Has anyone been to the MS clinic in Atlanta or Vanderbilt in Nashville? My local neuro wants to send me to Vanderbilt for a PPMS diagnosis. I have heard that Atlanta may have more experience with PPMS.

Thanks!

there are a couple of clinics in Atlanta. My mom goes to see Dr Jaquez at the Shepherd Center. She loves her. A very positive doc who always has time to talk to her patients and not at them. My mom has advanced SPMS so she's only on symptom management meds. Dr. J has been great about helping her to manage her symptoms. Hope that helps

I went to the MS center in ATL because I wanted a specialist instead of the reg. neuro. I have now. Gosh... I went to see one doc and he was so rude and condescending I went home crying and that's a hike for me because i'm about an hour away. I decided I rather have a younger, inexperienced neuro. than a mean/rude one.

Then again that place has like 7-8 neuros. there so you could get another one. I asked if I could switch and they said they don't do that and I would have to submit a letter to the office manager and she brings it to both the old neuro and a new one and they decide and I didn't like that idea too much! I never tried the Shepherd Center.. but IMHO I didn't like the MS center in ATL.. good luck!

Monique

Wow Monique, so sorry you had a bad experience at the MS Center in Atlanta. I was dx'd by a doctor at the MS Center and continued to see him but it was so hard to get an appt and then they kept canceling my appts and rescheduling them. I got so fed up I asked to switch doctors and they told me the samething, needed to speak w/ the office manager.

Well I got her on the phone and in no uncertain terms told her it was unacceptable to be rescheduling my appts like this and I wanted to switch doctors. She switched me to another doctor who I've been seeing since (5 years) and love him.

I came to find out that the reason the other doctor kept rescheduling was he was having health problems himself.

I have a gf who goes to the MS Ctr too and she had a doctor she wasn't happy with and asked to change. They switched her to another doctor.

I think you have to be pretty firm with them if you want to switch doctors. I know they don't like to do it for some reason, but they will.

I've heard good things about the Shepard Center too. Don't know about the clinic in Nashville.

Thanks! I guess it's for the best considering I'm in Madison and my Neuro who diagnosed me is in Athens.. so it's closer if I have an exacerbation. I just am not happy with any of the Neuros I saw. This one, I told his nurse days ago I was having dizziness, light headedness, headaches (which I'm on meds for), and low blood pressure and high pulse. I still haven't heard back from them *lol* I am glad this isn't life threatening.

So, I called them again. I don't know if I'll stay with this Neuro. but for now I will deal with him. Hopefully the stress of grad school doesn't bring out flares.. or I'm in trouble I know the Shepherd Center and the MS center both are involved with clinical trials.. *grin* waiting for that oral pill to be mainstreamed!!

Monique

I see Dr. English. Been w/ him for 5 years so I'm very happy. We have a good relationship. They are in the process of putting me on tysabri, once my GI doctor finds out why I'm anemic.

The first GI doctor I was referred to didn't work out w/ me at all. So I asked Dr. English who he would recommend and then got my PC doc to refer me to him. He's a wonderful GI doctor.

I don't stay w/ a doctor I'm not happy with. MS s c r e w s with me enough I don't need others doing it too.

Thanks for the insight. I did not realize there are 2 clinics in Atlanta. I am thinking of going to Shepherd. I live in Knoxville, so it is about a 3 1/2 drive. However, my neuro here wants to make sure he gives me the right diagnosis. That really pleased me to hear him say that. He is probably in his 40s, so it was nice to know he is not arrogant! I'll stick to him for day to day.

Julie

I'm pretty much a "lurker" here, but your post caught my eye, as I have been to both locations.

First - thanks to the others who mention MS Center of Atl...I started going there in January and have not been too pleased with responsiveness. I really do like my neuro, but it once took me over three weeks to get an answer to a simple question, and that answer came from an appointment person who went to ask someone. When I asked if my doc was "always this difficult to reach" she responded "he can be." I should have tried the Shepherd Center, but I did not know there was more than one in Atlanta when I moved to GA.

I see Douglas Stuart there, and as I said, I really did like him - very straighforward, fun demeanor, and willing to explain things.

When I lived in KY, I was seen at Vandy by Dr. Sriram (they call him 'ram!) for a few years, and I can tell you he is my hero, and he helped me to "choose" the way I deal with my MS. He is a teacher, above all else, and he will talk with you and explain things to you. The decisions will be made by you with his input - but you will always have the final say in things.

He is not an "over-tester" - he never even ordered an MRI on me while I was his pt - just relied on the neuro exam. Turns out he was correct in this course...he knew my MRI's would show no changes, and the most recent one showed no changes.

Obviously, I think he is brilliant. If his nurse, Nora, is still there, you will be in good hands. The other staff could be sorta "hot and cold" - but if you mentioned it to doc or Nora that would be handled quickly.

I'd go back there in a heartbeat, but I'm way too far away at this point. Whatever you decide, best of luck!

Thank you so much for your input. I am not sure where the best place will be, but your experience at Vandy is great input. I am the same distance to either one, so I may just rely on my local Neuro. So far, he has been great.

There are two excellent MS Centres in Atlanta. The Shepard Center has Dr. Ben Thrower and Dr. Fanny Jacquez, and the Atlanta Centre for Multiple Sclerosis has several physicians, but the two physicians who founded it are the Dr.'s Stewarts. I've met all of them, and would recommend both of these Centres to anyone. The Shepard Centre doesn't have as many Dr.'s on staff as the MS Centre of Atlanta, and is a tad further downtown, but I wouldn't hesitate to go to either one if you are coming in from out of town for a second opinion.

Good luck to you. I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have.

All the best,
Chris