of America (FMAA), a well known national,
non-profit organization, can refer you to doctors, other health care
professionals and support groups for FMS. Contact the FMAA by email at
Masaa...@aol.com. Include your full name, address & phone number.
They will snail mail to you the information you request along with a
packet of FMS info.
The Fibromyalgia Network also has a list of doctors. You can order it
free from them at PO Box 31750, Tucson, AZ 85751-1750, (800) 853-2929,
Fax (520) 290-5550.
Co-Cure has a CFS/FM Good Doctor List. It is actually a collection of
lists, each one for a spcifig state/province/region. The master index
is a file called DOC_LST. To get this index, send an email to
LIST...@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU with the command: GET CO-CURE-SCIENCE
DOC_LST Then find the name of the file for the country and
state/province/region you live in and send for it. (If the country,
state or province you live in doesn't appear in the master index, this
means that no physicians have yet been recommended for that area.)
Hope this helps all those looking for a good primary care doctor or
specialist.
Moira
_______________________________________________________________
Moira A Smith Canberra, Australia mas...@spirit.com.au
Moira's Canberra Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Page
____________http://www.spirit.net.au/~masmith/_________________
MarilynK
My comment (referring to the possibility of going to an Infectious Disease
doc because of the fatigue) has to do with some folks' experience that the
"persistent fatigue" of FMS needs to be evaluated to see whether it is the
"extreme fatigue for longer than 6 months" of CFIDS.
My experience, and others I've heard, is that some Rheumy's will not
diagnose CFIDS even when the symptoms slap them up side the head.
How we are diagnosed seems to be dependent on which kind of doctor we see,
don't you think?
There's a great article written by Albert Donnay on that subject that's
available via dejanews.
Hope this was helpful.
--
Steve Emerson
MarilynK <mari...@email.msn.com> wrote:
: A Rheumatologist is usually well-versed on FMS, but since you have fatigue,
: I would suggest an Infectious Disease doc.
IMO it would be premature to make decsions about what is
causing a symptom, such as fatigue. Fatigue has a plethora of causes.
My own belief is that a person who has this systemic
illness, which appears to have multiple causes and
multiple contributing factors, will benefit most by
a doctor who is willing to address ALL relevant factors
and who does not have particular professional
or intellectual boundaries which confine his investigation
or treatment. My own preference is to get OUT of the speciziation
slots which tend to narrow the vision of various
physicians. I prefer a physican who places equal value
on infectious disease and mitochondrial insufficency
and allergy and non-refreshing sleep all as causes/contributors of
fatigue and FM symptoms. The more open and inclusive and integrative his
thinking, in _my view_, the better. Nature doesn't play favorites.
The best doctor IMO is NOT the doctor who is only willing to
see and deal with that which suits him, but to see and deal
with the full reality. That's the challenge of FM.
Steve