How do I find a GBS specialist in the Tampa area?

    • Anonymous
      October 16, 2007 at 11:29 am

      I figured I would start here and see if there is some database to look in? There aren’t a lot of neurologists in the area, and although I like mine a lot, I feel I have gotten worse over the past 3 weeks or so and would like to see a specialist or maybe get a second opinion. Thanks! I looked all over this website and couldn’t find anything. Gabrielle

    • Anonymous
      October 16, 2007 at 6:38 pm

      Gabrielle,
      Having lived in Tampa for 21 years but moved right as I was starting to get GBS, I would do the following: there was a fantastic doctor – Dr. Carrow – who passed away a few years back. I would try and find whoever is taking over his practice. Dr. Carrow was unbelievable in being a unique doctor. He did a mix of AMA and wholistic. His wife had a wholistic radio show and they broadcast from their complex of offices. I cannot remember the name of their practice, but it is somewhere in PInellas County – possibly Largo. I do not know if they replaced Dr. Carrow with a doctor as good as he was. BUt if I were down there and in trouble, they would be my first stop. I have only found two excellent doctors in my life; he was one. He was brillliant and wasn’t afraid to expose the AMA and the pharmaceutical industry. If you decide to take this path and cannot find the practice, let me know and I shall pour through my old records to find it for you.

    • Anonymous
      October 16, 2007 at 8:21 pm

      Tampa try Dr. Steven Sergy or one of his assoc. 813-872- 1548 has a great reputation with GBS/Miller Fisher – he practiced in Boston – he has been nominated as President of the Nero for the USA so you might have to take one of his Assoc.

      tampa Dr. Chichicova and she has experience with GBS phone #974-2201

      take care. be well.
      gene gbs 8-99
      in numbers there is strength

    • Anonymous
      October 16, 2007 at 9:23 pm

      OK thank you guys! Gene, I know Dr. Sergay, it was just a long time to get in to see him when I first got sick. I don’t know Chichicova but will check there too. My challenge is that I went back and forth in the beginning between MS and GBS. I was told it was a mild case of GBS. And my spinal tap showed elevated protein. Some things did get better over the past months and I am in my 5th month of PT. I have always had trouble walking with this diagnosis, and have written about it here, and you guys have helped. I feel over the past couple of weeks I have lost more strength in my legs and maybe my arms too. We are on the bottom rung of weights in PT, and I keep asking him if he upped the weight because I just can’t do it anymore. I was thinking maybe it was just a phase, and maybe it is, but then I’m just not sure now. I’ll make an appt with one of those guys and see what happens. Thank you both, and I’ll see what I can find out about the one in Pinellas too! Thank you very much!!! Gabrielle

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2007 at 7:53 am

      gab,

      does your pt person know that gbs must be treated differently than other pt patients? if not, he/she is doing you wrong & is hindering your recovery. you must recover from any pt in 12 to 18 hours or it is too much. you better have a talk w this pt person, do less, & rest more lying down. then again, maybe it is ms [i hope not]. take care. be well.

      gene gbs 8-99
      in numbers there is strength

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2007 at 5:38 pm

      Hi Gene,

      Yes, they are very aware of the difference and always ask if I am doing OK, etc. We had one bad episode early on that took me days to recover from so we are just doing little bits of exercises to keep what muscle I have from getting weaker. They also have another GBS patient in there. However that’s depressing a bit because he was diagnosed after me, and a more severe case and he walks like a normal person now, and is done with PT. So I’m just not sure. I hope it’s not MS too, because it would be a progressive form if this is a relapse. But my diagnosis took forever to come about, and some things weren’t classic. I also know that doesn’t mean much either, as there are always variations. So, I’ll see what someone else says. Thank you again Gene…Gabrielle

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2007 at 7:37 pm

      gab,

      the severity of gbs does not necessarily show the recovery rate. a mild case may never get any better & a bad case can clear up nicely. you never know, so depressing as it may be, it is normal. take care. be well.

      gene gbs 8-99
      in numbers there is strength

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2007 at 10:13 pm

      Is that true? About the severity? I did not know that. I guess it is the “mild” part that is aggravating because to me it is severe and affecting every part of my life. And I don’t know how much more it is going to improve. But, I haven’t given up, I would just like another opinion. Thanks again Gene…