MS Specialist in CT?

[Debba]

I have a neuro, but he is not an MS Specialist. He is reluctant to start me on any medicine, even thought MRI, and LP came back positive. I really need to get to a specialist who will take my symptoms seriously. Can anyone give me a recommendation for a specialist in Connecticut?
Thanks

[bigkitty]

I know a specialist!

Hi Debba,

You should definately see a specialist. I go to one named Peter Wade at the Mandel MS Center in Hartford. It is a whole clinic devoted to people with MS. Dr. Wade has MS himself and takes it very seriously! I hope you give him a call. Please post and let me know how you make out.

[khris]

Neuro

I do not see a specialist but i like the neuro i see at Hartford Hospital. His name is Stephen Conway. he dx me a year ago and recommended that I get on a dmd right away. I am on Rebif and my last MRI showed not only no new lesions but improvement in the size of the old ones....for what it is worth......

[glenmoor_guard]

MS Specialist in CT

Debba,

I am a newbie and have not seen many specialists for MS. I see Guarnaccia at Griffin Hosp in Derby. Sad to say but location was a big part of my decision to see him; Derby is halfway between home & work.

He was recommended by a general neuro and an OT we have worked with for many years (pediatric for our special needs kids). Dr G put me on Copaxone quickly (instead of the interferons in consideration of my ongoing depression) and even started me on a monthly low dose of cytoxine until the copaxone builds up to theraputic levels.

One aspect that I think is his limiting is a lack of participation in ongoing clinical trials. Given the short time I have been seeking care , about 4 months, I may be setting expectations too high.

I'd be interested any feedback from former or ongoing patients about long-term experiences w/ Dr G and any other specialist in the New Haven/Fairfield areas.

Good Luck, Glen.

[Debba]

Thanks for the input. Today was bad for me. I had to drop my son off at camp and it was so hot. My left side was numb and achy at the same time.

Khris- I have been going to Dr. Conway, but he he seems resistant to put me on any meds, because my symptoms are not too bad. I am just worried because everything I read says the sooner the better for DMDs.

As a little back story, 20 months ago I went to ER for a bad headache (history of stroke in my family) and they saw lesions. Went to Dr. Conway, he said they were not typical of MS, come back in a year. I did, more lesions and the old ones were bigger. Had all the blood work to rule out lupus etc, and my LP came back positive. Now he is doing a test for CADASIL, which is very expensive. Meanwhile, my symptoms seem to be growing.

[khris]

wow, that is so opposite of my experience. I had and have what I consider to be very minor sx. Right after my positive LP he recommended a dmd. when I asked him about not going on one and the results for people who choose not to, he said if it were him he would get on one right away.

I don't know anything about the thing he is now testing you for....perhaps it is one more thing he needs to rule out? I would say that he was very thorough in ruling everything else out before giving me the dx.

How strange that your experience has been so different.