Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion List your great doc here! Any Rheumy recommendations in Austin, TX

Hi All,
Just wondering if anyone might know of a great Rheumy in Austin, TX.
Lynn

I'm sorry, I think I posted this in the wrong forum...but don't know how to move it or delete it!

Hi, Lynn - I'm mostly answering because no one else has yet

I see Dr. Fudman in Austin. Everyone looks for different things in their ideal doctor, and I typically look for more rapport with mine than I get with Fudman so far (I've only seen him a handful of times) so I'd hesitate to call him "great" without knowing what you're looking for.

That said, I've read a lot of horror stories on here about women with (I feel) even more clinical evidence of disease than I have whose docs refuse to DX them just because they're female. In that way, I feel very fortunate with Fudman. I'm an HLA b27 pos woman with classic symptoms but without any significant X-ray-evident spine damage yet, and not only did he diagnose me but he's always referred to it as AS, not undiff, pre-AS or other spondy (he remarked I could have any of the spectrum and that we'll likely be narrowing down over time. It just doesn't seem to be his focus, he's more concerned with treating it than labeling it.) I also like that -- again, unlike some of the rheumies complained about on this site -- he doesn't appear to put me in some subcategory that he takes less seriously simply because my disease/damage hasn't progressed far yet. He brought up DMARDs/biologics on my second visit. Bonus points: I've never had to wait at my appointment, and the staff is nice.

But, again: not the most charismatic guy, not super interested in all my symptoms if he doesn't think they're significant, and I can't speak to his performance longterm or whether (e.g.) he's helpful with pain management, etc. But so far I'm happy.

Thanks Dade,

I think I am getting good treatment from my current Doctor, but I've seen him for a year and 1/2 and he has never given me a physical exam. That just seems a little strange to me ... like how will he know if I am losing function? I feel a little 'guilty', I guess, for seeking out someone else, but ... something tells me I should...

I transferred from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and Dr. Amin (female) always had me put on a gown and took measurements on my flexibility. So, that is why I am wondering about this doc. Like, how often should you have an MRI, for example?

Anyway, I was thinking, if a friend was in my position, I'd probably tell her to 'interview' another doctor. I have a recommendation for Dr. Paul Pickrell. The directory on this website lists Alysson McDonough.

I think I will try Alysson first, because maybe what I'm looking for will come with visiting a female?

Lynn

I am also looking for a Rheumy in Austin. Lynn did you ever go to see Alysson? If anyone has any ideas please let me know. I have been diagnosed with sacroiliitis but not AS yet. The painha is getting pretty bad so I really need to find out what's going on.

Thanks,
Monica

I am currently healing from my second Uveitis inflammation in as many months here in Austin. My opthamologist did some blood tests to see what is triggering it and the test came back as HLA-B27 positive. He just left it at that for he had to go into surgery, so I haven't learned much more than that about it. I was given more drops and told to come back in a week. I am looking for a Rheumy in Austin just to see if there is more to this. I am 34 and have never been to the hospital for anything until this year. I have had severe SI joint pain that required weeks of PT, a colonoscopy due to what I thought was sudden lactose intolerance, hip pain, and eczema on my legs. I was hoping someone could share their favorite Austin Rheumy with me? Thanks!