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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: motherinneed on February 06, 2007, 09:23:29 am
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« Reply #5 on: Today at 09:11:21 AM »
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I read a reply that someone made and they said..be sure your doctor is an HIV specialist..I was under the assumption that infectious disease MD should be well versed on HIV.. ARE there specialist in NY area, brooklyn, manhattan that JUST specialize in HIV. It seems that the comment about the overreaction of the doctor with the bilirubin makes sense as the md should h ave now this is a side effect of t he medication and that it would pass and monitoring liver function would be less extreme. If anyone has any good MDs in the area I mentioned please list some..I had some from another post but this new twist of HIV specialist is more intriguing. Anyone ever deal with Dr.Sharma...Huh I am in great need of opinions of this MD..Please
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Hi Mom,
I have moved your thread from the Side Effect forum, where you posted it, to the Living forum, where you'll get more responses.
Not all ID specialists are created equally. I know some people who are very happy having an ID specialist, simply because that particular doc is well versed in hiv. Not all of them are.
I was treated for hep C under an ID specialist who really knew his stuff where hiv/hcv coinfection was concerned. Once my treatment was over, I went back to my hiv specialist, only to free up the other doc for other people dealing with coinfection. My hep C was treated successfully, so there was no reason to continue with the ID doc. I liked him very much though.
Don't be afraid to ask ANY doc why he/she is qualified to treat hiv. If you don't like the answer, keep looking.
I can't help with the specific doctor you mention, but others might know him.
Ann
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Hi Mom,
I agree with what Ann posted, call and ask the doctor what their background or speciality is in Infectious Disease. My Doctor is an ID doctor who specializes in HIV, although she does treat other ID diseases. The very first doctor I went to was a hematologist who also treated hiv, he then switched his focus to bone marrow, so I was referred to my present doctor.
And you know what, if you go to one doctor and you don't like them, you can always go to another. I also have depression, and have gone through four different psychiatrist to find the doctor I see now. Everyone is different, and you have to find someone you respect, and trust.
Christine
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Actually it's even easier, since you have internet access. Every NYC hopital has a website and you can search for an infectious disease doctor, or an hiv doctor or the closest terms you can find doing a search which varies according to the hospital and then look into his or her qualifications as well. It's a great way of weeding out potential doctors without having to make appointments, ask awkward questions on the phone, etc. Even after doing so, just because a doctor is qualified, doesn't mean that he or she will be the 'right' one for your situation, will 'connect' with you. Best, Win
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You can try to go to the www.thebody.com and there and also in some other good websites try to find a reccomended specialist !
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Dr Dennis Miller at 4 East 76th St in Manhattan is an infectious disease specialist, and he is very knowledgeable about HIV. On top of that, he is a kind and patient person who is excellent to deal with. Even his receptionist Renee is great. (212) 472-1237.
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I switched to an HIV speicialist last year and it has made a really big difference in my healthcare. He simply knows more, and keeps up better, with new information. He also goes to AIDS specific conferences, where I feel he learns more. He is also young, 30 years old, so he's up on new things, very internet savvy!! (I'm in love with him, but that's a different thread!)
For some strange reason, I had been assigned to a women's health specialist for a while - she knew alot about HIV, but it wasn't her speciality. I notice quite a difference in my health care since I've made the switch.