Traveling to see or obtain a really good doctor

[Guest guest]

I myself, as many of you know, was diagnosed with MS (accurately, alas!)

at what was then the University of Oregon Medical School, and is now known

as the University of Oregon Health Sciences University, in Portland, Oregon.

After my husband's death, in 1983, I took a few years to get

re-oriented to life,

and for the kids to get out and on to school and into their own lives, and then

I accepted a wonderful job in my professional field in, of all places,

Pendleton,

Oregon (where the Rodeos are!).

Once their I discovered that I had a wonderful internist, quarterly

access to the

cystic fibrosis center at OHSU in Portland, and superb hospital care right there

in Pendleton, probably the very best that I have ever had. Pendleton

is virtually

the only actual hub of things In Eastern Oregon. Everything federal, state,

county or official is located in Pendleton, along with a very good community

college, complete with good professors, etc., and a pretty good local symphony

orchestra.

However, I did try seeing the nearest neurologist, which was 22 miles away in

Walla Walla, Washington. Not a good experience. Very Low tech.

So, as I went into Portland at least four times a year anyway to be seen at the

cystic fibrosis center, I had my internist refer me to the Multiple

Sclerosis Center

where I landed Dr. Dennis Bourdette, who was astonishing, smart, kind

and helpful;

was not even thrown by my having epilepsy (unrelated to the MS).

I think that I had to drive over two hundred miles to get to OHSU, so

spent the night

each time with friends, making my appointments on either Friday or Monday, and

spending the week-end in Portland where I had both friend and

relatives (who were

also friends!). I had no trouble with driving, so for me, it was not

a problem. I did

have a " significant other, " at the time, my friend, Eugene, who is now deceased,

but to be fair, driving with Eugene was really terrifying. I trusted

myself, so I went.

I would probably do it again today, were that required, even if I had

to fly in or take

the train and then a cab. The good neurologists are just that.

If you know the name of the physician you are likely to be seen by,

and especially

if he or she is at a University Clinic, you can usually do a google

search and find

out the whole scoop on them. They are going to be peering at the

innermost parts

of your brain and spinal column, why not learn all you can about them

ahead of time?

Good luck to all of you searching for new neurologists and travelling

far to one.

Love,

n