ID Doctor VS GP internal medicine

[hondadude]

Hi all
I seen a neurologist today due to severe migraines and Polyneuropathy.  Along with some other issues.  I need to have a skin biopsy next week to see if any small fiber damage along with a brain MRI since my numbness is effecting mu bladder function and breathing.  I have severe flare ups from time to time. Anybody with PN have it effect your bladder, breathing, swallowing?

My neurologist is insisting that I see an Infectious Disease doctor versus my general doctor I've seen since my diagnosis.  My general doctor is internal medicine

If anyone would like to give me your thoughts on that issue

[Lightfighter]

My first Dr post diagnosis was an internal med doc. I saw her once. Then changed.
She wasn't up to speed on treatment in my opinion. She had been prescribing atripla since it came out and that's all she would prescribe.  She cut me script the day I saw her. Before a resistance test, gene/phenotyping, VL, CD4, etc. all that was drawn, but obviously not back.  She didn't seem to care how I felt or about my concerns. The feeling I got from her was I'm supposed to lock myself away because I'm tainted and I shouldn't be wandering about. Said my whole life has changed and I needed to tell the Army because she has a friend that's an Army doc.  That alone made me uneasy.

My current doc is an ID doc and is older but a whiz with this disease. I look forward to discussing new research and treatments etc.  He was very open to listening and cared about me. My wife goes to my appointments with me and he listened to her and we all talked very open and comfortably.

Just my experience.

[hondadude]

Thank you Lightfighter.  It has been something I considered for some time, but never had a specialist tell me that I really need to see and ID doctor.  She said 3 times in the exam room and made a special trip to the receptionist as I was checking out to not forget about seeing an ID doctor.

Her concern as that he just said I had neuropathy and that shouldn't be so easily diagnosed as fact.  Especially since I have constant migraines and nervous system flare ups.  So, I'm giving it a good thought.  I just never wanted to feel like I was over stepping him, so to speak.

[mecch]

Why would you NOT see an ID? 
The only reason you mention is not "overstepping" your GP?
In my opinion, that is not a valid reason to avoid and ID since you have a serious infection, for life.

[harleymc]

 You wouldn't dream of going to a GP for dentistry, or a dentist for physiotherapy...


What you need is team of health professionals, an ID specialist, a GP, maybe mental health professionals, physiologist etc.

[hondadude]

Thanks everybody!  That answers my question perfectly.