- Messages
- 35
I have been waitlisted since October to see Dr. Kaufman at the Center for Complex Diseases in Mountain View and just got a call; they told me Dr. Kaufman is moving to Seattle. They still asked me if I wanted to see him there - I guess people travel to see him, but I would prefer to see somebody local. I have an option to see Dr. Chheda instead, who I understand is the other senior doctor on staff. I have to decide whether to see her in March or take my name off the waitlist.
This is further complicated by some good news - fortunately, in the months that I have been on the waitlist, my worst presenting symptom (the one that drove me to get treatment) - daily dizziness and light-headedness -- has basically gone away on its own, for no special reason, and it happened pretty suddenly. This doesn't mean it can't come back at any time, and for any reason, as I have struggled on and off with these symptoms through periods of my life. I still have other chronic symptoms but they are more manageable.
I'm wondering if forum members might be able to shed some light on any or all of these questions:
1) Is Dr. Chheda a good surrogate for Dr. Kaufman? Any positive experience there? I have done a search history and read some positive and negative things. Feel free to DM me if you want a private discussion.
2) Does it make sense for me to come in when my worst symptom has abided and I'm in (relatively) better shape than I was when I made the appointment? Will things still show up on tests? Can progress still be measured? It might be better to hold on to my $2,000 ($1k per visit with 2 visit minimum, not covered by insurance) until a time when I feel worse, but the problem is that, with the waitlist, there's no guarantee of how I will be feeling when the time comes up to go and see her. Wondering in general how CFS/ME patients deal with this dilemma. Note that I have never been "officially" diagnosed with CFS/ME.
3) Do others feel that it is worth the time and money investment to see a specialist in CFS/ME when there is no known effective cure or treatment anyway. What's the best case scenario that I can hope for?
Appreciate any insights or opinions on these matters. Thanks in advance! Wishing all here the best possible outcome in their health journeys.
Patiently Waiting
This is further complicated by some good news - fortunately, in the months that I have been on the waitlist, my worst presenting symptom (the one that drove me to get treatment) - daily dizziness and light-headedness -- has basically gone away on its own, for no special reason, and it happened pretty suddenly. This doesn't mean it can't come back at any time, and for any reason, as I have struggled on and off with these symptoms through periods of my life. I still have other chronic symptoms but they are more manageable.
I'm wondering if forum members might be able to shed some light on any or all of these questions:
1) Is Dr. Chheda a good surrogate for Dr. Kaufman? Any positive experience there? I have done a search history and read some positive and negative things. Feel free to DM me if you want a private discussion.
2) Does it make sense for me to come in when my worst symptom has abided and I'm in (relatively) better shape than I was when I made the appointment? Will things still show up on tests? Can progress still be measured? It might be better to hold on to my $2,000 ($1k per visit with 2 visit minimum, not covered by insurance) until a time when I feel worse, but the problem is that, with the waitlist, there's no guarantee of how I will be feeling when the time comes up to go and see her. Wondering in general how CFS/ME patients deal with this dilemma. Note that I have never been "officially" diagnosed with CFS/ME.
3) Do others feel that it is worth the time and money investment to see a specialist in CFS/ME when there is no known effective cure or treatment anyway. What's the best case scenario that I can hope for?
Appreciate any insights or opinions on these matters. Thanks in advance! Wishing all here the best possible outcome in their health journeys.
Patiently Waiting