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Hi Tracy,
I don't have SD, mine's RA, but Lynnie's suggestion sounds to me pretty smart – it's easy to get a prescription of doxy for malaria, especially as you will be travelling. That would get you started on AP very quickly, which is ideal. I got started whilst my symptoms were still quite mild and now I may never know how bad they might have become because they came under control within about 6 months.
Also, SD sufferers don't seem to experience the herxing which RA patients do, so the doxy would probably not exacerbate your symptoms (even if it is SD which of course it may not be) whilst you were away in Japan.
If you stay home probably not much would be achieved in that month anyway. Even better if you could get an appointment with an AP dr for when you return.
Perhaps the doxy could put your mind at rest enough to be able to enjoy the trip.
Hoping you'll have a wonderful & relaxing trip !
Katie 😀
Hi Maz;
I have to make an appointment with Dr. A for a check up.Her office is closed on Friday so I will call next week and let you know about her waiting list.I know that Dr. D was scared of losing his licence a few years ago so I have no idea wheather he is doing AP anymore.[user=27]Maz[/user] wrote:
According to the AP doc list, there is a Dr D in Montreal on St Joseph Blvd, Est. The notes say he's worried about publicity, but has rx'd for RA and sclero in the past. Any info on this doc? Have you tried him?
Thanks!
Peace, Maz
I'm definitely going to swing by to meet him early next week, if possible. His office is located in my neighbourhood, about a 10-15 minute bike ride away. He's on the very French side of Montreal and his name is very old-school, full-on Qu
[user=31]Lynne G./SD[/user] wrote:
Hi Maz;
I have to make an appointment with Dr. A for a check up.Her office is closed on Friday so I will call next week and let you know about her waiting list.I know that Dr. D was scared of losing his licence a few years ago so I have no idea wheather he is doing AP anymore.Oh no! I certainly hope he still is. Please ask Dr. A; I left a message with her receptionist yesterday evening, but I don't know if I'll hear back.
[user=31]Lynne G./SD[/user] wrote:
I have to make an appointment with Dr. A for a check up.Her office is closed on Friday so I will call next week and let you know about her waiting list.I know that Dr. D was scared of losing his licence a few years ago so I have no idea wheather he is doing AP anymore.
Lynne, much appreciated. Merci beaucoup! It's good to get these updates, as so many Canadians looking for AP docs and Dr A is so good, but so difficult to get in to see. Hopefully, her wait-list is now a thing of the past – maybe wishful thinking?
Peace, Maz
[user=27]Maz[/user] wrote:
[user=31]Lynne G./SD[/user] wrote:
I have to make an appointment with Dr. A for a check up.Her office is closed on Friday so I will call next week and let you know about her waiting list.I know that Dr. D was scared of losing his licence a few years ago so I have no idea wheather he is doing AP anymore.
Lynne, much appreciated. Merci beaucoup! It's good to get these updates, as so many Canadians looking for AP docs and Dr A is so good, but so difficult to get in to see. Hopefully, her wait-list is now a thing of the past – maybe wishful thinking?
Peace, Maz
Well, I just got off the phone with Dr A's receptionist/assistant/? who was very kind. I knew of the waiting list so I first asked if she knew of any Quebec/Montreal contacts, which she did not. She did mention that they serviced Montrealers because of the absence of AP-friendly docs here. We spoke for a bit and I put my name on the waiting list. She mentioned Dr A is pretty overwhelmed with her workload right now but that she'd speak to her about it.
Also, if it's of any interest to anyone, she mentioned that Dr A's list is in the 2.5-3 yr zone right now.
[user=1359]paper tiger[/user] wrote:
Also, if it's of any interest to anyone, she mentioned that Dr A's list is in the 2.5-3 yr zone right now.
Tracy, thanks for the update! I hope Dr A can squeeze you in somehow. If not, maybe Dr D in Montreal can help you out until she can.
I used to live in Beaconsfield on the West Island before moving to CT 13 years ago, so I'm a fellow Canuck (and would like to see more APdocs up there for you guys). 😉
Peace, Maz
[user=27]Maz[/user] wrote:
Tracy, thanks for the update! I hope Dr A can squeeze you in somehow. If not, maybe Dr D in Montreal can help you out until she can.
