Any Dysautonomia Docs In Wisconsin?

[Hoosierfan]

We just moved from PA to Wisconsin (Madison) and am wondering whether anyone on here has a good dysautonomia specialist to recommend. I have had issues w/ OI, not POTS, and my new integrative doc suggested the other day that I have a full POTS / OI workup since I never have really had one (former PCPs just threw psych meds at the problem -- don't ask!! -- which have made my health so much worse).

Maybe an autonomic neurologist? Or another type of practitioner? Would love somebody in Madison but would be more than willing to travel to Milwaukee or Chicago if necessary!

Thanks!!!!!

[Christy_D]

Dr Thomas Chelimsky is in Milwaukee. He is an autonomic neurologist. He was my sons doctor when he practiced in Cleveland.

[Hoosierfan]

Christy, thanks so much! I looked him up and he looks unbelievable!! Can I ask about your experience with him -- does he tend to push meds or will he look at things more holistically? I got in this mess because docs pushed me onto medications that have just made my health worse, not better. And trying to get off these meds; now my CNS is so sensitive that I have so many other symptoms compared to what I started off with!!!

So I really need a physician who will give me the full once over, and then try and resolve this in a holistic manner (even if it is a "wait and the symptoms will resolve" approach). Do you think Chelimsky is a good fit? Many thanks!!

[Christy_D]

_{I'm not sure if he takes the holistic route. The first medication he prescribed for my son was Doxepin which was very helpful, but he also prescribed supplements such as COQ10 and L Carnitine(sp?). He is extremely thorough and did a lot of testing. Our experience with him and his wife Dr Gisela Chelimsky(pediatric GI dr) was very good...especially loved Dr Gisela...very caring doctor. Since each POTS patient presents differently, I'm sure the treatment plan is varied. I can only say good things about him.}

_Christy

[Zap]

Another WI - Milwaukee specialist is Dr. Rose Dotson at Aurora. She has past experience from Mayo and is setting up an autonomic lab (which may actually be up and running by now).

She is VERY thorough with labs and if there is an odd but treatable problem causing dysautonomia she will definitely try to find it. She is also responsive to her patients and will hear them out and respect their medication limits knowing that side-effects can often be a deterrent. A unique experience to most of the doctors I've seen over the years.

I've never seen Dr Chelimsky but I have had other experiences at Froedert just prior to his arrival there. As at the time I was at Froedert there was a VERY strong stress on deconditioning as the be-all-end-all cause, they were unfortunately not very pleasant (aside from the initial autonomic testing done from an outside referral - which led to diagnosis). - which resulted in my finding Dr Doson via referral.

That said - the autonomic lab is certainly capable of diagnosis and operates similarly to Mayo's.

[Christy_D]

If you go to the topic of discussion titled:

Preliminary Program For The 24Th International Symposium On The Ans - Hawaii October 2013

Dr Chelimksy is one of the speakers, his name is listed several times. Dr Chelimsky did not think my son's POTS was from deconditioning, my son was a very fit athlete at the time. When Dr Chelimisky was in Cleveland(Case Western University Hospital), they not only diagnosed patients but treated them as well. We also had testing done for my son at the Mayo Clinic in MN and I found the testing that Dr Chelimsky did was much more thorough.

[Zap]

Interesting - maybe he's brought more testing as part of his experience. I knew he was well regarded by those who were lucky enough to be able to see him.

I attempted to make an appointment with him when he was very new in town but I was declined by scheduling since I had seen another specialist already.

At any rate it may be of interest to others that Dr Chelimsky is going to be speaking during a 2 hour Autonomic Support Group session at Froedert in December (on the 4th from 6-8 PM). I was planning to possibly show up and see what his topics are for the evening. Maybe there will even be some Q&A at the end if we're lucky.

[Hoosierfan]

Thanks you guys!! I am going to discuss Dr. C with my doc at our next appointment and see what can be done to get into see him and have the full workup done. It would be nice to know exactly "what" is going on; instead of the random treating of symptoms that has happened in the past, and just resulted in me getting more ill.

I was recently diagnosed as iron anemic, which could be a large part of this. But again, it was something my doc "caught" only after I pushed to have vitamin testing done. So I really want someone who knows everything to look for, and what to test for, instead of "happening" on things that are wrong b/c I bring a testing idea to my doc. I'm not a doctor!!!