| Posted by Ruth D. Barth ® , Jan 02,2002,08:02 |
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I have been scouting for a neuro-opthalmologist for a couple of months in spite of the general uncooperativeness of my eye doctor (on vacation, doesn't believe I have a real problem etc.) At last he referred me to a doctor in a neighboring city that I had tried to get into see on advice of the Blepharospasm Society.It was amazing how nice the new doctor's office was to me once I had the referral (they had previously told me their doctor was booked up for six months and I would have to see his assistant who wasn't even a neuro-opthalmologist).
I have to wait until March, but that sounds good to me.
In Connecticut, everything is cut and dried and you have to go by the book. My insurance does not require a referral but the doctors do.
Anyway, happy New Year to all of you.
Re: At Last, a Referral!
that's good news , ruth. too bad you had to do so much of the work on this one.
Re: At Last, a Referral!
Hi Ruth:
I'm glad you finally found a doc. March is not so bad - Mom waited 6 months to see her NYC specialist the first time!
I just heard back from the woman who sees a Neuro-Opthamologist in Waterbury. You might want to keep these guys in mind. She said they were very good and were able to diagnose her BEB right away. Their botox seems to do the trick and they will give the shots as soon as you feel like you need them (as opposed to the doc Mom sees who only gives them every 3 months - ugh).
Dr. Lesser or Dr. Levada 203-597-9100.
Dr. Levada also teaches at Yale.
Good luck to you.
Kerry in CT
Re: At Last, a Referral!
Hi Kerry:It is Dr. Lesser who I have an appointment with. Small world! Thanks for helping me. I hope I'll get some kind of diagnosis. Is mom doing any better now? It is great she has you for support.
Re: At Last, a Referral!
Hi Ruth:
Wow this is a small world. If your appointment goes anything like the woman from West Hartford, he should be able to tell you right away if it is BEB. She had gone for a year without a diagnosis - and her husband is even an eye doctor - although he is a retina specialist! She said she was presenting with tough symptoms to diagnose at that time - dry eyes and light sensitivity. The blinking came later. Dr. Lesser was able to tell her for sure what she was dealing with. She now gets pretty good relief with botox for about 5 weeks.
Mom is still not one of the "botox babies" as she calls them. She hasn't had much luck with it, but we are trying craino-sacral therapy and it looks really promising - at least for some stress relief - and maybe more. We found the therapist on www.upledger.com by looking there for a practioner with "ADV" credentials (they are listed by state). The institute that trains the therapists recommended the "ADV" as those who have completed advanced training. So far Mom has been to one session which she found extremely relaxing. She is feeling better now than before the holidays, but she also just stopped taking baclofen which made her feel like she was "living in the land of nod".
Bottom line here, I guess, is that we have HOPE that she will improve. Mom is my best friend and I would do ANYTHING to make this disease go away for her. Luckily she is crazy enough to try some of the wild things I have signed her up for.
I hope you have a bunch of good eye days ahead!
Kerry in CT - waiting for some snow
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