Advice needed in CA. Please help...thank you

[julz2bug]

Hello everyone,

Please be patient with me....I think I didn't copy this right the first time from "Not Yet Diagnosed". If it shows up, I am sorry.

I've been reading about Dr. Daniel Wallace and he is on my insurance (PPO), so I am planning on calling tomorrow to make an appt. I am about 3 hours from LA, but am willing to travel. When/if he accepts me as a new patient, I have all lab work from December...should I bring that along with any and all of the medical records that I can get? I am at my wit's end. Local rhuem. flat out told me that he had no idea what was wrong with me. I have heard Lupus, Fibro, chronic fatigue. My ANA has been positive since I was 17 years old (now 33 years old). I was diagnosed with severe depression 2000 and have been on anti-depressants/anti anxiety meds ever since. I had ECT (electro-convulsive therapy....31 treatments), so my memory is completely shot, but it seems to be getting worse and I don't know if this is from the ECT or something else. My spelling was once flawless and now I know what word I want to type or write, but what I get on paper is completely wrong. I am now experiencing migraines with nausea, terrible lower back pain, losing weight, unbelievable fatigue. Also, I have been experiencing what sounds like pluerisy since I was little. I was always told that it was growing pains, but I think I am done growing by now! I have been treated with Plaquenil/Relafen/short course of steriods. I am just hoping some of this sounds familiar to someone else. This will be the 2nd time I have had to drop out of college because of illness. I can't work very much. I know I am ranting, but I am soooo tired of all of this and doctors telling me different things. I can't work because of this and having to continually go to different doctors is expensive, so I would like to go to someone that can actually help me and not look at me like I am a nut-ball. If there is a doctor who is good and is closer to the central coast of CA, please let me know. I know of a good neuro in Santa Barbara, but no one has ever told me to see one regarding autoimmune stuff. Any thoughts, suggestions, ideas, jokes, rants, would be appreciated. Thank you so much for reading.

Take care and thanks for listening,
Julie

[raggedyann1]

Julie,

I live in Ventura and travel to Los Angeles to see Dr. Wallace. I have not heard any good things about rheumatologists in Santa Barbara or Ventura Counties. Dr. W is worth every minute and mile that you drive. He will work with your local GP or Neuro or whoever in coordinating your treatment. He does insist on doing his own blood work, some in his office and the panels go the Rheumatological Lab in Los Angeles. It is about consistency and accuracy on the blood test issue.

By now you have probably called for an appointment. He only sees new patients on Wednesdays and won't take calls from regular patients on that day unless it is an emergency. He does this so he can stay focused on new patients and he will spend a good deal of time with you on your first appointment.

I just think that anyone who lives within a few hours drive of any top Lupus Specialist that they should go see them. You are talking about doctors not just dr. Wallace who are involved in current research and are very, very up to date on treatment. Also when you are complicated ( I am ) only a very top lupus doctor will diagnose and treat you accurately. There are at least 2 dozen rheumy's in the USA that would fall into that category I am probably really low on that estimate.

Let us know how things go.

Take care,
Karen

[julz2bug]

Karen,

Thank you very much for your reply. I did make an appointment and will be seen on Wednesday, March 1. The office staff that I spoke to was extremely nice and polite. I called another office yesterday and was told that after I run around and get all of my records to this other doctor, he would decide whether he wanted to take me or not. I had no references on him and got his number from my insurance website. That is why I am so grateful to have found this site and read about Dr. Wallace. My doctors experiences as of late have been less then stellar, leaving me frustrated and even more stressed then I was. I breathed a sigh of relief this morning after calling Dr. Wallace's office. Now, I am just focusing on taking care of myself, eating well, and exercising when I can until then. Although, I am fighting a nap now style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

Thank you again!
~Julie

[Athena's Memory]

I TOO NEED A RHEUMATOLOGIST IN LOS ANGELES CA, PRFERABLY ON THE EAST SIDE..

PLEASE - IF YOU KNOW A RHEUM AT CITY OF HOPE, GLENDALE ADVENTIST, WHITE MEMORIAL, DOWNEY (INTER-PRESYBTERIAN?) WHO TREATS CNS SLE PLEASE LET ME KNOW (USC d0oes not treat CNS Lupus)



Thanks so much,

Cats

[raggedyann1]

Cats,

Besides Dr. Wallace UCLA has lupus specialists but research would have to be done as not all their rheumatologists specialize in lupus.
Karen

[Athena's Memory]

RaggedyAnn1,

Thanks for taking the time to answer me.

Unfortunately I am all alone and UCLA is even further than my current Rheumy. I have been too sick to drive for almost a year. I need a doctor on the EAST side of LA County.

Cats

[classicgirl29]

i know you said ucla is too far, but i am seeing a lupus specialist there on thursday. has anyone heard of dr. mihaela taylor? she was recommended by a colleague of dr. wallace.

i will let you know if she is good or not.... whatever you do--be verrry careful if you ever go to loma linda.

carol