update

[Guest guest]

The allergist/immunoligist I saw turns out to be one of the kindest and most thorough docs I've encountered. What a surprise. (On the other hand, sometimes the docs who've helped me most have been outside the specialty which would seem most ovious. For example, many years ago I got nowhere with orthopedic docs, but found a sports medicine doc who dx'd and fixed a herniated disc w/o surgery).

This new doc has arranged appointments for me to rule out obvious stuff. I'm having a CT scan of my sinuses today and have an appointment with a neurologist next week for the migraines. I will also have allergy testing done before moving on to immune system stuff. He also asked me about my previous bacterial test results and asked if I'd been treated by an infectious disease specialist. That's ridiculously thorough compared to everyone else I've seen.

I don't know where this will lead, but it's really nice to meet an intelligent, caring and thorough doctor for a change. I've got my fingers crossed that at least something helpful will be gained. At the very least, I'll have a more methodical and logical history of testing done (by doctors he recommends which gives me more confidence). Up til now, it's been me haphazardly trying to find docs, most of whom have been major disappointments and anything BUT thorough. I'm also encouraged because the neurologist is a woman. I'm hoping she's a little bit less cold than other neurologists I've met in the past. I'm not counting on her helping with the migraines really. I mainly want to rule out the potential for venous thrombosis/stroke, etc. that I've been warned of in the past.

I'll keep everyone filled in on whatever I learn from these various exams.

penny