I used to live in Beaconsfield on the West Island before moving to CT 13 years ago, so I'm a fellow Canuck (and would like to see more APdocs up there for you guys). 😉
Peace, Maz
Oh! Neat, I grew up in Ville Saint-Laurent and spent my angry adolescence skateboarding in Fairview mall's parking lot. All my friends lived in Beaconsfield/Pointe-Claire/Kirkland/DDO. I moved out five years ago to the Plateau/Mile-End, but the West Island is still my “hometown”. It's too bad you aren't still here and know a doctor here! That would simplify things so much…
[user=1359]paper tiger[/user] wrote:
It's too bad you aren't still here and know a doctor here! That would simplify things so much…
Yea, I know. Sorry, Tracy! 🙁 We try to get back every now and again to visit our friends. We used to live off of Boul. St Charles on Woodside Cres….I remember Fairview shopping mall well!!! So, you were one of those pesky skater-kids, huh? :roll-laugh:
I try to keep informed about the Canadian AP doc side of things. One thing you could try, if you have an open-minded GP, is to print off the physician's packet and take it to him/her and ask if they'd start you on minocycline. It's very commonly used for teenaged acne, so not a far stretch of the imagination or a dangerous drug to ask for. At least you have some other options to try out west and in Toronto if Dr D in Montreal isn't on board anymore.
Peace, Maz
This is just too funny.I grew up in Baie D'Urfe and went to high school in Pte.Claire.Then to the Universite de Montreal,Sir George Williams(now Concordia) where I was lucky enough to be able to write my exams in French as my English was pathetic then.Not much better yet. hehehe
I thought this might be of interest to whoever maintains those AP doctors lists:
I finally got a hold of the receptionist for Dr D in Montreal. I had been warned by this community that Dr D may no longer prescribe AP.
First off, I was very concerned that Dr D would speak minimal english. It turns out his receptionist speaks very good English and she assures me that Dr D himself is far more fluent than even she is. So if anyone ever asks about AP docs in Montreal who speak english… he does!
The good news continues: he still does AP protocol. When I mentioned it's for SD, the receptionist said she'd double-check with him because most patients are there for RA, but she knew what AP was (despite the warning I received that it's very hush-hush with him and that his receptionist likely wouldn't know what AP was). She wanted to call me back about it tomorrow but I leave for Japan at the crack of dawn. When I get back in mid-June, I'll figure out if he's still cool to do AP for SD or not.
BEST OF ALL: I mentioned that I'm on a waiting list for a specialist in Ottawa, which is why I'm interested in Dr D. The receptionist replied, “Oh! You must mean Dr A!” It turns out that he and Dr A speak often and discuss cases together, and that some of her patients are also patients of Dr D. She encourages me to remain on her waiting list and to also meet with her, because if they can both independently review my case, they can compare their analyses.
As for cost, if anyone ever enquires about the cost, it is only partially covered under Medicare. The first appointment lasts 3 hours and costs $350, and follow-up appointments last 30 minutes and cost $90 each. Insurance may further subsidise these costs. All tests that can be run at the hospital/CLSC are covered under medicare. Tests that are not range from $200 to $1200, but the more expensive ones are for very specific conditions. Again, private insurance may further subsidise these blood tests.
Lastly, I received the AP doctors list from two separate sources and there is a slight misspelling in both lists. Not a big deal, but it may be worth it to correct it in case someone wants to track him down on ratemds.com or wherever. His given name has an o before the i, and is hyphenated with his middle name. That's all 🙂
Tracy, GREAT sleuthing! Many thanks for this update and it will enable us to update our physician notes on Dr D very nicely. Did you happen to ask if he offered IV therapy, too?
I know you're off to Japan shortly, but if you get a min, would you kindly send me the full name of this doc with correct spelling. Thank you very much and hope you have a wonderful time in Japan!
Peace, Maz
[user=27]Maz[/user] wrote:
Tracy, GREAT sleuthing! Many thanks for this update and it will enable us to update our physician notes on Dr D very nicely. Did you happen to ask if he offered IV therapy, too?
I know you're off to Japan shortly, but if you get a min, would you kindly send me the full name of this doc with correct spelling. Thank you very much and hope you have a wonderful time in Japan!
Peace, Maz
I'll PM you in just a moment 🙂
As for the IV, I did ask about specific treatments offered and cost, but the receptionist said I'd have to ask the doctor. He is not in the office on Wednesdays, so it was just unlucky timing on my part. I'll certainly ask him the moment I'm back.
I've done some reading up on him though and he prescribes a lot of hippy dippy stuff. Nothing is mentioned about IVs, but he's a naturopath and clearly interested in alternative treatments, so he's likely actively involved in AP, not just apprehensively doling out AP prescriptions to people who come begging. It follows that he'd give you the “full package”, including IVs, particularly as he agrees with Dr A's approach to treating rheumatic diseases. This is all just guesswork on my part though; I'll keep you updated the more I learn about him.
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