After Dr. Szanto left I switched to Dr. Rabiee since he is TOUCH certified for Tysabri. He was very kind and attentive, however, it is very difficult to get through to his office staff for any reason which is extremely frustrating!
I made the tough decision to have my MS care in the hands of UC Davis Neurology. I made the right decision! My impression of Dr. Michelle Apperson was a very good one. She's young and very easy to talk to. I felt her knowledge of MS was right on. She felt everything I was doing to keep the MS at bay, was good. YEA! One of my concerns was the distance, she understood that and gave me her email address. The drive to Sacramento isn't too bad, as long as you don't get lost and show up 45 minutes late for your appointment at 8am! Not too good of a first impression.
F.Y.I. To go to UC Davis, you will need a referral from your doc. I have heard they aren't accepting new patients, but I think if you want to go, try it!
I'm having a very difficult time with Dr. Rabiee. I'm still a patient of his but I've also seen a neuro consult at Stanford this year and also saw Dr. Hassid at Institute of Restorative Health in Davis, CA--but my insurance isn't covering him so can't go right now. I liked him a lot though!!! Dr. Rabiee can be very kind but he's very quiet and doesn't exert a lot of opinions really. I've found that I can handle him because i'm a nurse and I tend to go in with certain questions and can steer him certain ways if I need to. But I've had friends and family members go to him for non-MS things , like my daughter who had brain surgery , and he was really not effective for following her care. And most of this whole year of 2008 I've been trying to get into his office and I still can't get in until January and I made my appointment in July. Even when I was horribly sick with 3 infections after my Tysabri dose I couldn't get in to see him, he just ordered some labs and told me to stop the med. I have been off work and worsening ever since and still couldn't get into see MY neurologist. I realize how busy he is because 2 other local neuros left the area, but I'm sitting her not on any treatment now and it hasn't been a good year.
I'm very curious about the U.C. Davis option. I never even though about trying there because the STanford Neuros make it very clear that they are there for consulting but cannot take over primary Neuro care so I assumed the same for a hospital like U.C. Davis. It is very frustrating not having good care here, but I have been to U.C. Davis for a cardiologist this year and to Stanford for Neuro and Rheumatology (3 times) so traveling is starting to be the norm LOL! Good luck with docs everyone! Sara
P.S. Beth, I saw your comment about not getting there late and the first impression, it made me smile lol. We have been stressed about things like that because of going back and forth to Stanford for me lately and UCSF for hubby. I have to figure out a way to get my husband to downtown UCSF for a "sleep deprived EEG" and an EMG by 8 am. I have to keep him awake for 24 hours first, and one of us has to drive, and since he usually is my chauffeur due to my symptoms, well, it'll be an interesting experience to say the least! lol
Does anyone know much about Dr. Birk? He is my neuro and sometimes I feel like I am not getting much in the way of communication or info. I was diagnosed a year ago and so far it has kinda been frustrating. Last appt. he actually asked me why I was not on any other meds other than the zanaflex and I said "You're the doctor, u tell me!" At which point he just prescribed me headache meds for the incredible migraine type headaches I get almost daily and said that we will see how that does for now. I don't have a clue what meds I should or should not be taking. I feel like I know nothing much about what to do regarding ms and am frustrated with the lack of communication, so I end up just going on each day and trying to just handle whatever comes up and just get through the day. Sorry .. venting.. just very very exhausted today.