casey311 Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 So I'm heading to Cleveland Clinic to see Dr. Fouad and I'm wondering what the difference is between seeing a cardiologist there and a neurologist? The different testings? Now I'm worried I should be seeing a neurologist. Also, what can I expect to happen at my apt. with her. I know I see her and then they scheduled a tilt table test an hour later but will I go back and see her that day or have to go back another day? I'm traveling from Missouri so don't want to have to keep making trips. Just curious. Casey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlefairy5 Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 That's a question I've had too, whether I should see a cardiologist or neurologist or both.As I find out more about this syndrome, I'm learning that it's sort of a ? --> Dysautonomia --> POTS ; that POTS is a symptom of Dysautonomia and Dysautonomia is caused by something that sometimes can, after loads of testing, be figured out.Here's the 1,000 $ question: How important is it to go through all the testing and searching to find out what is causing the Dysautonomia?This thing is confusing. I tell people I have POTS, then I tell them I have Dysautonomia, or have both, or I try to explain it to them, and my confusion and different labels lends a sort of absence of credibility to me - it makes me out to be suspect as a hypochondriac.Anyhoot, sorry to take this off topic!Amber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heathmcev Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Great question... I too am wondering about differences in seeing a neurologist vs. cardiologist... I'm about to go to a EP for the first time next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babettess Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 So I'm heading to Cleveland Clinic to see Dr. Fouad and I'm wondering what the difference is between seeing a cardiologist there and a neurologist? The different testings? Now I'm worried I should be seeing a neurologist. Also, what can I expect to happen at my apt. with her. I know I see her and then they scheduled a tilt table test an hour later but will I go back and see her that day or have to go back another day? I'm traveling from Missouri so don't want to have to keep making trips. Just curious. CaseyHi Casey,I am headed to Cleveland to see Dr. Jaeger who works with Dr Fouad. I am going on Monday. When are you scheduled to go?? I will be happy to share info about my appointment with you. I am wondering the same things that you are. Babette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken_Shell Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Hi,I am wondering the same thing too. I was diagnosed by a neurologist and have not seen a cardiologist. I am also looking into the Cleveland Clinic, and was informed that Dr. Robert Shields is the head of the autonomic dysfunction clinic there through neurology. I was in the hospital in January and was consulted by an endocrinologist who treats patients with dysautonomia. Maybe various specialties have expereince with this syndrome. Casey and Babette, I look forward to hearing about your experiences in Cleveland! Good luck and best wishes!~ Broken_Shell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey311 Posted February 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Wow it looks like I sparked a good question. lol I will definitily share my experience when I return. I'm seeing Dr. Fouad on Tuesday and then Beverly with Dr. Grubb's office on Thursday so I will post my experience when I return. Babette I can't wait to hear about yours. I'll be on Monday night wondering what happened with you. lol I wish it was on the same day so we could get to know a little about each other. But good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfish Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 i'll try to get back later with a more thorough reply, but if you search the forum for dr. shields/ robert shields you'll find what i've written in the past (as well as some of what others have written). in short there are people who have good experiences in both departments at cleveland clinic but the approach to testing & evaluation is different depending on your intake, so to speak (i.e. cardio clinic vs. neuro appt with specific physician). one approach is not necessarily better than the other....just different. such that depending on the person & the situation, history, etc one approach might make more sense. there is a LOT more info in earlier posts! (& i'll try to get back to write more myself later &/or at least link to &/or copy the old posts here) melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxine Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Amber,I fully understand the hypochondriac label you feel strapped with sometimes. I have so much evidence to my health problems, and still get treated like I'm nuts by local doctors sometimes.Let us know how your appointment goes Casey--- I have heard mixed reviews, but more good then disappointed--- I think cardiologists have had a lot of POTS patients come to them initially because one of the primary symptoms is tachycardia. Some of them have experience in ANS dysfunction/POTS, and some don't. Those that don't, aren't helpful in most cases. However, it looks like more cardiologists are becoming familiar with tachycardia, and near syncope due to POTS and other forms of ANS dysfunction.I have seen both a neurologist and cardiologist/electrophysiologist, and both specialized in dysautonomia. The neurologist wasn't very helpful, and I found that he was stuck on the old "deconditioned" theory.More neurologists should be trained in dysautonomia/ANS dysfuntion because they are more likely to do more testing to see if there is some other condition that dysautonomia could be secondary to. You would be surprised how little. many neurologists know about the ANS. Some can really be rude and dismissive. I know Dr. Fouad specializes in ANS dysfunction, and the Cleveland Clinic docs are not dismissive. They seemed pretty thorough when I went there to see a physical therapy MD who is familiar with POTS and other forms of ANS dysfunction. I saw her for another opinion on EDS before I saw a geneticist. They were so great, and they encouraged me to move forward with an "official" EDS diagnosis.Maxine :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajw4790 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Hi,For some information regarding testing at CC. See my recent post. http://dinet.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=11763As far as neuro. vs. cardio. I see a lot of neuros (4-5) and 1 cardio. I lean more to the neuro side. I personally believe it is best to consult with both specialties or less there is just absolutely no symptoms for them to look into in a specialty.I also would encourage you to use the search tool at the bottom of DINET forums to search for other similar conversations or reasons why people find it more helpful to see cardio and/or neuro. Also, I think it is helpful, whatever their specialty, to see a dysautonomia specialist (see dr list on DINET). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkoven Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 You'll find a lot if you search on cc, fouad, etc. I found the testing to be thorough and helpful. But it was a mixed experience. pm me for more info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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