But MAN it would be awesome if I could find a physician in my area that ALSO GETS clusters!  It's probably more than I should hope for, but would ANYONE know if such an animal exists in the Dallas area? I really don't even know how you'd go about finding out something like this. You can't exactly phone every single doctor and ask them. lol

No, but there are some around here that have stated that they wish they could force others to suffer from this malady.

Well, I'd be lying if I said I haven't felt that way myself a time or two.

Like when you're speaking to someone and you mention your clusters and they say "Oh yea, I get migraines, too sometimes." And they try to equate what they get to what we go through.   I've told people that a cluster makes a migraine look like butterfly kisses, and they look at me like I'm stupid.

Take the high road. Wishing horrendous pain on someone else is nothing but cruel.

I don't wish them pain, just understanding.

Google Dr Edwin Charnock.  He's in the Duncanville area right off I20 at Wheatland.  He is a neurologist with a sleep studies specialty who suffered from CH during college and med school leading him to go after the specialty in neurology.  He is the Dr that correctly diagnosed and treated me after several frustrating years at the Dallas VA Hospital. 

I have to warn you though, he doesn't work cheap!!!  When I found him I didn't have insurance but I had an abundance of "plastic" to which I charged the initial office visit fee of $600!!  And I would have gladly paid $6000 considering that he fixed me to some extent...as well as we can ever be fixed at any rate...at least I knew what the hell "it" was and I was armed with some bullets for the bastard!  All I had to abort with up to that point was strong, hot tea that I sipped as fast as I could which took the hits from 45 min to and hour down to just 30 to 45 minutes (Those were the years that I really got good at "dancin with the beast"!!

I literally began crying like a baby after I had given him my "history" and he told me he knew exactly what I was going thru and what the problem was because he was also a sufferer!!  He is the only other clusterhead I have ever met in person!

DD

Quote:

the initial office visit fee of $600!!

I'd call that despicable.  All the more so,  because he KNOWS 1st.-hand how desperate we are to find help.

Linda_Howell wrote on Jan 27^th, 2010 at 11:59am:

Quote: the initial office visit fee of $600!! I'd call that despicable.  All the more so,  because he KNOWS 1st.-hand how desperate we are to find help.

My bet is that he'd be willing to waive most of that, but you have to ask.

The last time I checked, my neurologist (he's okay and for the most part and he resides on our planet) charges less than $80 for a visit.

I've never had to wait more than a week here to see specialists. From what I read, that's far from the norm.

Charlie

Often times a specialist charges much more for an initial consult due to all the administrative crap involved.

Brew wrote on Jan 27^th, 2010 at 1:20pm:

Often times a specialist charges much more for an initial consult due to all the administrative crap involved.

But they shouldn't be allowed to make money.

Marc wrote on Jan 27^th, 2010 at 1:28pm:

Brew wrote on Jan 27th, 2010 at 1:20pm: Often times a specialist charges much more for an initial consult due to all the administrative crap involved. But they shouldn't be allowed to make money.

Heavens, no. Not like they paid cash for their medical degrees or anything. ;)

Brew wrote on Jan 27^th, 2010 at 1:33pm:

Marc wrote on Jan 27th, 2010 at 1:28pm: Brew wrote on Jan 27th, 2010 at 1:20pm: Often times a specialist charges much more for an initial consult due to all the administrative crap involved. But they shouldn't be allowed to make money. Heavens, no. Not like they paid cash for their medical degrees or anything. ;)

And malpractice insurance is free, isn't it?

Linda_Howell wrote on Jan 27^th, 2010 at 11:59am:

Quote: the initial office visit fee of $600!! I'd call that despicable.  All the more so,  because he KNOWS 1st.-hand how desperate we are to find help.

I have to agree, here.  You're a good man, Denny, but GOOD LORD!

You would really have to think that a dude that feels our pain (literally), would go the opposite direction with his fees. I know if I were a doc, I'd be tempted to work for free if I could get away with it when it came to treating other CH sufferers. Six hundred is ungodly, man.

But then again, when my insurance kicks in, I may get lucky and have him "in network" and can get away with just a copay.

By the way, how did you find out about this guy, Denny?

Corey_Griffith wrote on Jan 27^th, 2010 at 7:05pm:

Linda_Howell wrote on Jan 27th, 2010 at 11:59am: Quote: the initial office visit fee of $600!! I'd call that despicable.  All the more so,  because he KNOWS 1st.-hand how desperate we are to find help. I have to agree, here.  You're a good man, Denny, but GOOD LORD! You would really have to think that a dude that feels our pain (literally), would go the opposite direction with his fees. I know if I were a doc, I'd be tempted to work for free if I could get away with it when it came to treating other CH sufferers. Six hundred is ungodly, man.

I just found a new neurologist. His initial appointment fee was over $700. He's out of network, so I get to pay at out of network rates. After that, his fees for follow up visits are in the $150-200 range. It doesn't sound out of bounds to me.

And it's easy for you to say you'd work for free. You don't have a few hundred thousand in student loans to pay back. Or, as deltadarlin has pointed out, malpractice insurance premiums.

The healthcare system in this country is f*cked up, but it's not the fault of individual doctors.

And something else to consider.  A lot doctors have no idea what fees are charged for their services.  I have found out that some doctors will charge what insurance companies *allow*, even if you aren't covered for that particular doctor.  Ask!

There was another neuro in Dallas a few years back (he moved there from Longview). I can't remember his name (sorry, I only saw him one time - he was in with my neuro and I saw him when my neuro was out of town one time). There's a "lurker" on the board that went to him for a few years - Mike if you're lurking do you remember his name?

My neuro has migraines and keeps up on the latest in headaches (all kinds). He treats a bunch of CHers (I send him everyone I hear about so he gets a lot of practice). He also checks out our board and "reads" a lot. The first thing he asks me when I go in is, "What's new with CH?"

If you can't find the "right" doc in Dallas, the drive to Longview is worth it to see Richard Hamer... he's really good.

I don't remember what the initial visit was (I've been with him about 15 years), but before I got on Medicare, I think I was paying about $60 a visit.

Good luck in finding the "right" doc.

Corey_Griffith wrote on Jan 26^th, 2010 at 2:55pm:

But MAN it would be awesome if I could find a physician in my area

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Headache Institute
The Headache Institute at Texas Neurology is committed to the diagnosis, treatment and management of headaches. Our dedicated team works diligently under the direction of the Medical Director, Dr. Steven. P. Herzog. His support team consists of a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner, Social Services, Registered Nurses and medical and administrative support staff to meet our patients' needs. 

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Dr. Steven Herzog is a graduate of Arizona State University and received his medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He completed his neurological training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Parkland Hospital where he served as Chief Resident in Neurology from 1988 to 1989. In 1989, he began private practice at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. He is a board certified neurologist. Presently, he is Director of Medical Education for the Department of Neurology at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. He is also the Medical Director of the Headache Institute at Texas Neurology which focuses on clinical research and advanced therapies for the treatment of patients with acute and chronic headaches. Dr. Herzog served as Chairman of the 2001 Texas Neurological Society Winter Conference and the 2004 Summer Conference. He is a frequent lecturer across the state and is quoted by print and television on a regular basis. Dr. Herzog served as president of the Texas Neurological Society for 2004 to 2005. 
     
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According to Google maps, from Arlington, TX to their location is about 26 miles & about a 30 minute drive. I don't know if you would consider that to be in your area, but it's not too far away from you.

:)