Im so upset I am scheduled to see a MS specialist on the 12th of October. I just happened to check his patient reviews. bad news ! Not one good comment.now I'm scared to death to even go see him. They say he hates women ! I can't get into a good neurologist in Utah without jumping thru a lot of hoops. My spinal tap came back positive I was looking forward to starting treatment but now I am terrified. Can anyone give me any recomendations of a good neuro in Utah that doesn't take months to get in? Im not even sure if its ok with the monitors to ask for such a thing but it's worth a try.

Twink

Your local MS Society or Association would be able to supply you with a list of doctors in your area.

Twink,

Keep in mind that these reveiws could be made by patients that did not get the answers they wanted or seeking.

It just takes a few bad comments and it can make patients weary.

Ultimately the choice is yours,not all neuro's have the greatest bedside manners,but it doesn't mean they are lacking in skills.

What Dr. didn't work for one,maybe great for another.

You can keep the appointment go get his opinion and if you don't like him you don't have to go back.

The MS society has great resources on MS DRs.

Twink im with Duttin! Keep the appointment. Unless there were thousands of reviews on this board, you only read a very small percentage of them. This doc, probably realistically sees 15 patients a day, 5 days a week thats over 75 patients a week.....do you think they alll hate him? Not likely....besides I dont know where you read these reveiews, but again, dont believe everything you read on the internet...thats why this board is SO great. Its monitored and watched, closely.
See the doctor, but in the meantime, it cant hurt to research others, and maybe even make another appointment, in case you DONT like this particular one....consider it a second opinion. But, Duttin is right. When people dont get the answers they want, they tend to be pretty harsh...
good luck
Nikki

Twink,

I live in Provo and go to a neuro in SLC. Please tell me the name of the neuro that you've heard the bad reviews on. I go to Dr. Thoen at Western Neurological Associates. It took me a while to warm up to him, but I really like him and believe that he knows his stuff. I especially like his PAs too. And as the others have said, keep the appointment you have and if you don't have a good experience, go to another neuro!

I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Good luck. :angel:

Painsucks

YES ! That is who I am going to see. I have since cooled my jets a little and decided to draw my own opinion I guess it just really bothered me to read a bunch of negative remarks about him I am so looking forward to finally getting some help and I really dont want to start allover with Neuro's. Thank you so much for your input. I was so relieved that night to come in here and see that you had posted that it made me feel so much better and if he is a little abrupt and I have a heads up on that I will be ok. My mom called them and the receptionist said that " well, he doesnt sugar coat everything" and some people don't like that. Kinda cool to find someone else on this board that even lives in my same state. Can I ask you what he put you on? and what you are taking? how long have you been DX ? just curious

Twink

Hi Twink!

I had a feeling that he might be the one you were talking about. I wouldn't say that he doesn't like women, although there have been a few times I thought he didn't like me! Hahaha! One thing that is good to know is, if you get in for a morning appointment he is usually much happier than in the afternoon. He is an older gentleman with some health problems of his own and by afternoon he's generally very tired. Now that I know that, I can cut him some slack and I try to see him in the mornings. When you get him to really drill down and talk with you about your specific symptoms and such, he shows that he really does care. I think he is very committed to his patients and is very knowledgeable. Those things are more important than a fun and/or silly bedside manner when dealing with MS, I think.

I am on Copaxone and have been for two years. Tomorrow I am having an MRI because six months ago, I had had no new lesions for two months and was doing pretty well. But in the last six months I have really gone down hill so he wants to see if there are new ones. If so, he said we will probably change that and maybe go to Tysabri. I also take Neurontin, Tramadol, Baclofen and Celexa right now. The Neurontin and Tramadol help a lot with pain and the Celexa is an anti-depressant. The Baclofen is for the muscle spasms or tremors that I have really bad. That helps a lot too.

I started having symptoms in 1994 after a bad car accident. I didn't get an official diagnosis until 2002...and it was Dr. Thoen that diagnosed me.

Good luck, please keep in touch and let me know how things go with your visit!

Painsucks ....


How did your MRI go ? they sure heard you in there like cattle don't they? did you get the fancy eye bean-bag as a parting gift like I did? Thank you so much for all of your advise on Dr. Thone my husband and I read it last night. I have a heads up now as to what to expect. I really don't care about bedside manner as much as do they know what they are doing. After all its my G.P that mostly deals with things. What can you tell me about Dr. THones P.A's ? please tell me Kerry hoyt isnt one of them she did my spinal tap and it took her five pokes afterwards she only had me lie there for an hour I did not like her " flippid" attitude.

thanks so much

Twink

Good morning Twink,

Yesterday's MRI went just fine except they had to poke me twice to get the contrast in. And yes, they do herd you in and out of there like a bunch of cattle! I want to know, what's with the new "shorts" they give you to wear under the gown? Those are a real fashion statement eh? LOL.

Dr. T's PA's names are Emily, (on maternity leave right now) and Tamera, I see Tamera the most and I love her. She's got a great sense of humor and she spends a lot of time just listening which is very important.

I'm glad to be here to help you in any way I can!

:wave:

Please bring your attention to the posting policy.

Please read the posting rules which explain that offering or asking off board contact is not permitted. The boards are to be used for on board sharing, only. The email and private message features are turned off so that use of the message boards remain anonymous. The only contact you may make with members is to post on the board.